Photovoltaic canopies at Beaujoire stadium

At Nantes, the first photovoltaic canopies are being erected on the Beaujoire parking lot as part of a program to produce electricity on several public parking lots in the metropolitan area. The foundations of the S3 parking lot at the Beaujoire stadium are completed, and metal frameworks are beginning to take shape.

Scale of the solar installation

The panels will cover a total of 4,500 m² and are expected to produce 1.1 GWh annually. This amount corresponds to the electricity consumption of approximately 950 people, excluding heating and hot water. The production is an estimate and not yet electricity injected into the grid.

Construction progress and timeline

Works started in September and have reached the stage of laying foundations. Micro-piles are being driven to a depth of seven meters to support the structures, while the assembly of the frameworks is expected to continue for about a month. Equipment to receive the panels is scheduled to be installed in November.

Project timeline and user impact

The planned connection to the Enedis network is set for January 2027, with the parking lot expected to reopen mid-January. This timeline affects users of the stadium and visitors to the Beaujoire area, where construction is taking place in a space usually reserved for vehicles. These dates remain provisional.

Targeting nearby consumers

Project promoters are seeking consumers near the installations, including hotels, shops, and industries. Discussions are ongoing with FC Nantes, though no commercial agreement has been announced. The system relies on local collective self-consumption, with production sites and customers expected to be within a two-kilometer radius.

Citizen involvement and funding

The citizen aspect is managed by CoWatt, working with three local collectives. A fundraising campaign for the Beaujoire MegaWatt project aims to raise 390,000 euros. Nantes Métropole mentions 150 shareholders already involved, with the financial participation being an investment, not public aid for households.

Broader program across the region

The program includes nine projects on public parking lots across seven communes in the metropolitan area. In Thouaré-sur-Loire, work on two canopies started in mid-October, with a reopening expected in mid-January 2027. Other locations will follow with interventions planned through spring 2027.

Long-term goals and energy targets

In the long term, the local authority estimates nearly 16,000 m² of panels and an annual production of 4.1 GWh. This is comparable to the electricity consumption of about 3,500 people, excluding heating and hot water. The company Nantes Métropole Énergies was created to invest in local renewable energy production. Its goal is for the metropolitan area to cover 20% of its energy needs with renewables by 2030 and 50% by 2050.