Largest Floating Solar Farm in Europe Begins Operations

A new solar farm is operational as of June 20 in Perthes, France and is currently the largest floating solar farm in Europe.

“On an area of former gravel pits, Q Energy is realising Europe’s largest floating solar power plant to date with 74.3 MW. And many more will follow,” Q Energy said on its website.

The floating solar site, called Les Îlots Blandin, took over the location of a former 127-hectare gravel extraction pit that shut down in 2020.

Q Energy and Velto Renewables identified the former industrial site as a promising location for floating solar technology and spent several years of planning before construction began in September 2023, Energy Global reported. According to Q Energy, the site offered a favorable location for generating solar energy, and it had minimal conflicts over land use, an issue that can limit renewable energy projects.

“Understanding the local dynamics allowed us to design a project that is both technically sound and integrated into the region,” Corentin Sivy, development director and deputy managing director of Q ENERGY France, said in a statement.

The site now hosts more than 135,000 photovoltaic panels affixed to floating platforms, supplied and installed by Ciel & Terre, with a capacity of 74.3 megawatt peak (MWp). According to Q Energy, the floating site will generate enough power for 37,000 people annually and will prevent 18,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year.

Floating solar panels offer unique benefits, such as better performance and potentially expanded lifespan from the cooler water as well as limiting bank erosion and water evaporation during wind or drought, according to Energy Sage. While floating solar farms can be installed on natural bodies of water, the installation of Les Îlots Blandin on a former industrial site also means no disruption to aquatic life.

There are many similarly ideal sites in France for floating solar projects, but these projects face economic challenges. Cost is a major consideration for floating solar farms, which require more specialized equipment for installation. In the case of Les Ilots Blandin, private investments helped move the project forward. According to the World Economic Forum, private-public partnerships will be essential in expanding renewable energy projects around the world.

“Velto is accelerating its development in France with a clear objective: to establish a long-term presence in France for several decades,” Lucas de Haro, CEO of Velto Renewables, said in a statement. “We are here to stay. Our mission is to develop, operate and support projects over the long term, in harmony with local specificities.”

As of 2022, renewable energy makes up 24.2% of France’s total electricity generation, largely from hydropower and wind. By tapping into the potential for floating solar as well as agrivoltaic projects, solar could further help the country reach its goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.