Lille, January 01, 2023 – Ciel & Terre, the international floating solar expert, has completed the construction of its latest floating solar project located in Montpezat-d’Agenais in the southwest of France. With this new 3.5MW project, the company has built the equivalent of 14.5MW in France in 2022.
Ciel & Terre EMEA: turnkey floating solar projects
A year after the official comeback of Ciel & Terre on the French floating solar market (previously conducted in partnership with Akuo), the FPV pioneer has already built 14.5MWp in France in 2022 with the construction of 3 floating projects with a capacity of 5MWp, 6MWp and 3.5MWp.
Image: Antonin, Construction manager in the EMEA region walking on the plantÂ
​Their distinctive features? The scope of services offered by Ciel & Terre EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa). Indeed, with more than 270 power plants installed worldwide, the company has developed a complete approach to floating solar project including the engineering of the power plant and its anchoring, the supply of the floating structure and anchoring systems, the anchoring work, the assembly of the floats and PV panels and the launching of the floating island. Beyond supplying the floating structure, the company has expanded its associated services by developing its human and material resources and by adapting its processes to offer full support to EPCs and developers in the deployment of their projects.
Montpezat, the new flotovoltaic project installed by Ciel & Terre EMEA
The Montpezat project is installed on the lake of a former gravel pit that has ceased all operating activities and now is now rehabilitated to produce green energy. This project is developed by Amarenco and built by GenSun with the support of Ciel & Terre for the construction of the floating platform. In total, the project represents 4.8MWp and is composed of 2 parts: a ground-mounted of 1.5MWp and a floating of 3.3MWp. On this project, Ciel & Terre’s scope starts from the dimensioning of the floating platform, the anchoring system, the supply of the material, the installation of the anchors as well as the assembly of the floating platform with the solar panels.
​”During the construction phase, we had to adapt to certain external events, particularly due to the extreme heat wave faced last summer in France,” explains Antonin Lefebvre, Construction Manager at Ciel & Terre. “Indeed, with these high temperatures, we had to adapt by adjusting the working hours starting earlier in the morning to take advantage of the cooler weather, while respecting the deadlines, i.e. a construction completion scheduled for early September” he continues. In addition, since the lake’s extraction activity had not been operational for several years, the lake soil was harder than expected.Â
Image: Montpezat floating solar project under construction
​Ciel & Terre’s anchoring teams found solutions in adapting anchors and tools to allow a better penetration into the ground. “Our commitment is to provide seamless service to our clients, to adapt to site conditions and to ensure the longevity and reliability of the system for over 30 years. Thanks to the knowledge we have accumulated over the past 12 years and our experience with floating power plants installed on a wide diversity of sites, we are able to offer the right solution to our clients, both upstream and onsite” adds Vincent Grumetz, Ciel & Terre EMEA Director. Today the construction of the floating solar power plant is achieved and the project is expected to be fully completed by January 2023.
Image: Montpezat floating solar project completed
About Ciel & Terre, world leader in floating solar power
Founded in France in 2006, Ciel & Terre was specialized in the development and installation of rooftop and ground-mounted solar power plants in France and in La Reunion. In 2010, the company developed the concept of “solar on water” with its innovative and patented Hydrelio® technology: the first industrialized floating solar system in the world. Floating solar is a direct answer to the lack of space and land use conflicts. Ciel & Terre develops its projects on artificial ponds such as hydroelectric dams, water treatment or irrigation reservoirs, quarry lakes etc. The Hydrelio® solution is easy to install and has been designed to be compatible with a wide range of site conditions. Ciel & Terre provides a complete turnkey solution from the engineering of the plant and its anchoring to its installation and maintenance. Today, the company has more than 280 projects in the world, representing a total of 770MWp.
By Chloe, Marketing
