125 hectares will accommodate the Roujanel photovoltaic park, in the communes of Prévéchés and Pied-de-Borne. Enough to produce the equivalent of the electricity consumption of all Lozerians.
It is in Lozère that the largest photovoltaic park in Occitanie, and the third in France, will blossom. In total, 122 hectares will accommodate solar panels, 112 hectares in the commune of Prévéchés, 10 in that of Pied-de-Borne. They will not be in one piece, but spread over around ten plots. “It is a place suitable for the production of solar energyremarks Olivier Maurin, mayor of Prévéchés, not only because it is sunny, but also because it is windy and at a good altitude; this allows good ventilation under the panels.”
The consumption of 80,000 people
The Roujanel park alone will be able to provide 125 MWp, or the needs of 80,000 inhabitants, the equivalent of the departmental population. “In this territory, we are used to working with EDF. In my town, I have three dams. And photovoltaics, I have had them since 2009 on my agricultural buildings. We have a little perspective and sensitivity on renewable energies“, asks Olivier Maurin. With his counterpart from Pied-de-borne, Christian Masméjean, and the president of the community of communes, Jean de Lescure, all three are farmers: “Our country, we have no interest in damaging it.”
Local elected officials have been working on this project for more than five years. “Initially, it was a private project. We tried to make it a territorial project, and a real project of general interest.“
No impact on forests or agricultural land
Of the 300 ha of the initial study area, 120 ha were selected, sectional, communal and state land. Co-visibility zones were avoided; only one house will have reduced visibility on the signs. Olivier Maurin adds: “Agricultural areas and forest areas were excluded. We have beautiful forests that produce, there is no question of sacrificing them to install photovoltaic panels. These are areas that we consider to be natural wastelands, areas where the rock is almost flush, areas on which ultimately little will ever be done. And there, we have the opportunity to promote them.”
Revenue for the territory
“This project will benefit the region, it will generate significant rents for the community“, announces the mayor. Income from taxation will be of the order of €600,000 annually, distributed between the two municipalities, the community of municipalities, the Department and the Region. “It will be around €300,000 for the two municipalities and the community of municipalities.” Without forgetting the provision of land, “which could represent a direct windfall for Prévéchés of around €100,000 per year. On an operating budget of €800,000 to €900,000, this is not trivial. There was a need for it, and there will be an increasing need for it. In our small territories, to create new resources, what do we have?“
Jean de Lescure agrees: “We have big operating needs, and we don't release much for investment..” And to cite as an example the gymnasium built in Villefort. “The rest of the territory, in Bleymard, in Valdonnez, they are also waiting for their gymnasium. If the community of municipalities has decided to get involved, it is because it is a territorial project. Everything we did, we did it wanting to protect our territory. It’s our country, we love it and we don’t want to destroy it.”
“In complete clarity”
Of course, it took time for the project to mature. We had to explain it to residents, partners, and environmental defense associations as well. The project received 90% favorable opinions during the public consultation, 85% during the vote in the sections. “We even contacted the environmental world to explain the project, explain the precautions we have taken, the compensation measures put in place, confides Jean de Lescure. When you have a project like this, you have to work with complete clarity.”
Under the photovoltaic panels, biodiversity will be able to flourish. And sheep will come to graze, under panels installed at the lowest height of one meter, in fenced parks. This area had been abandoned by herds for almost a century.
The compensations put in place
For agriculture. This project will contribute €150,000 to the departmental agricultural compensation fund. The project also includes the construction of buildings. The Cuma (agricultural equipment use cooperative) of Chassezac will be able to benefit from part of the maintenance building to store its equipment. For the flock, an assistant shepherd will be employed, a water barrel installed.
For the people. It is not possible to consume the electricity produced locally. However, the population of Prévéchés and Pied-de-Borne will benefit from energy checks for a few years.
The work will begin in September 2025. It will not require deforestation, earthworks or concreting. Elected officials hope for commissioning between the end of 2026 and the beginning of 2027. “This still represents 100 million investment in the territory. The connection to the electrical station, the clearing and crushing, the installation of panels… This means two years of work, accommodation, daily meals…”, insists Olivier Maurin.
