Vast ‘fields’ of solar panels have been installed at six Renault production plants across France to help reduce the company’s CO2 emissions, lower its electricity bill… and protect new vehicles.

The panels – more correctly known as photovoltaic installations – cover a combined area of 400,000 square metres. If that’s hard to picture, consider it this way: it’s the equivalent of 60 soccer pitches.

They have been installed at Renault’s plants in Douai, Maubeuge, Flins, Batilly, Sandouville and Cléon and together are capable of producing 52,600 MWh of electricity a year. That’s enough to power a town of 15,000 people.