France-basedValorem has inaugurated the Tonnelles photovoltaic park in Saint-Varent on a rehabilitated quarry. The facility is designed to generate 5.4 GWh annually, supplying nearly 1,200 households with electricity. This output was estimated to avoid 2,347 tonnes of COâ‚‚ emissions each year compared with gas-fired generation. The project was supported through €500,000 raised from 200 local lenders via crowdfunding. Construction included nearly 900 hours of work by employees in professional integration programs. The site has also become a refuge for birds, reptiles, and bats through natural recolonization. Saint-Varent mayor Pierre Rambault said the initiative showed how an industrial site was transformed into a productive space where solar power and biodiversity coexist. The park involved participation of local officials, partners, and citizens during its inauguration.