The construction of a 20 MWp floating solar project in Leutenheim (Bas-Rhin, France), is now complete. This is the first large-scale floating solar power project in Alsace. It is also the first floating solar power plant built by Générale du Solaire, a French independent producer of renewable electricity that already owns more than 450 MWp of photovoltaic power plants in France.
Leutenheim floating PV plant was completed thanks to a partnership between Générale du Solaire and Ciel & Terre, which offers innovative floating solar solutions based on feedback from more than 325 projects installed on all types of artificial ponds.
The largest floating solar project in Alsace, France, rehabilitates a former gravel pit in Leutenheim
Leutenheim floating solar plant ID card
After 5 years of development, 6 months of works and the active support of the local authority, which owns the site, the construction of Leutenheim floating photovoltaic project is now complete. The solar plant will produced 21,750 MWh of electricity annually. It represents the equivalent of the energy needs of 7,250 homes* per year (excluding heating). They avoid the emission of the equivalent of 1,392 tonnes of CO2** per year. To date, this floating installation is the first of its kind in Alsace. It is also the first to be commissioned by Générale du Solaire, which is currently developing several other projects of this type.
Leutenheim project seen from above ©Générale du Solaire
Floating solar on a quarry pond?
Leutenheim floating PV plant will make the most of a gravel pit in an area that is no longer being used. The 2-island plant is helping rehabilitate the industrial pond, turning it into a source of renewable energy production. Floating solar power is compatible with commercial and industrial activities such as mining and quarrying. Each site has its own specific characteristics which Ciel & Terre responds to with the best-suiting technical solutions.
Leutenheim floating solar plant: a premiere in Eastern France thanks to a major partnership between Générale du Solaire and Ciel & Terre
How busy was 2024 with floating solar?
2024 was a particularly busy year for Ciel & Terre in France, with the construction of 3 floating solar projects, equivalent to more than 100MWp. Leutenheim is one of those projects. The project was initiated by Générale du Solaire, which took charge of the development, construction, financing, and operation of the solar farm and co-constructed it from scratch with local authorities. The Group Générale du Solaire called on Ciel & Terre, a long-term expert in floating solar solutions, to take into account all of the requirements and technical implications for this type of project. This included the design, the management of the installation, and the anchoring of the floating structure.
Optimizing the design is key
Solar projects have their raison d’être everywhere in France. In order to guarantee optimum yield from the plant, particularly in less sunny regions such as Alsace, it is vital to optimize the overall design of the plant. Here, the technical solution implemented by Ciel & Terre to maximize the yield of Leutenheim floatovoltaic project is the new version of its Hydrelio technology, the aiR Optim.
aiR Optim: how optimized is the technology for floating solar projects?
The aiR Optim is the result of the 14 years of experience and innovation by Ciel & Terre’s R&D teams. It optimizes plant operation thanks to a new float design that facilitates:
- cable management and the installation of junction boxes and/or string inverters
- while simplifying maintenance work as well. The technology is compatible with virtually all PV modules on the market.
This solution is also highly modular, offering a wide range of configurations to suit each project and its performance requirements.
”Ciel & Terre’s strengths on site are numerous. First and foremost, organization. The teams on site know what they’re dealing with, and anticipate potential future issues. The company masters its floating solar expertise perfectly. The technology is up to scratch, in the sense that in order to build a floating power station, the manufacturing and assembly have to be mature. And that’s the case here.” shares Christian, Works supervisor at Générale du Solaire. “We’re satisfied with what happened on this project.”
Leutenheim floating solar project under sunset
Anchoring of floating solar plants: a crucial technical challenge that needs to be mastered, example with Leutenheim
Anchoring challenges: soil and weather conditions
The reliability of the anchoring system is crucial as it guarantees the correct positioning of the floating solar plant on its reservoir and its durability. The system at Leutenheim was quite complex to implement as the mooring lines for the two islands intersect at the inter-island zone. Indeed, that represented a challenge in both the design and construction phases. The site conditions also made this challenge even greater. With water levels varying considerably due to heavy rainfall, sometimes reaching 2.5 m, we constantly readapted the construction workshops to the site.
How to manage the anchoring?
Ciel & Terre anticipated the anchoring challenges at a very early stage. Each stage, from the design phase right through to the installation of the anchors, required high rigor, particularly during the technical site studies. Their local design office carried out specific technical studies that enabled them to choose the anchoring solution that best fitted the needs of the project, which resistance an inspection office specifically checked. We also took particular care during construction to ensure that the islands could cohabit on the water without any risk of drifting. Générale du Solaire’s Leutenheim floating solar power plant has a bright future ahead of it!
* Consumption per household: based on consumption of 3,000 kWh/year per household (excluding heating).
** Tonne of CO2 saved: based on 64 g.CO2 eq /kWh
About Ciel & Terre, world leader in floating solar power
Ciel & Terre, a world-renowned expert in floating solar power, now has more than 13 years of experience in the field, with 325 projects successfully installed worldwide representing more than 1.2 GWp. Ciel & Terre’s aim is to provide reliable solutions and services tailored to the deployment of large-scale floating solar power plants. To achieve this, the company is constantly optimizing its solutions and the technical support it provides to its customers. Its floating solar solutions are based on technology that has been tried and tested for 13 years and can accommodate large PV modules. Ciel & Terre provides a turnkey solution, from engineering to maintenance of the floating platform, including construction and anchoring work.
About Générale du Solaire
Created in 2008 on the initiative of Daniel Bour, the Générale du Solaire group is a French independent producer of renewable electricity, present in France and internationally. Since April 2020, Générale du Solaire has been backed by BPIFRANCE and IRDI SORIDEC, which have taken a minority stake in the group’s capital. In June 2023, in order to strengthen its investment capacity and accelerate its development, the Group entered into a long-term partnership with BANQUE des TERRITOIRES relating to the power plants it operates.
Present across the entire value chain, the Group is an expert in the development, engineering, construction, financing, and operation of photovoltaic power plants. Backed by innovation and expertise in new photovoltaic technologies, GENERALE DU SOLAIRE offers solutions tailored to each market. In France and Italy, the group manages all solar projects on the ground, on bodies of water, on roofs or in shaded areas, from their development to their operation. In Africa, buoyed by the dynamism of the market, the Group is responding to demands for mini-grids and self-consumption projects requiring the implementation of storage solutions.
As part of its strong corporate values, and in response to the challenges of climate change, Générale du Solaire is taking action to promote the energy transition and is fully committed to a strategy of social and environmental responsibility as an integral part of the Group’s overall strategy.The Group owns more than 450 MWp of solar power plants in France and 60 MWp in Italy. With 500 projects awarded by the Commission de Régulation de l’Energie, 1.5 GWp of projects under development in France, 350 MWp in Italy and 100 MWp in Africa, Générale du Solaire is one of the leading independent players in the sector.
For more information: www.gdsolaire.com
By Générale du solaire and Ciel & Terre
