en.Wedoany.com Reported - Spanish EPC contractor Ijes Solar is building an 8.9 MW solar park for TotalEnergies in the Dordogne department of France, located on an archaeological site.

Named the Les Brandes solar park, the ground-mounted photovoltaic plant spans 9 hectares with an installed capacity of 8.9 MW, situated in the municipalities of Ménesplet and Montpon-Ménestérol.

The project received its building permit in 2023, construction began in September 2025, and it is scheduled to be connected to the grid in summer 2026. During a survey conducted in September 2024 by the French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP), archaeological remains were discovered on the site, prompting the developer to adopt construction methods that protect the archaeological layers.

To preserve these remains, the project avoided traditional pile foundations or excavated foundations, instead using shallow gabion foundations to support the photovoltaic mounting structures without deep excavation. The gabions are installed on a gravel layer, distributing the load across the surface while providing structural stability. This system is fully reversible and can be removed in the future without significantly disturbing the underlying soil.

Anne Frederic, project manager at TotalEnergies Renewables France, stated that the project has been in development since 2017 and, once completed, will generate enough renewable electricity to meet the annual needs of nearly 3,500 households. The company has also launched a crowdfunding campaign to allow local residents to invest in the project and share in its economic benefits, while supporting the region's energy transition.