The Community of Municipalities of Haute-Saintonge (CDCHS), a positive energy territory (TEPOS) historically committed to the development of renewable energies, launched a Call for Expression of Interest (AMI) at the end of 2021 with a view to developing a photovoltaic park on the site of the Pôle Mécanique de la Haute Saintonge, in Charente-Maritime. The bid from BayWa re, an international company specializing in renewable energies, was selected to implement an ambitious energy transition project in Haute-Saintonge. Renewable hydrogen as a spearhead!
BayWa re has approached for this project carried by the Community of Municipalities of Haute-Saintonge the company Lhyfe, a world pioneer and pure player in renewable green hydrogen, which will carry out, in close collaboration with the Community of Municipalities, a study outlets on the territory with a view to the construction of a hydrogen production facility.
BayWa re and Lhyfe, well-distributed roles
BayWa re will ensure the development, construction and operation of a 40 MWp photovoltaic park, as well as the development of a battery electricity storage unit. Lhyfe will be in charge of the development, construction and operation of a renewable green hydrogen production unit powered by electricity production from the photovoltaic park. The renewable hydrogen thus produced could be marketed locally by Lhyfe to industrial or mobility players, within a radius of 100 to 150 km. “Beyond the installation of a new photovoltaic park, we wanted, on the one hand, to see the emergence of a project bringing innovations to reinforce the attractiveness of the Mechanical Pole and contribute to the creation of jobs on the territory. On the other hand, we wanted it to bring innovations, even experimental, in terms of storing electricity for hydrogen production. The proposal made by BayWa re meets these two requirements.” explains Claude Belot, President of the Community of Communes of Haute-Saintonge.
A 50-hectare photovoltaic park, equipped with lithium storage
The project provides for the installation of a photovoltaic installation on 50 hectares within the Mechanical Pole of Haute Saintonge, for an annual production of nearly 52 GWh corresponding to the consumption of more than 26,000 people, i.e. nearly half of the domestic needs of the Community of Communes of Haute Saintonge. Environmental studies will be initiated this year. Subject to obtaining administrative authorizations, the construction of the photovoltaic park could begin in 2026. The photovoltaic power plant will be coupled with a lithium battery type energy storage system.
The device will allow optimized integration of the plant on the network, by capturing excess solar production and intelligently using the electrical infrastructures. In addition, this will contribute, among other things, to securing the supply of electricity, particularly during winter peak periods. “BayWa re wants the Haute-Saintonge project to be a showcase for innovation that demonstrates the merits of associating flexibility tools with the production of renewable energy, both locally and at the level of the electrical system. We will endeavor to demonstrate the technical feasibility of the project, but also its economic relevance with regard to the services provided. explains Mathieu Bordeleau, Head of Innovation at BayWa re France.
Production of green hydrogen for local uses
In parallel with the development of the photovoltaic plant, the Lhyfe company will conduct an in-depth study of local outlets for hydrogen production, within a radius of 100 to 150 km. This step will make it possible to size a hydrogen production line including electrolyser, compressor and storage. Among the potential beneficiaries, the vehicle fleets of communities, waste syndicates, school and urban transport, and local businesses, but also local industrialists (agribusiness, aeronautics, etc.). 2 A project on the initiative and for the benefit of communities In addition to benefiting the development of the territory of Haute Saintonge, the innovative project led by BayWa re
The possibility of a 100% inter-municipal park BayWa re offers the community the opportunity to take a stake in the project from the development phase, then to stay and become the majority shareholder if it wishes during the construction and operation phase. Under these conditions, the remuneration linked to this shareholding would be added to the economic and tax benefits linked to the presence of the photovoltaic solar park on the territory of the communities. “BayWa re is very proud to have been selected by the Community of Communes of Haute Saintonge to carry out, with Lhyfe, a resolutely innovative regional project combining photovoltaic, hydrogen and storage on the same site. This project will be a real model for territories wishing to be players in the energy transition,
Image: Céline Tran, Managing Director of BayWa re and Claude Belot, President of the Community of Communes of Haute-Saintonge
Source: TECSOL-André Joffre
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