These photovoltaic tiles are black, flat and square. They are more reminiscent of slates. Marie-Christine Soulhiard, the mayor of Saint-Etienne-de-Valoux, wanted an aesthetic roof: “We have a pretty village and we didn’t want to damage this architectural side. We didn’t want photovoltaic panels, because it’s not fully integrated into the roof. There, the tiles provide the cover and the photovoltaic in one and the same product.”
It’s so innovative that we had to change design office to be sure. Apem Energie took care of this. And the installers of the Ardèche company Icare PV had to train with the tile manufacturer in Châtellerault. It was therefore not the most obvious choice, but a necessary choice underlines Marie-Christine Soulhiard: “everyone must contribute their stone to the building of ecological transition. And we communities, it is our role to get into this, to show what we can do.”
Around 350 euros excl. VAT per m² for the product and its installation
It costs 350 euros excluding VAT per m², almost twice as expensive as photovoltaic panels, and much more expensive than an ordinary roof. But the village hall will be self-sufficient in energy explains Jacques Bonnaud, municipal councilor in charge of real estate and works: “the overall production allows us, with the total resale of the energy, to cover all the energy costs of the room: heating, cooling, electricity. We produce what we consume. I think it is the future that is being written in front of us. Tomorrow, each building will have to be self-sufficient in energy.”
By chance, the town discovered a well while building its village hall. It will therefore also be autonomous for watering the surrounding flower beds. The room should be operational in early 2023.
– Nathalie Rodrigues