€3 million for the largest solar farm in Wallonia

18,720 solar panels producing 6,500,000 kWh of power per year. The new solar farm at Saint-Ghislain, the largest in Wallonia, is able to supply the electricity needs of 1,860 households, while also avoiding 2,300 tons of CO2 emissions annually.

Would you like to visit the largest solar farm in Wallonia? Ever since December 2019, you’ll need to go to Saint-Ghislain in Hainaut province, where a solar park consisting of over 18,720 photovoltaic panels, with power generation capacity totalling 6,400 kW, is scheduled to produce some 6,500,000 kWh of electricity per year. To give you an idea of what that means, the farm is able to meet the annual power consumption needs of 1,860 households.

2,300 tons of CO2 emissions saved every year

The new installation will bring about a 2,300 ton reduction in annual CO2 emissions, offsetting the CO2 output of around 2,000 cars and thus helping to combat harmful climate change. This type of project also helps to upgrade low-value or poor-added-value land in a sustainable manner, without hindering potential improvements to, or re-purposing of, the land at some point in the future.

Energy collaboration

This impressive renewable energy installation came into being thanks to close cooperation between the various partners. Gallée, the company that owns the land, expressed a desire to set in motion a social impact project. Perpetum Energy, the technical partner, developed, built and is now operating the renewable power generation units. Invest Mons Borinage Centre supported the project and made a small financial input. Meanwhile BNP Paribas Fortis, the main financial partner, set up a highly original financing structure closely geared to the needs of the project.

“With this financing arrangement for the largest solar farm in Wallonia, we’ve confirmed our leading role in the transition to more environmentally-friendly business. We support client companies carrying out projects in the renewable energy field both in Belgium and abroad.”, underlined Didier Beauvois, Head of BNP Paribas Fortis Corporate Banking.