Reden Solar (new name of Fonroche Solaire, ex-subsidiary of Lot-et-Garonne solar energy group, Fonroche) inaugurated a group of three greenhouses covering almost 9 hectares in Boé, a suburb of Agen last week. The greenhouses are heated with 30,000 photovoltaic panels (the equivalent electricity consumption of 10,000 people) and were set up in 2014-2015. They allow for covered yellow and red kiwi farming.
The panels are from Reden Solar's factory a few kilometres away in Roquefort. The company hires about 100 employees and has a €100 million turnover. Total energy should reach 7.5MWc. As well as protecting the fruit from the cold, the greenhouses also allow humidity levels to be controlled, protecting them from the PSA bacteria.
The very sweet red kiwi was tested in France for the first time with the EnzaRed variety in the Drome in 2015. The innovative yellow variety is already popular and is already successful in Italy (European leader in kiwi production), with over 60,000 tons expected this year.