Léa Guilmain, a driven and passionate agronomist, joined Novar in May 2026. Thanks to her theoretical knowledge and strong understanding of agricultural issues, she contributes to every stage of a project, from prospecting through to supporting the engineering consultancies responsible for overseeing the installations.
Originally from Toulouse, Léa became an engineer driven by her passion for the environment. After completing preparatory classes, she decided to attend an agronomy school, where she specialised in regional dynamics, public policy and transition-related challenges, including energy.
“After graduating, I spent five years at a consultancy specialising in agroecology. I carried out the agricultural regulatory studies required for agrivoltaic projects and also worked directly with farmers, helping them assess their carbon footprint and advising them on their CSR policies,” she explains.
So why Novar? “I liked the idea of joining what is still a ‘young’ company in France. It means you can help shape the organisation and contribute to its strategic direction, which is exciting. I also immediately clicked with the other members of the team.”
Involved at every stage of the project
Léa has the advantage of having a very broad view of Novar’s projects, as she is involved throughout the entire process.
“I first contribute during the prospecting phase, highlighting departments with significant agricultural challenges or identifying regions where we already have contacts, which makes it easier to start conversations. I then help de-risk projects by identifying potential issues or obstacles we may encounter, giving us the best possible chance of bringing a project to completion. Finally, during the development phase, I help select the consultancies we work with and support them throughout their studies, making sure our projects align with local expectations, whether regulatory or more political.”
“I spend a lot of time explaining agricultural issues in a clear and accessible way, both internally and externally with our stakeholders. That is one of my strengths: I understand these topics in detail and with a high level of precision, while also being able to take enough of a step back to explain them in simple terms,” Léa says with a smile.
Getting out into the field and meeting everyone involved
What she particularly enjoys about her work is the variety of tasks and people she works with, as well as the opportunity to spend time in the field.
“I have a particular preference for collective projects, such as the one we are working on in the Meuse department. I love the idea that we are helping farmers connect with one another to develop agricultural projects on a larger scale.”
At the time of this interview, Léa is preparing to travel to Creuse for site scouting.
“Within a single area, I meet so many different people, from farmers and representatives of local authorities to residents. That is something I find really interesting as well.”
Her biggest day-to-day challenge is tackling misconceptions and preconceived ideas.
“Sometimes we face opposition to renewable energy projects on principle, and that leaves us with very little room to convince people otherwise.”
