Everything you need to know about photovoltaics in France

[moinsdewatt]

Two floating photovoltaic park projects in Occitania for Akuo

MARINA ANGEL New Factory 28/05/2020

Renewable energy producer Akuo is accelerating its investments in Occitania with two floating photovoltaic park projects in Haute-Garonne and Aude. More than 20 million euros of investments planned. Work begins at the end of 2020.


Photo-montage of the future floating photovoltaic park of Akuo planned on the site of an old quarry in Cintegabelle, in Haute-Garonne.

The Akuo group, an independent French producer of renewable energy, headquartered in Paris, is preparing to start work on two new floating photovoltaic parks in Occitania, one in the municipality of Cintegabelle, in Haute-Garonne, and the in Raissac-d'Aude, in the Aude department. The two projects, for which building permit applications were submitted in 2018 and the authorizations acquired in May 2019, will be implemented according to the same schedule.

The two sites, for a total investment of more than 20 million euros, will be engaged in the course of the fourth quarter of 2020, for commissioning expected for the beginning of 2022. The group records the first results of several years of studies and administrative procedures. These two projects pave the way for accelerating Akuo's investments in Occitania.

Acceleration on floating photovoltaics

They are also part of the group's development strategy towards floating photovoltaics. "This floating solar technology requires higher costs than solar on the ground, but offers certain advantages, particularly in terms of the use of unused surfaces with the recovery of sites such as old gravel pits", explains Baptiste Balique, regional development manager for the South West at Akuo. A new axis of development for the Parisian group which inaugurated its first floating park in October 2019 in Piolenc, in the Vaucluse: 17 hectares of panels installed on the surface of a 45 hectare lake, for a power of 17 MWp (megawatt -Crete). "This is the same technology that we are going to use at Cintegabelle and Raissac-d'-Aude", explains Baptiste Balique.

In Cintegabelle, the solar park will emerge on the site of an old quarry originally operated by Cemex. The project covers a capacity of 7 MWp, for an investment of 6 to 8 million euros. At Raissac-d'Aude, this involves developing several islets on a set of small lakes on a 65-hectare site originally operated by Eiffage. The installation should be around 18 MWp, for an investment estimated between 15 and 18 million euros. The costing of each of these two operations should be specified in the coming weeks.

More than 200 MWp in development in Occitanie

"These two projects are the direct results of a long process of prospecting, studies and negotiations, undertaken for nearly ten years in Occitania", emphasizes Baptiste Balique. The Parisian group, which opened a regional office in Toulouse at the end of 2018 to support the acceleration of its development in southwestern France, has a total of 40 MWp already in service in Occitanie. Latest inauguration to date: the 10,5 MWp ground-based photovoltaic park installed in the town of Lherm (Haute-Garonne), commissioned in February 2020. This project was combined with agricultural development of the land concerned, in partnership with a sheep farmer and a lavender producer. "In addition to the management of the two new projects of Cintegabelle and Raissac-d'Aude, we currently have in the portfolio in Occitanie no less than 200 MWp in development on projects already well advanced, of which 50% on floating photovoltaics", insists Baptiste Balique.

Positioned at the same time on photovoltaics, wind, hydroelectricity and biomass, the Akuo group had at the end of 2019 a total capacity of 1 MW of assets in operation and under construction, of which more than 182% at the international. Founded in 60, Akuo has 2007 employees and generated revenue of € 350 million in 2019, up 261% over 23.

https://www.usinenouvelle.com/article/d ... uo.N969546

[Delia]

Hello everybody
then someone would have an answer on the profitability of the photovoltaic installation?
Someone would know reliable installers or suppliers.
I know a lot of people who are victims of photovoltaic scams so I really don't dare to get started however I hear from all sides that it is very profitable.

[thibr]

http://forum-photovoltaique.fr/

[ENERC]

Hello everybody
then someone would have an answer on the profitability of the photovoltaic installation?
Someone would know reliable installers or suppliers.
I know a lot of people who are victims of photovoltaic scams so I really don't dare to get started however I hear from all sides that it is very profitable.

Hello,

It is no longer profitable to sell your electricity in France (except to install a few thousand solar panels). All sites that boast of subsidies, tax credits or others are to be proscribed (they are scammers).

However, with a kWh approaching 20 cents, self-consumption is profitable if you consume what you produce. If you can consume during the day, it's very profitable. On the other hand, if nobody is in the housing during the day, it is more complicated, even more expensive than buying electricity from the network.
Examples of self-consumption during the day: pool pump, background noise (internet box, VMC, ...).

We can go from the single panel in the garden plugged into a conventional outlet, to a few panels on the roof, or even a little battery storage. It is all a question of quantity and use.
Le forum photovoltaics can help validate quotes. For installers, there is insoco.org which references non-crooked installers.

[moinsdewatt]

The installed French photovoltaic park reached 10,1 GW at the end of March

CP, 29/05/2020

The power of the French photovoltaic park reached 10,1 GW at the end of March 2020, according to statistics from the Ministry of Ecological Transition. Some 182 MW of additional capacity was installed during the first quarter, mainly in the South of France.

No clouds on the horizon for French solar energy: at the end of March 2020, the power of the photovoltaic park reached 10,1 GW, including 9,5 GW in mainland France, according to statistics from the Ministry of Ecological transition. The sector benefited from the installation of 182 MW of additional capacity in the first quarter of the year, compared to 170 MW in the same period a year earlier. In terms of electricity production, 2,3 TWh of solar origin were generated during the first three months of 2020, an increase of 3% compared to the first quarter of 2019; an increase which remains low, however, since the start of 2019 was marked by particularly favorable sunshine.

https://www.batiactu.com/edito/energie- ... -59634.php

[moinsdewatt]

The PV solar park in France has passed 10 GW at the start of the summer!

France installed 379 MW of PV in H1
France's cumulative PV capacity reached 10.3 GW at the end of June. Solar generated 6.7 TWh of electricity in the first half of 2020, compared to 5.9 TWh during the same period in 2019, representing 3.0% of French electricity consumption.

AUGUST 28, 2020 CATHERINE ROLLET

The French authorities have published new solar statistics for France, mainly by grouping together connection data provided by grid operators Enedis, RTE, EDF-SEI, and the national energy regulator, CRE.

Due to pandemic-related delays in connection procedures, installations were much lower than in previous years. Between January and the end of June, less than 1% of 13,103 new PV arrays were bigger than 250 kW. These represented 44% of the newly connected power. Installations smaller than 9 kW accounted for for nearly 84% of the total.

The regions of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Occitanie, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur accounted for for 67% of all new additions in the first half of 2020. The four regions also have the highest installed capacities in the country, representing 70% of the total power connected in France at the end of the first half.

Around 6.7 TWh of solar energy was generated in the first half of 2020, compared to 5.9 TWh in the first six months of 2019. The authorities attributed the increase to high solar radiation levels in April and May. Solar production thus represented 3% of total French electricity consumption, up 0.6 point from the previous year.

https://www.pv-magazine.com/2020/08/28/ ... -pv-in-h1/

With that last Thursday at 13 p.m. it produced 6.3 GW.
See RTE data

[moinsdewatt]

Disneyland Paris will acquire a solar power plant the size of 24 football fields

AFP published on Oct 22, 2020

Disneyland Paris announced Thursday that it has started construction of a solar power plant the size of 24 football pitches above the parking lot, whose production capacity will ultimately represent 17% of the site's electricity needs.

The project will thus deploy over 17 hectares of parking spaces photovoltaic shades, kinds of awnings covered with 67 solar panels, which will at the same time shelter visitors from bad weather or the sun, detailed Disneyland Paris, in a press release. published on the occasion of World Energy Day.

This structure, built in partnership and co-investment with the French leader in solar photovoltaic Urbasolar, "allows both to optimize space and improve the comfort of visitors", stressed to AFP Damien Audric, director of the development of Disneyland Paris, the leading private tourist destination in Europe. "This plant will contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to the tune of around 750 tonnes of CO2 per year within the local territory of Val d'Europe in Seine et Marne where the park is located", a he specified.

The 31 GWh of electricity which should be produced annually in the long term correspond "to the equivalent of the annual electricity consumption of a city of 14 inhabitants", he explained. According to Urbasolar, which will manage and operate this plant, it will be one of the largest photovoltaic shade houses in Europe.

"Innovation and preservation of the environment are part of the heritage handed down by Walt Disney and this ambitious project which uses solar energy illustrates Disneyland Paris' commitment to the subject", declared Natacha Rafalski, president of Disneyland Paris, cited in the press release.

Construction began in July at Disneyland Paris and "as it is a challenge to build while allowing the use of the parking lot, it is a site that will move in several stages" until 2023, "with a first operational from spring 2021 ", stressed Damien Audric. "A nod" to Disney magic, he added, "a Mickey's head, illuminated by LEDs will be visible at night from the sky, or on board the balloon installed in Disney Village".

This project is part of the environmental strategy conducted in recent years by Disneyland Paris, he recalled, and which has resulted in a series of measures ranging from the elimination of straws and single-use plastics to the creation of '' a wastewater treatment plant or a geothermal power plant that produces around 20 GWh.

https://www.connaissancedesenergies.org ... oot-201022

[jean.caissepas]

Disneyland Paris will acquire a solar power plant the size of 24 football fields

Photo-montages of the project, with explanation of other efforts (use of geothermal energy, reduction of plastics)

https://www.clubic.com/mag/environnemen ... ndus-.html

[moinsdewatt]

Lhoist and Total Quadran sign a partnership for the co-development of solar power plants
The agreement includes the construction and operation of more than 83 MW of solar panels spread over 11 French sites in Lhoist, producer of lime, dolomite and minerals. They will cover 70% of the electricity consumption of the Belgian company in France

NOVEMBER 3, 2020 GWÉNAËLLE STANDING UP

The Belgian lime, dolomite and minerals producer Lhoist and Total Quadran, a 100% subsidiary of Total dedicated to the production of renewable electricity in France, have signed an exclusive partnership agreement for the co-development of photovoltaic power plants. They will be installed on 11 French sites in Lhoist, representing a total area of ​​approximately 111 hectares, for a power of 83 MWp. Four of these plants will allow Lhoist to self-consume the energy produced directly on site.

These parks, which together will represent more than 194 photovoltaic panels, will be built and operated by Total Quadran. The electricity produced will correspond to the equivalent of the average consumption of 000 inhabitants or approximately 70% of the electricity consumption of Lhoist in France.

Before construction, these projects will be presented in the next calls for tenders from the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) to obtain a purchase price, and will be commissioned by 2023, studies are already underway. according to the two actors in a joint statement. "They will help achieve our objectives of 35 GW of production capacity from renewable sources by 2025. The development of these solar power plants will make it possible to pool the expertise of the two groups in order to promote their rapid commissioning. Total Quadran and Lhoist do not refrain from opening this partnership to other sites in France and other geographical areas worldwide, ”says Thierry Muller, CEO of Total Quadran, which operates more than 300 renewable energy plants totaling nearly 1 MW which produce 000 GWh of renewable electricity per year.

For Lhoist, it will be about reducing the carbon impact of its products. “This ambitious green energy project is in line with the efforts we are making to contribute to the transition to carbon neutrality. It is also part of a logic of partnership with players close to our factories, populations, local authorities, environmental associations, as well as with our customers who will be able to value it in their own carbon footprint ”, says Jacques Chanteclair, vice-president. Chairman and CEO of Lhoist Southern Europe.

https://www.pv-magazine.fr/2020/11/03/l ... -solaires/

[ENERC]

Photovoltaic tree climbing: the first solar park on raw wood support

Based on an idea proposed by the CéléWatt cooperative, the Mécojit company developed the MécoWood process and built in Carayac (Lot) the first French photovoltaic park on raw wood support. You said nature photovoltaic!

Cut at the beginning of September in the forest of Cabrerets (Lot), small oaks from the causse barely covered 30 km to reach Carayac and fulfill their new function there: to carry the 746 335 watt-peak panels of the new photovoltaic park imagined by CéléWatt and implemented by engineers from Mécojit, in Capdenac-Gare.

https://tecsol.blogs.com/mon_weblog/202 ... -brut.html