A third of the electricity consumed in Mayenne comes from renewable energy produced locally, in particular thanks to the development of wind farms. Solar energy is also promising and many photovoltaic projects are underway.
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The Mayenne department has no less than 94 wind turbines. They produce the majority of the department's carbon-free electricity. This energy represents 70% of green energy in Mayenne, far ahead of photovoltaics at 14% and bioenergy at 12.9%.
Near the town of Montjean, the Mécorbon park, commissioned in December 2023, hosts two latest generation wind turbines, the most powerful in the Loire region, 200 meters high.
“Today, the blades are 72 meters long, while the old ones were around 35 meters long. This allows us to have better wind resistance and therefore to produce 4.8 megawatts of unit power, which represents twice as much as the previous wind turbines”explains Albane Gautier, wind power development manager.
These two wind turbines alone produce the equivalent of the annual consumption of 11,500 inhabitants, enough to satisfy energy transition activists.
“First, we have wind potential. The first wind turbines were placed on peaks, so they had interesting productivity. The second element is undoubtedly acceptability which was rather good,” assures Michel Lemosquet, president of the La Coedra Mén association.
But the department is not immune to protests; it takes on average seven years for a wind project to see the light of day. Hence the interest in the energy mix, particularly solar
In five years, the number of photovoltaic sites has exploded with now more than 1,755 installations and production has doubled.
In the town of Fromentières, near Château-Gontier, a parking lot and a bowling alley currently under construction will soon be covered with photovoltaic panels. The investment amounting to 750,000 euros is supported by Mayenne Ombrière, a company responsible for accelerating the energy transition.
In exchange for its land, this small town will benefit from these facilities at a lower cost. “750,000 euros is the equivalent, roughly speaking, of our annual budget, explains Christian Livenais, mayor of the town of 840 inhabitants. So, you can imagine that we cannot put such sums into such equipment. And so here, we benefit from this opportunity.”
Under construction, this parking lot will soon be covered with photovoltaic panels
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© France Télévisions
If electricity consumption takes place mainly in large urban centers, it is in rural areas that the production of green energy is developing. “The energy transition, the means of production, can only be placed in rural areas, because that is where we have the space, explains Christophe Lemarié, technical director of Société Energie Mayenne. “The new transition that we must make is to benefit rural areas.” Ultimately, we will be able to sell locally here, independently of the European electricity market.”
Around sixty solar installations of this type should see the light of day in 2025 in the department. Today, renewable energies cover a third of Mayennais' consumption. By 2030, the goal is to reach 50%.
► The report by Florie Cotenceau and Corentin Renoult
