Essendiéras
Solar energy
Sustainable Holidaysthanks to solar energy
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The Domaine d’Essendiéras, covering 360 hectares in the commune of Saint Médard d’Excideuil, has been owned by the Bakker family since 1999. In almost 20 years, this former agricultural property has been transformed into a tourism, golf and events estate.
Accommodation capacity now exceeds 300, divided between suites, rooms and gîtes. With camping, weddings and corporate seminars, the estate welcomes more than 450 people a day during the summer.
Operating like a small community, the estate has been designed with sustainability and the environment in mind. The estate has two boreholes more than 140 metres deep for its drinking water. The golf course and gardens are irrigated from ponds that collect water during the winter. And three wastewater treatment plants treat all wastewater on site. The desire for many years to have a renewable energy source came to fruition in July 2019 with the inauguration of a photovoltaic power station.
Cover the needs of 15,000 people on 5% of the property
The project to be self-sufficient in electricity was launched in 2008. After numerous studies, planning permission for the photovoltaic park was granted at the end of 2013. Over the years, the solar energy market has evolved considerably. It took 5 years to complete the administrative procedures and the technology has advanced considerably.
With a view to incorporating the best available technology into the project, Cap Vert Energie, an independent producer and supplier of renewable energy, offered to carry out a new technical feasibility study in 2016. Cap Vert Energie’s engineers optimised the project to increase the power output from 10.9 MWp to 17 MWp over the same surface area. The photovoltaic park covers 18 hectares, just 5% of the estate’s surface area. The project won the 2nd tranche of the Energy Regulation Commission 4 call for tenders in July 2017.
Given the amount of sunshine in the Dordogne, annual production exceeds 20 GWh, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of a town of 15,000 inhabitants. Domaine d’Essendiéras is part of the Communauté de Communes Isle Loue Auvézère en Périgord, which has a population of around 15,000. In theory, the community will have a positive energy balance, at least during the day!
15000
People provided with electricity
18
HECTARES
1841
Tonnes of CO2 avoided
Solar panelsto improve the environment
20 years ago, the site of the solar park was covered with apple orchards, which were heavily treated with all kinds of chemicals. The impact on the surrounding environment, but also on the health of the workers at the time, was very significant. After cleaning up the site and the surrounding area, more than 20 hectares of bee fallow were planted. A mixture of flowers grows between and around the rows of solar panels. Beehives have been installed to allow the bees to establish themselves and to help the population to recover.
The Domaine d’Essendiéras photovoltaic park saves 1,841 tonnes of CO₂ per year. We hope to take the term ‘green tourism’ a step further. Located in the heart of the Périgord Vert, the Domaine d’Essendiéras offers many outdoor activities: 25 km of hiking and mountain biking trails in the 100 hectares of woodland. It’s the ideal place to enjoy peace and nature. Enjoy a more sustainable experience, whether for your holidays, your seminars or your wedding. There are 4 charging points for electric cars, compatible with any type of vehicle with a type 2 socket.
Visual impact and construction
The solar park is located to the north of the estate, in an enclave. The park is not visible from the Châteaux and their gardens, or from the holiday homes. The project is only visible from certain holes on the golf course and from the clubhouse. The panel modules are designed to capture all the sun’s rays, making reflections negligible.
The transformation of the landscape will be less significant than when the apple orchards existed. Apple trees covered in anti-hail nets had a much greater visual impact. What’s more, solar power doesn’t cause any noise pollution or pollution from plant protection products!
Construction of the park began in October 2018 and was completed in July 2019. The producer Cap Vert Energie is our trusted partner for the development, financing, construction and operation of the plant.