QAZAQ GREEN.  A consortium made up of French, Belgian and Luxembourgian companies, led by renewable energy developer Q Energy, has started with the construction of a 74.3MWp floating solar plant in the northeastern France – said to be the largest such power plant in Europe, Offshore Energy reports.

The major floating solar project brings together Q ENERGY, which has entered into a partnership with a group of companies made up of Solutions 30 Sud-Ouest (formerly Sotranasa), Ciel & Terre International and Perpetum Energy.

This group will also be responsible for maintaining the power plant, which at its 74.3MWp capacity is poised to become the largest floating solar project in Europe.
The power plant will be made up of six islands spread over a 127-hectare site of former gravel pits, belonging to Etablissements Blandin, whose operation ended in 2020. According to developers, the power plant will feature 134,649 solar panels in total.

It will supply electricity to the equivalent of 37,000 inhabitants and will offset the release of around 18,000 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere each year.

French-made floating solar islands to boost development of promising sector
The design of floating solar islands will consider the needs of the surrounding aquatic ecosystem, according to developers.

The materials used are durable and designed to minimize environmental impacts while maximizing energy efficiency. The floating structures which will equip the site are manufactured by Ciel & Terre in France and are expected to kick start the development of a promising national sector.