In Reunion, Solar Power is Crucial for Agriculture – and Social Reintegration

Sandra Chane Waye is the manager of the Bardzour project at AFD’s Reunion office. What makes this place distinct, is it’s the first such plant with energy storage on an island (9 MW). “It’s a world first in terms of size, energy storage and the location on an island and in a prison.”

“Reunion is a land of innovative solutions,” she says. Because with Bardzour, it isn’t just about combining power generation with agricultural production. It also involves including a social component for the integration of inmates, some of whom took part in the construction of the power plant and others participate in the agricultural activities.

“Akuo Energy is committed to including a strong social component in its economic activities, which is in line with AFD’s mandate. In this case, we’re developing renewable energies on the island and we’re promoting reintegration into the professional world.” The program is fully in tune with AFD’s strategy, which promotes energy efficiency and the positive climate impact and, second, the strengthening of social cohesion and reduction of inequalities.

The power plant has received awards, and several countries are now following its lead.

A former self-employed farmer, Rémi Rivière now works for Agriterra as deputy farm manager and trainer at Bardzour. Every day, he organizes the timetable at the detention center, checks on the farm – and the inmates. “My role is to supervise them, give them instructions to ensure the farm operations run smoothly,” says Rivière. “I also share information about alternative agricultural practices that respect the soil, biodiversity, workers and consumers.”

They generally have a good relationship, says Rivière. Rémi works to make sure there’s a good atmosphere, “while being rigorous, serious and firm”. Most of the operators are motivated, often “grateful to the company and its teams” and happy to work at Bardzour.

“They know that their reintegration will be easier because they’ve worked and had this experience. The fact of working at Agriterra provides them with a source of income, allows some of them to hone the skills and acquire new ones,” says Rivière. “As the training progresses, we generally see that inmates are more autonomous, more interested, they learn how to work in a team and take more and more responsibilities.”

Akuo Energy is a French group specialized in developing and financing the operation of power plants using renewable resources. In 2007, it developed the patented concept of Agrinergie: a unique system combining power generation with agricultural production on the same site. The objective: supply 100% renewable energy (and green Reunion’s energy mix), while maintaining or creating agricultural land.

Bardzour houses 6,000 m² of solar greenhouses and 2,700 m² of field crops. “The agricultural production is secured by anticyclonic solar greenhouses equipped with insect-proof nets which allow the air to circulate while protecting the crops,” says Xavier Ducret, CEO of Akuo Energy Indian Ocean, “The solar panels, which supply electricity to 14,000 inhabitants a year, act as shade for certain plants.”

Part of the available land in the detention center is used to preserve endemic species. It is an arboretum developed by the National Botanical Conservatory in Mascarin, which helps create a peaceful atmosphere for family visits.

Farming is the main activity of Agriterra, a partner company of Akuo Energy to help it develop its expertise in Agrinergie. “Our aim is to apply resilient agriculture with permaculture and agroecology techniques in order to respect the environment as much as possible, as well as the health of producers and consumers,” says Angélique Grimaud, Head of Operations at Agriterra.

The company also contributes to the integration of inmates or, as they are often referred to, the "operators." Since 2014, 53 of them have benefited from training for an average duration of ten months prior to their release. “We train them in the occupation of multi-skilled agricultural worker through nine training modules, for example, on setting up irrigation systems, soil management, plant care, preparing products for sale and spatial planning.” They also benefit from assistance with any projects to set up their own farming activity.

The wide variety of crops grown on the farm is another advantage for the operators. They include organic market gardening and fruit growing, as well as sustainable horticulture. What’s more, some operators want to work at Agriterra when they are released; others have already become farmers.

The 27,000 solar panels cover an area of 4.5 hectares, which generate an annual total of 10 GWh in local renewable electricity. This contributes to Reunion’s energy strategy, by reducing dependence on imports, and minimizing the share of fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions in the energy mix. Bardzour is reducing CO₂ emissions by 8,868 tons every year.

“It’s also about continuing to produce electricity to support the island’s growth and contribute to its economic development,” says Marc Dubernet, AFD’s Regional Director, “The project is structuring a green energy generation sector for EDF.” 

EDF’s Island Electric Production injects renewable electricity into the grid by storing energy in lithium-ion batteries, which offset the lower levels of power generation when there is less sunshine – the batteries can store an hour of the power plant’s generation, i.e. 9 MW). All of the electricity produced by Bardzour is sold to EDF.