[Lille, France – June 26, 2024] – Ciel & Terre, pioneer in floating solar solutions, has started the anchoring installation and floating platform assembly for the future largest Floating Photovoltaic (FPV) power plant, the Ilots Blandin project in Haute-Marne, France. This project, initiated in 2019 by Q ENERGY, represents an installation of 72.3 MWp of floating solar power and 2 MWp on the ground (built by Perpetum), making it the largest project of its kind in Europe.
Europe’s Largest Floating Solar Project on Former Gravel Pit:
Q ENERGY, contractor for the construction of its project initiated in 2019, launched a tender for an EPC BOP, which was awarded to a consortium comprising Solutions 30 Sud-Ouest (formerly Sotranasa), Perpetum Energy and Ciel & Terre International. Spread over a vast 127-hectare site, divided into 6 lakes, the ‘Les Ilôts Blandin’ solar power plant will be installed on a former gravel pit that is partially still in use. The installation of a floating solar project on a quarry lake contributes to the enhancement of this industrial site. In addition, it produces solar energy while optimising land use and preserving available land resources.
Ciel & Terre, leading the way in floating solar expertise:
Ciel & Terre offers a turnkey solution, managing the design of the power plant, the anchoring installation and the floating solar platform assembly. With their “full-floating scope” offer, Ciel & Terre simplifies and optimises project management, providing developers and EPCs with a single point of contact to help them build the floating structure.
For the Ilots Blandin project, Ciel & Terre just finalized the anchoring installation process using a hybrid anchor solution with bank and bottom anchoring. Prior to the project, anchoring tests were carried out to determine the best solution for the site. To meet construction deadlines, two floating barges were mobilised simultaneously to complete the installation of the anchors in 21 weeks.
Alongside the anchoring work, the Ciel & Terre construction team has now assembled more than 40% of all the floating solar islands. Three mounting platforms have been deployed for the first three lakes to meet the deadlines by building 3 areas in parallel.
Optimizing efficiency: early design and standardization strategies in the Ilot Blandin solar project
At a very early stage, the consortium tackled every detail of the execution phase in order to optimise all the practical aspects of implementing such a project. Indeed, Ciel & Terre adapted the design of its Hydrelio aiR Optim float for the project, in order to install more capacity and meet performance requirements.
The aiR Optim also offers comfortable maintenance, wider walkways, and cabling management solutions specific to the project to properly organize the cable trays.
Standardisation methods were introduced at the various key stages of the project, right from the design stage, to facilitate and streamline on-site installation. “In terms of design, we have an electrical configuration of 27 modules per string, for all the reservoirs, which has enabled us to order and deliver string return cables already pre-assembled in the factory,” explains Vincent Pinchou, Ciel & Terre EMEA Project Manager.
Finally, to facilitate deliveries, a tailor-made logistics flow management was introduced to meet deadlines and reduce costs, in particular by treating the 6 reservoirs as 6 independent projects.
With its involvement in the construction of the largest floating solar plant in Europe, Ciel & Terre affirms its commitment to driving sustainable floating solar solutions and pioneering innovation in the renewable energy sector.
About…
Q Energy: Q ENERGY France is a major player in the renewable energy market in France. The company has been developing, building and operating wind and photovoltaic projects for 24 years. Today also positioned on the energy storage market, Q ENERGY continues to expand into new areas such as green hydrogen, to offer intelligent and complete solutions for the production and supply of sustainable energy in France. The company has more than 240 employees and 6 agencies across France, as well as a head office based in Avignon. Q ENERGY France is a company of the European Holding Q ENERGY Solutions, established in 2021 by Hanwha Solutions with the objective of leading the next generation of green and flexible energy generation in Europe. Headquartered in Berlin, Q ENERGY Solutions is a sister company of Q CELLS, a world-renowned manufacturer of photovoltaic modules. The two companies form the Renewable Energy Division of the Seoul-based Hanwha Solutions Group.
- Press contacts Q ENERGY: Kalamari : qenergy@kalamari.agency Raya Rizk I Mitali Fauquet +33 (0)7 85 15 22 40 I +33 (0)7 62 15 76 99
Ciel & Terre : Ciel & Terre, a globally recognized floating solar expert, boasts an impressive 13-year track record, having successfully installed 300 projects worldwide representing more than 1.5 GWp. Ciel & Terre aims to provide reliable solutions and services to deploy large floating solar power plants. To do so, the floating solar company is constantly optimizing its solutions and engineering support. Ciel & Terre’s floating solar solutions are based on 13 years of field-proven technology and can accommodate large photovoltaic panels. Ciel & Terre provides a complete turnkey solution from engineering to maintenance of the FPV island, including construction and anchoring works.
- Press contact Ciel & Terre : Chloé Stringaro – Tél : +33(0)3 20 01 05 68 – cstringaro@cieletterre.net
Solutions 30 : Solutions30 provides consumers and businesses with access to the key technological advancements that are shaping our everyday lives, especially those driving the digital transformation and energy transition. With its network of more than 15,000 technicians, Solutions30 has completed over 65 million call-outs since its inception and led over 500 renewable energy projects with a combined maximum output surpassing 1,000 MWp. In pursuing its vision of a more connected and sustainable world, Solutions30 has become an industry leader in Europe with operations in 10 countries: France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and Poland.
The capital of Solutions30 SE consists of 107,127,984 shares, equal to the number of theoretical votes that can be exercised. Solutions30 SE is listed on the Euronext Paris exchange (ISIN FR0013379484- code S30). Indexes: MSCI Europe ex-UK Small Cap | SBF 120 | CAC Mid 60 | NEXT 150 | CAC Technology | CAC PME. Visit our website for more information: www.solutions30.com
- Press contacts Solutions 30:
- Analysts/Investors: Nathalie Boumendil – Tél : +33 (0)6 85 82 41 95 – nathalie.boumendil@solutions30.com
- Press – Image 7: Charlotte Le Barbier – Tél : +33 (0)6 78 37 27 60 – clebarbier@image7.fr
Perpetum : For 16 years, Perpetum Energy has been a company active in the renewable energy sector, and more specifically in photovoltaics. Perpetum Energy is active in the Benelux countries and France and has already commissioned more than 500 MWp of photovoltaic capacity. Perpetum Energy designs, builds and maintains the projects entrusted to it. Where the counterparties so wish, Perpetum Energy also provides project development and financing (with a current portfolio of over 200 MWp). Accustomed to self-consumption projects, Perpetum Energy is now focusing on the decarbonization of large consumers through turnkey solutions combining photovoltaics, wind power and storage, for industry, infrastructure and the public sector.
- Press contacts Perpetum Energy : Valérie Gannereau – Tél : +32 492 11 22 54 – valerie.gannereau@perpetum.be
