In the north of Haute-Vienne, wind turbines are growing like mushrooms. There are already forty-six masts in this part of the department and projects are multiplying. In La Bazeuge, where you can already see the pales of neighboring towns, developers have spotted ideal land.
What is the area concerned?
The German company Alterric says it has not yet defined the exact area where it wants to erect two wind turbines. It nevertheless demarcated an area to the west of this commune of one hundred and fifty inhabitants, a high point between the hamlets Le Monteil and La Pignoterie, located at an altitude of 230 meters.
The first house would be a little over 500 meters away. In the immediate vicinity of the area is notably the fortified house of the Monteil estate, which dates from the end of the Middle Ages, and which has just been renovated.
“Our investigations showed that the wind potential made it possible to obtain a viable wind project,” assures Grégory Le Goué, project manager at Alterric, who obtained a pre-approval from the owners and operators of the land.
How high would the wind turbines be?
The height of the nacelle will be at least 120 meters if the project is carried out. “These are two new generation wind turbines that will be installed, more powerful machines, with longer blades, which will be able to produce as much as the four neighboring wind turbines at Azat-le-Ris,” calculates Grégory Le Goué. The power of a wind turbine will be 4.5 megawatts, or enough to power a total of five thousand homes.
Where is the project?
Environmental studies began last April and are expected to last a few more months. In the region, there are skylarks, common buzzards and common pipistrelles. “This study on the fauna and flora is carried out over a year, to understand all the biological cycles of the species, and is carried out by an independent office,” indicates Grégory Le Goué.
A landscape study and an acoustic study will also be carried out. “Sound level meters will be installed near the houses closest to the planned wind turbines, starting next week, again by an independent office,” continues the company representative.
At the earliest, a file will be submitted to the State services, at the end of 2025, which will notably precede an investigation and a public inquiry. Alterric representatives indicate that many parameters prevent them from defining the potential construction date of the wind turbines.
Where does the Alterric company come from?
This is the first time that the French branch of the Alterric company has undertaken to erect wind turbines in Haute-Vienne. This company, created in 2021, is the merger between the German turbine manufacturer Enercon and Ewe, a German energy service provider. She claims to have experience based on the construction of two hundred wind turbines in France.
What will be the financial benefits for communities?
The Alterric company calculates that each wind turbine will bring in 50,000 euros every year to the communities – the village of Bazeuge, the community of communes Haut-Limousin en Marche and the department of Haute-Vienne.
Representatives of the Alterric company will hold an information service in the village hall of the Bazeuge town hall on December 5, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Guillaume Bellavoine
[email protected]
