Urbasolar Wins the Tender for the French State’s First Long-Term Direct Power Purchase Agreement
Urbasolar has won the tender for the French State’s first long-term direct electricity purchase agreement, concluded with the Ministry of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs.
In Salbris (Loir‑et‑Cher), on a former military site, the group will oversee the development and construction of a 42 MWp photovoltaic power plant, as well as its operation for a period of thirty years.
A polluted site transformed into a virtuous energy resource
The Salbris site, previously used for military activities, had remained unused since its closure in 2018. Its conversion into a photovoltaic power plant represents a truly virtuous enhancement of the area, transforming an abandoned site into a source of decarbonized energy serving the State’s energy needs.
Urbasolar, a recognized expert in the remediation of sensitive sites, has implemented an exemplary environmental approach, incorporating all Avoidance, Reduction and Compensation (ARC) measures. Thirty hectares will be reclaimed for the installation of the photovoltaic plant, enabling the preservation of a protected forest and its ecosystems on the remainder of the available land. Strict compliance with the protected species identified on the site was a founding principle guiding the project’s design choices.
“This project demonstrates that it is possible to combine three ambitions: the enhancement of land owned by the Ministry of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs, its budgetary resilience, and the production of decarbonized renewable energy,”
says Mathieu Morlay, Project Manager at the Defence Infrastructure Service – National Expertise and Production Division.
A first State PPA: an innovative and exceptional structure
This project represents a major turning point in the energy policy of the Ministry of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs. It is the first Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) under which the State directly purchases renewable electricity produced to cover part of its own energy needs. This innovative structure, resulting from close and constructive collaboration between the Ministry’s teams and Urbasolar, demonstrates that public‑private synergy can combine decarbonization objectives with rigorous financial and asset management.
The 30‑year PPA secures Urbasolar’s investment while guaranteeing the State a supply of renewable electricity at a competitive price. The exceptional and pioneering nature of this arrangement sets a valuable precedent for the State’s future energy procurement.
“Thanks to this unprecedented agreement, the Ministry of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs secures the supply of a guaranteed volume of energy for its armed forces at a stable price over the long term. We are very satisfied,”
adds Mathieu Morlay.
Major energy production serving local communities
The Salbris photovoltaic power plant will generate 50,182 MWh per year, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of 10,724 households, or 23,271 people. This large‑scale production of green electricity will directly contribute to the State’s carbon neutrality objectives and illustrates the potential of former military sites to become levers of energy sovereignty.
Environmental excellence as the foundation of the project
Urbasolar will deploy a rigorous project management strategy, including a comprehensive waste and materials management plan, ensuring delivery without lasting impact on the local environment. The ARC measures implemented will serve as a model for future solar developments on sensitive sites.
Demonstrating the exemplary reconversion of a military site
Awarded the contract on 30 March 2026, the Urbasolar Group will be responsible for the development, construction and operation of this power plant, which symbolizes a shared commitment to transforming military landholdings into energy resources serving the public interest.
“The Salbris project demonstrates that an exemplary reconversion can transform a military site into a valuable resource for the region and for the State’s energy autonomy,”
concludes Antoine Millioud, President of Urbasolar.
“This synergy between our teams and those of the Ministry of the Armed Forces opens up new perspectives for the large‑scale, responsible deployment of solar energy on military sites.”
Construction of the power plant is expected to begin before the end of 2028, with commissioning scheduled around 2030.
Illustration photo: Amilly Solar Power Plant – Photo credit: Urbasolar