In partnership with Gestamp Solar, Renault is launching what it is says will be the world’s biggest solar energy project in the automotive industry by installing solar roof panels at several of its French plants.

Solar panels will cover the roofs of the delivery and shipping centers at the Douai, Maubeuge, Flins, Batilly and Sandouville sites, and the staff parking lots at Maubeuge and Cléon.

The panels will cover an area of 450,000 square meters, or the equivalent to more than 60 football fields. They will provide an installed power capacity of 60 megawatts, or the annual consumption equivalent of a town with a population of 15,000.

The project is part of Renault 2016 - Drive The Change, Renault’s strategic plan to reduce its carbon footprint by 10% by 2013 and by a further 10% between 2013 and 2016. By using renewable solar energy, Renault says it will cut its CO2 emissions by 30,000 tons a year.

The start date for installation is mid-June 2011. Completion is scheduled for February 2012.

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