Parc photovoltaique, financial dream or nightmare?

 Harry Morskate | 7 januar  2011
In 2005 a 'Parc Eolien' was built in our community, despite the objections of a significant number of residents for noise pollution and damage of nature. The concerns were easily brushed aside by our mayor, mainly on the grounds that «the financial benefit" would be a good contribution to our community». Now we know that:
  • there is indeed a noise problem,
  • the windmills are certainly not a tourist attraction.
  • these windmills financially contribute virtually nothing to our community.
Although we can not know officially, from February 25, 2010 no council reports is published, the councel of the community is working on the development of Parc photovoltaique of 30 hectares. The municipality has carried out an examination of € 6,000,-. This while the
Parc photovoltaique about 30 Hectares, click on the photo
parcels not only are owend by the municipality, but also privately owned, please note that 7.4 hectares to include the mayor Jean Paul Arnaud.

According to the major national environmental plan, France must have at the end of 2012 1,100 megawatts of solar-generated power. With numerous projects submitted would it even be 3,000 megawatts. Just like the German example, the Ministry of Economic Affairs likes tot link the subsidy rates to the number of projects waiting for approval, a form of restriction. The yearly extension  may not be more than an average of 500 megawatts generated by all parties including individuals, corporations and 'solar farms'.

The very high price of 58 centimes by kilowatt (one of the highest in Europe) who private generators now receive, cost the EDF too much money and can not be funded in the growing range. All customers of EDF to pay extra towards the development of new forms of production through the CSPE, Contribution au service public de l'électricité.) 		For the additional cost of many new applications to keep paying the bills for all EDF customers would be increased by 10% to go. EDF sells electricity at an average price of 10 centimes by kilowatt.

And if private generators would exceed their quarterly quota the EDF subsisie rate should automatically go down by a factor that is related to the amount of the excess. The Ministry intends to negotiate on the basis of a rate 10% lower than the current rate for individuals of 58 centimes per kilowatt. The major generators of solar power, such as malls and farms would be covered under a similar system.

The new subsidy rates for 2012:
  • 58 centimes (was 61 centimes/kWh) for integrated photovoltaic cells in homes, schools and hospitals.
  • 42 centimes (was 50 centimes/kWh) for simpler integrated plants for the other buildings (mostly agricultural barns, stables, etc.)  and
  • 31.4 centimes for separate panels in the most sunny areas, 37.7 centimes in  the least sunny areas
As of June 2012, the subsidy rates continue to fall by 10% annually. The government has let raising the applications for the construction of photovoltaic devices into a reservoir ("artificial lake") and has decided to discourage a new measure: Requests continue to be there unanswered three months. In the meantime the government is preparing new legislation. The decree is dated December 9, 2010 for this purpose and is entered on December 11, 2010. It is now the time for to question "whether there is still to get some reasonable return of investment in the future".

It is therefore important that all residents of the community are well informed. Not only about the decisions, the degradation of nature, the potential conflict of interest, but also about the usefulness and possible financial returns and risks. This is to prevent that it is going the same way as to the Parc Eolien. Disruption and degradation of nature and no revenue for the inhabitants of our, still beautiful, community.
     
La commune de DIO ET VALQUIÈRES, située dans le département de l'HERAULT, au pied des Cévennes, réunie trois hameaux DIO, VALQUIÈRES et VERNAZOUBRES, d'une importance quasi égale, et abrite 139 habitants sur une superficie de 1.877 hectares. La Gazette de Dio et Valquières est une initiative de citoyens concernés qui surveillent de façon critique la politique municipale.
Gazette de Do et Valquières