Make the most of your land with solar energy
Ground-mounted or floating parks
Do you own an unused plot of land, an industrial wasteland, a disused quarry, a contaminated site, a disused road or an artificial lake? Mexens ex. Technique Solaire develops, finances and operates your turnkey solar power plant. Generate a sustainable income and help decarbonise your local area — without any investment on your part.
Turnkey project
Income
No investment required
Generate income from your unused land by installing solar farms
A ground-mounted solar farm is a solar power plant installed directly on the ground, usually on brownfield sites (industrial wasteland, disused quarries, abandoned roadsides, contaminated sites, etc.). Its floating variant is installed on artificial bodies of water (retention basins, quarry lakes, irrigation reservoirs) and has the advantage of not taking up any agricultural land.
The principle is simple: Mexens identifies the potential of your land, develops the project, secures the necessary permits, finances the construction and operates the power station for the entire duration of the lease. The electricity generated is fed into the grid. In return, you receive an annual rent without having to commit any of your own capital.
Our solar parks are custom-designed: fixed structures or trackers, with layouts optimised for the local topography and sunlight conditions, and scales ranging from a few MWp to several dozen MWp. Whether you are a landowner, a local authority, a farmer or an industrial operator, Mexens tailors the project to your specific circumstances and objectives.
Key points regarding ground-mounted or floating solar farms
Whether you have unused land, a brownfield site, a disused quarry, a contaminated site, a disused road or an artificial lake, our range of solar farms can be tailored to the nature and layout of your site.
Third-party investment
No investment required on your part
Income
Annual rent for the entire term of the lease
Made to measure
Fixed structures or trackers, ranging from a few MWp to over 50 MWp
Territorial
Tax revenue and local jobs for your community
The benefits of a ground-mounted or floating solar power plant
Economical
Mexens covers the entire cost of the investment: development, planning permission, construction and connection.
In return for making your land available, you will receive an annual rent for the duration of the lease. A stable source of additional income, requiring no effort and carrying no financial risk.
Property valuation
Turn unused land into a productive asset.
Brownfield sites, disused quarries, abandoned motorway land, contaminated sites or artificial ponds: a solar farm breathes new life into spaces that no longer generate any value.
Territorial
A solar farm generates direct economic benefits for your local area: local tax revenue, job creation during construction and operation, and a boost to the local economy.
Some projects also include a crowdfunding scheme open to local residents.
Sustainable
Play an active part in the energy transition by generating low-carbon electricity in your local area.
Strengthen your commitment to climate action with a project that is visible, measurable and reversible — the panels are dismantled and recycled at the end of their life, and the site is restored to its original condition.
What types of land are suitable for a solar power plant?
Many underutilised sites offer significant solar potential. Our teams carry out a comprehensive assessment to evaluate the feasibility of your project.
Brownfield sites (industrial or military)
Former quarries, landfill sites, contaminated sites
Roadside, motorway, railway or airport lay-bys
Fallow or uncultivable agricultural land
Artificial water bodies: retention basins, quarry lakes, irrigation reservoirs
Plots of land in business parks or on the outskirts of towns
Mexens covers all costs
associated with your solar power plant
Analysis of your site (topography, sunlight exposure, access, grid connection capacity), preliminary environmental assessment and project scoping.
Consultation with local stakeholders, preparation of the planning application, environmental impact assessment, public consultation, and obtaining planning permission and connection authorisations.
Financial arrangements, selection of equipment, installation of structures and panels, connection to the grid.
Operational management of the power station (monitoring, performance), as well as preventive and corrective maintenance, will be carried out by our own technical teams throughout the lease term.
At the end of the lease, the park can be dismantled and the land returned. As a member of Soren, we arrange for the collection and recycling of end-of-life panels.
Ground-mounted or floating solar power plant: are you eligible?
Whether you are a landowner, a local authority or an industrial client, our solutions can be tailored to your specific circumstances and the nature of your land.
Request a studyRelevant profiles
Private landowner
Local authority
Horticulturist
Community of municipalities
Industrial
Carrier
Motorway company
Developer
Public body
Technical requirements
Have a plot of land of at least 1 hectare
Land that has been altered by human activity (wasteland, landfill, quarry, derelict site) or a body of water
Discover our ground-mounted and floating solar power plants
With over 1,200 projects in operation across France and internationally, Mexens has a proven track record in the development and operation of ground-mounted and floating solar power plants,
They chose Mexens for their solar power plant
Do you have a project?
Your projectWhy choose Mexens for your solar farm?
Contact usOur expertise
An independent renewable energy producer since 2008, Mexens operates more than 920 MW of assets in France and internationally. A single point of contact supports you from the feasibility study through to the operation and maintenance of the plant, throughout the entire lease term.
Our integrated know how
Mexens manages the entire value chain: development, design, financing, legal affairs, construction, operation and maintenance. This integrated approach ensures quality, responsiveness and long-term performance.
Discover our other solar power solutions
See all our solutions
Frequently asked questions about ground-mounted and floating solar farms
A ground-mounted photovoltaic plant is a solar power facility made up of rows of panels installed on metal structures anchored to the ground, generally on uncultivated or degraded land.
A floating photovoltaic plant is a solar power facility where panels are installed on floating structures on the surface of an artificial body of water (retention basins, quarry lakes, irrigation reservoirs), secured by anchoring systems fixed to the bottom or the banks. This technology has the advantage of not using any agricultural land and benefits from a natural cooling effect that improves panel efficiency.
The most suitable sites are industrial or military brownfields, former quarries, rehabilitated landfills, roadside or highway leftover land, polluted land (ICPE), and artificial water bodies. A minimum surface area of 1 hectare is required for ground-mounted plants, and 10 hectares for floating plants.
The landowner receives an annual rent for the duration of the lease. The amount depends on the size of the plant, sunlight conditions, and grid connection constraints. This rent provides a stable and guaranteed additional income, with no investment required on your part.
A building permit is required above 250 kWp. An environmental impact assessment is required from 300 kWp (case-by-case) or 1 MWp (systematic assessment), followed by a public inquiry. For floating plants, authorization under water regulations may also be required. Mexens handles all these procedures.
Mexens finances, builds, and operates the power plant at its own expense. The landowner makes the land available through a long-term lease (emphyteutic lease). The electricity produced is sold and the revenue covers the investment. The landowner receives rent with no financial risk.
A well-maintained photovoltaic plant can operate for over 40 years. Mexens ensures maintenance throughout the lease duration and replaces faulty equipment. At the end of its life, the panels are collected and recycled by Soren.
Yes, in certain configurations. Agrivoltaics allows combining solar production with grazing (sheep, cattle). Mexens offers dedicated solutions in partnership with local farmers. → Discover our agrivoltaic cattle/sheep solution
- Ground-mounted photovoltaic plant project – La Chapelle-Longueville: Project committee presentation
- Ground-mounted agrivoltaic plant project – Neufchelles: Project committee presentation
Do you have any other questions?
Contact our teamsAre you planning a ground-mounted or floating solar farm?
Do you have an unused plot of land, a brownfield site or an artificial lake? Our development teams are here to help you assess your site’s solar potential.
Everything you need to know about ground-mounted and floating solar farms
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