In the tiny commune of Dambron, population 95, a German energy company’s plan to install 120 stationary lithium-ion batteries has ignited fierce opposition. The mayor now threatens to resign if the project moves forward.
Enertrag proposes transforming a sugar beet field in the heart of the Beauce plain into rows of shipping containers by spring 2029. The 2.7-hectare site would store 124 megawatts of power, enough to supply 210,000 households for four hours. A landowner agreement is signed, but the building permit filed July 20 remains under review. The prefect has three months to decide.
Mayor Philippe Lesage rejects “having to leave such an infrastructure to future generations.” He says: “I am not against renewable energies. I simply cannot conceive of a project that will bring no jobs and will further disfigure our panorama, already saturated and scarred by wind turbines and power lines.” The acceptability threshold, he argues, has been reached.
“The fight is difficult for a small village like ours,” the mayor admitted. Enertrag announced a 1.1 billion euro investment plan in France by 2030. According to the company director, Dambron is among the few available connection points on RTE’s grid, with its proximity to a power substation a key prerequisite.
Proponents say lithium-ion batteries stabilize grid frequency and prevent blackouts by compensating for imbalances between production and consumption, avoiding reliance on fossil fuels.
Yet residents worry about thermal runaway and fire risk in this cereal-growing region. The company chose lithium-iron-phosphate technology, considered safer and less prone to overheating. The investment is estimated at several tens of millions of euros.
For now, the mayor awaits the prefect’s decision, vowing to step down if the municipal council’s opposition is overruled.
Reference
Le Monde, “Dans la Beauce, face à un projet de stockage d’énergie par batteries lithium, un maire menace de démissionner,” published August 29, 2026. https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2026/08/29/dans-la-beauce-face-a-un-projet-de-stockage-d-energie-par-batteries-lithium-un-maire-menace-de-demissionner_6760029_3234.html