There is a place where people pay their respects to their loved ones, in the shadow of thousands of solar panels. Or at least there will be: in Saint-Joachim, a small French municipality that has decided to transform its cemetery into a green power plant. A bold idea, which is causing discussion, but which could represent a model for rethinking the use of public spaces in a sustainable way. Because, after all, what is more respectful for our ancestors than helping to preserve the planet for future generations?
A solution to multiple challenges
Saint-Joachim's decision to install a 1,3 megawatt solar canopy on his cemetery does not arise only from the desire to produce clean energy. This municipality of 4.000 souls, located in the heart of the Brière marsh, must in fact face multiple challenges. On the one hand, there is the need to find renewable energy sources to reduce environmental impact and dependence on fossil fuels. On the other hand, there is the problem of flooding that afflicts the cemetery, built on marshy land. The solar canopies, in addition to generating electricity, will also serve to collect rainwater, channeling it to a nearby sports complex and thus alleviating pressure on the area's delicate ecosystem.
A cemetery to honor those who are not there and nourish those who are
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this initiative is its community character. It is in fact a promoted "collective self-consumption" project by two local associations. Residents of Saint-Joachim were invited to participate by paying a symbolic fee of 5 euros to join the initiative. In exchange, they will be able to benefit from the energy produced by the 5.000 solar panels that will cover the 8.000 square meters of the cemetery. A way to actively involve the population in the energy transition, making them share in the benefits and responsibilities.
Of course, turning a place of eternal rest into a power plant may seem like an irreverent choice. Cemeteries are sacred spaces, full of emotional and spiritual meaning, and the idea of "exploiting" them for practical purposes can raise doubts. But if you think about it, what is more noble than putting this space at the service of the community and the environment? In a world facing the urgent challenge of climate change, every square meter counts. And the 3,35 million euros that the municipality of Saint-Joachim will invest in this project represent an investment for the future, a gesture of responsibility towards generations to come.
Rethinking public spaces
Saint-Joachim's initiative invites us to rethink the way we use public spaces. If we change our perspective, if we start to consider these places as resources to be valorised, new possibilities open up. Imagine a cemetery that, in addition to honoring the deceased, produces clean energy, hosts community gardens and provides spaces for meditation and reflection. Multifunctional spaces, which combine respect for the past with care for the future.
Of course, this approach doesn't work with all cemeteries. Each community has its own specific needs and sensitivities, and what works for Saint-Joachim may not be appropriate elsewhere. But the most important aspect of this project is the spirit that animates it: the will to face the challenges of the present with creativity and courage, questioning conventions and exploring new paths. In this sense, the initiative of this small French municipality can be an inspiration for all of us.
Perhaps the story of Saint-Joachim will remain an isolated case, a curious anecdote in the news of the energy transition. What is certain is that this cemetery, with its solar canopies, reminds us that even the most traditional places can become spaces of innovation and hope, if only we have the courage to look at the future with new eyes.
