Published on 30 September 2026

Châtel-Guyon opens its solar carports at the Vouée sports complex

Opened on Thursday 24 September, the solar carports at the Vouée sports complex cover the car park and the two padel courts, over 7,498 m². JR Énergie Conseil financed and built them, and operates them. The town uses the electricity they produce and expects savings of nearly one million euros over twenty years.

The car-park canopies in front of the Pôle Raquettes — drone view, September 2026

In Châtel-Guyon, the Vouée sports complex now produces its own electricity. On Thursday 24 September, the town opened the solar carports installed by JR Énergie Conseil over the car park and the two padel courts. Together they cover a total area of 7,498 m².

Drone view of the car park covered by solar canopies and of the padel courts — The covered car park in the foreground, the padel courts behind it, next to the tennis courts

A plant financed and operated by JR Énergie Conseil

The project is based on a temporary occupation permit granted by the town to JR Énergie Conseil. The company alone finances, builds and operates the solar plant. In return, the town receives a fee of 5,000 euros a year.

The galvanised steel structures carry the solar panels on their roofs. They rise to 5.33 m above the car park and to 8.68 m above the padel courts, which are now covered.

Solar carports over the car park, seen from the road — From the road, the canopies shelter the cars of the sports complex's users

Nearly one million euros saved over twenty years

All the electricity produced on site is used by the town, for its street lighting and public facilities. Thanks to a collective self-consumption contract, the town's price per kilowatt-hour drops from €0.25 to €0.16. The town estimates the saving at 47,712 euros a year, or about one million euros over twenty years.

The two padel courts covered by a solar canopy — The two padel courts, under a canopy rising to 8.68 m

More than solar panels

Scheduled from 26 May 2026 for about three months, the works also included fully resurfacing the car park and a rainwater management system, with a collection pit that serves the green spaces. A small green area with five newly planted trees makes up for the tree that could not be kept.

Drone view of the Vouée sports complex with its solar carports, the Pôle Raquettes and the stadium — The Vouée sports complex from above: car-park canopies, Pôle Raquettes and stadium

Collective self-consumption for local authorities

Based in Cournon-d'Auvergne, JR Énergie Conseil designs and builds solar plants from a few kilowatts to several megawatts, such as the Cournon solar plant. In Châtel-Guyon, it shows what collective self-consumption brings to a town: energy produced on site, a controlled electricity price, and a plant the town did not have to invest in.

Discover JR Énergie Conseil · The project announcement on the Town of Châtel-Guyon website (in French)

Figures: Town of Châtel-Guyon · Photos: JR Énergie Conseil