On the hills of Auvergne, in the small village of Chadeleuf, the fields no longer sound as they used to. Instead of buzzing bees or the hum of tractors, one can hear a faint metallic whirring — the sound of panels slowly turning, following the sun’s path. They move almost silently, as if breathing in rhythm with nature. It is the sound of a new kind of farming – agrivoltaics, where the earth and the sun work together to produce both food and electricity.
Here, the company TSE has installed its first rotating photovoltaic system for field crops, a pioneering project that has already drawn the attention of scientists, engineers, and farmers across France.
A Glimpse of the Future
“This is our first photovoltaic tracker. We want to prove that it is possible to grow crops beneath solar panels while allowing farmers to continue their usual activities,” explains Jérôme from TSE, who led the site visit.
The project began in the spring of 2024, and construction took only two and a half months during the summer. It consists of seven metal structures supporting fewer than 400 photovoltaic modules, for a total capacity of around 300 kilowatts — enough to power a small village or several farms.
“It’s a small project, a demonstrator, but it allows us to develop an agronomic protocol in partnership with the Chamber of Agriculture of Puy-de-Dôme and CETA Limagne, to prove that solar energy and agriculture can coexist,” he adds.
Technology Serving the Crops
The panels move within an angle of ±55 to ±60 degrees, tracking the sun throughout the day. In the event of strong winds, the system automatically flattens into a safety position. The structures are installed at a height of 2.5 meters, with 15 meters of space between each row — enough room for tractors and other farm machinery to pass through.
“The idea of these solar canopies is to provide moving shade during the day without occupying too much space. This partial shade protects plants from drying out and helps them grow better during summer,” explains Jérôme.
The latest-generation M10R panels are designed to operate on slopes of up to 15%, and to withstand both wind and snow.
Remote-Controlled Agriculture
The system is not only automated but also controlled on demand by the farmer.
“When a farmer wants to work in the field, he calls us. We adjust the panels to open a passage between the rows. When he’s finished, we return them to their production position. The process takes about ten minutes,” explains one of TSE’s engineers.
A Wi-Fi-based local control system is planned to allow farmers to manage panel movements themselves. Until then, a 24/7 support line is available.
“We know that farmers often work at night, so it’s essential that they can rely on assistance at any time,” adds Jérôme.
A Living Laboratory
This site is not only a solar installation but also a living agronomic laboratory. Researchers study how different levels of shading affect crop growth and yield. For this purpose, the fields have been divided according to soil quality, ranging from the most fertile in the center to the poorer areas on the edges.
Early results show that crops under the panels experience less water stress, retain better soil moisture, and maintain lower soil temperatures, leading to yield increases of 15 to 20 percent compared to control plots.
Economics and Investment
Although TSE has not disclosed the exact investment amount, it is estimated that the cost of this demonstration project ranges between €300,000 and €470,000, depending on installed capacity and technology.
This includes the structure, modules, control system, and solar-tracking automation — about 10 to 30 percent more expensive than conventional solar installations.
Funding comes from TSE’s global investment portfolio, which has raised over €130 million for the development of agrivoltaic solutions throughout France. The expected return on investment is between seven and ten years, thanks to green energy production and more stable agricultural yields.
The Earth and the Sun in Harmony
The Chadeleuf farm illustrates a new philosophy of European agriculture — one where energy and food production no longer compete but complement each other.
“Our goal is to show that agriculture is not an obstacle to the energy transition, but its key partner,” concludes Jérôme.
And while the panels hum softly as they turn toward the sun, one thing is clear: the future of French farming is already moving.
