At Générac in the Gard department, two new Reden agrivoltaic greenhouses at the Domaine des Côteaux site are home to the new Kikoka yellow kiwi variety.
New 3.8 MW greenhouses
Covering an area of 3.6 hectares in Générac, in the Gard department of France, the new Reden greenhouses have an installed capacity of 3.8 MW, producing almost 5.8 GWh of green electricity a year. This energy supplies 1,300 homes in the surrounding area. As well as producing renewable energy, this project is distinguished by its agricultural ambitions. It involves the planting of a new yellow kiwi variety: the Kikoka. Thanks to the many advantages offered by the agrivoltaic greenhouse, Domaine des Côteaux has been able to embark on the development of this emerging species. Protected from the vagaries of the weather, such as hail, wind, excessive rainfall, and wide temperature variations, the crops will produce consistently throughout the year. As well as the agronomic benefits, farmers also see an improvement in their working conditions.
Nathalie Bonnet, manager of the Domaine des Côteaux farm, explains that "these agrivoltaic greenhouses have enabled the planting of the new Kikoka kiwi variety in particularly favorable conditions. The initial results are very encouraging, with high-quality fruit and significant potential for commercial development. It is a win-win model. Reden makes the most of the electricity produced by the solar panels installed on the roofs of the greenhouses, while the growers benefit from a modern tool adapted to secure and optimize a demanding crop. This is a new step towards diversifying our orchard and meeting growing market demand for premium yellow kiwis.
According to Olivier Bousquet, executive director of development France at Reden, "this project demonstrates that agrivoltaics can meet the climatic and economic challenges facing fruit growers. The greenhouses in Générac are not an isolated case. They illustrate a sustainable and reproducible model, which opens up new prospects for local production while reinforcing the energy transition. We are proud to be supporting the introduction of Kikoka yellow kiwis in the Gard, providing a solution that benefits both farmers and the region."
For more information:
https://reden.solar/
