Six colleges in the Metropolis of Lyon soon to be covered with solar panels

The Lyon Metropolis receives approximately 2,000 hours of sunshine per year. A Source of energy that is still relatively little exploited, even if the trend seems to be changing…

“In France, we are very late on everything relating to the installation of solar panels, for different reasons“, noted Daniel Tainthe president of the Un Deux Toits Soleil collective.

The citizen cooperative founded in 2016 has embarked on a major operation: equip six middle schools in the Metropolis of Lyon in photovoltaic panels. And for this, it must find new members to invest in the project.

Ecological transition and civic action

The Métropole de Lyon, owner of the colleges, will therefore rent the roofs to the cooperative so that it can install the famous panels. The project, already well underway, amounts to just over a million euros: 700,000 euros borrowed and 300,000 euros raised from citizen investors.

“Anyone can be a contributor. It is a committed, concrete investment in favor of the climate. Donors thus join the cooperative, and can thus be associated with future decisions.“, continues Daniel Tain.

The interest is indeed to add up all the shares invested, at the price of 57 euros, to finance the projects. The collection is already open and it is possible to contribute until this summer (find the different projects here).

Then, if all goes well, the roofs of the six colleges located in Lyon, Grigny, Bron, Meyzieu and Vaulx-en-Velin can be equipped. They were chosen for their orientation in relation to the sun, but not only that. We must ensure that no “fat“construction is planned on the site.

Electricity production, planned for 2025, will be equivalent to the annual consumption of 860 people.

Since taking office at the head of the Metropolis, elected environmentalists have indicated their wish to multiply by ten, by 2030, the production of energy from solar panels.

In 2022, the solar plan adopted by metropolitan elected officials promised to accelerate the development of the sector. But also, to encourage citizen involvement in this area.