Beuvry solar power plant – France (Hauts-de-France Region)

Built on an 8-hectare industrial brownfield site, formerly occupied by a coal-fired power plant, the Moulin de Beuvry solar power plant brings new life to a site that is emblematic of the area’s industrial heritage.

With an installed capacity of 5 MWp and more than 10,000 bifacial photovoltaic panels, it produces around 5,000 MWh of green electricity each year, equivalent to the electricity consumption of 2,500 people.

The Beuvry solar power plant: a citizen-led, sustainable and heritage-focused project

By generating renewable energy, the plant helps reduce the region’s dependence on fossil fuels and avoids the emission of more than 180 tonnes of CO₂ per year, contributing to national climate objectives and to the energy transition of Hauts-de-France.

Selected in 2017 as a winner of the national tender organised by the French Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE), the Beuvry solar power plant reflects the City of Beuvry’s commitment to sustainable, low-carbon energy development, aligned with the enhancement of its industrial and natural heritage.

A project initiated by the City of Beuvry

The photovoltaic power plant is an innovative and sustainable project led by the City of Beuvry in partnership with Corsica Sole.

Developed on a former industrial brownfield site previously occupied by a coal-fired power plant, it restores the site’s original energy purpose, while fully aligning with a local ecological transition dynamic.

In 2017, the Moulin de Beuvry plant was selected through the CRE national tender process, confirming the municipality’s commitment to local, renewable and low-carbon energy solutions.

Moulin de Beuvry: enhancing heritage through solar energy

The Moulin de Beuvry heritage enhancement project aims to restore and showcase this 18th-century historic building, a symbol of the local heritage. Once used to grind grain from surrounding fields, the mill played a central role in the region’s economic and social life.

Today, its surroundings are part of a restoration and enhancement programme, directly linked to the solar power plant.

The project includes:

• renovation works to preserve this emblematic heritage site,
• the creation of an educational trail linking the mill to the solar power plant,
• the installation of informational panels to raise awareness of the site’s history and the challenges of renewable energy.

The redevelopment of the Beuvry site has created a bridge between tradition and innovation, connecting the municipality’s industrial and agricultural past with its sustainable energy future.

A solar power plant that respects biodiversity

Committed to environmental protection, the Beuvry solar power plant was designed to support local biodiversity.

Comprehensive ecological studies enabled the preservation and restoration of natural habitats favourable to several bird species (such as the blackcap and the common chiffchaff) and characteristic plant species (including wood vetch, hairy pink and liquorice milkvetch).

Site maintenance is carried out in an ecological manner through eco-grazing: sheep provide natural vegetation control, reducing the use of machinery and chemical products. This simple, sustainable and effective solution lowers the plant’s carbon footprint while maintaining a living, balanced ecosystem.

The Beuvry solar power plant fully reflects Corsica Sole’s values: transforming neglected spaces into drivers of renewable energy, involving citizens in project success, and preserving nature and heritage for future generations.