Oncopole solar PV project

completed

The 15MW Oncopole solar PV project in Toulouse, France, is a symbolic urban renewable energy development transforming the site of the 2001 AZF factory explosion into a landmark of regeneration. Spread across 25 hectares, it comprises 35,000 solar panels and generates approximately 19,000MWh of electricity annually, powering more than 4,000 homes and supplying nearby facilities including a hospital and cancer research institute. The project features a land art installation called Rainbow Blast with 1,500 coloured solar panels arranged to reflect the intensity of the original explosion. The site posed technical challenges due to flood zone location and contaminated ground conditions, requiring overhead cabling and no excavation. Its urban location made construction complex but advantageous for generating power close to consumption.