French renewable energy company Rubis Photosol has unveiled an ambitious plan to develop a 200MWp solar photovoltaic (PV) project in France. This endeavor follows the company's success in securing 17% of the 1,519MWp allocation during the fourth phase of the French Energy Regulatory Commission's tender for ground-mounted photovoltaic plants.
The upcoming project, situated on the former Creil air base, is expected to initiate construction between 2024 and 2025, with an estimated annual electricity production of 188GWh. The investment required for the project's construction is estimated at approximately €130 million (US$137.46 million).
A noteworthy aspect of this initiative is its potential for land repurposing, as it pertains to the former military base of Creil in the Oise department. This land, encompassing 253 hectares, has remained unused since 2016. The solar project will cover 147 hectares, making it the largest solar PV installation under the Ministry of the Armed Forces of France's Place au Soleil initiative.
In addition to the French project, Rubis Photosol has acquired three ready-to-build solar projects in the Alicante region, totaling 30MWp in capacity. These projects are scheduled for commissioning in the second half of 2025. With these additions in Spain, the company's portfolio of projects in development in the country has expanded to 300MWp.
Furthermore, Rubis Photosol has entered into an agreement to purchase a 98.4MWp Italian solar portfolio from the Germany-based solar developer ib vogt. The portfolio comprises ten photovoltaic and agrivoltaic projects, and the acquisition will be carried out separately for each project.
Clarisse Gobin-Swiecznik, Managing Partner of Rubis Group, emphasized the significance of these developments, stating, “These projects illustrate the group's strategy to develop renewable energy production to reach at least 25% of its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) by 2030. These successes highlight the expertise of the teams and underscore Rubis Photosol's competitiveness in these expanding markets.”
