Sun’R & Ciel & Terre develop 50 MWp solar complex

Sun’R, a subsidiary of Eiffage Concessions, is collaborating with floating solar specialist Ciel & Terre and materials producer Vicat to construct an integrated 50 MWp multi-technology renewable energy infrastructure in Carbonne, France. The technical deployment combines high-capacity floating photovoltaic arrays and ground-mounted generation to supply decarbonized power to energy-intensive industrial quarry operations.

Industrial Context and Operational Scope
Industrial quarry sites require continuous, high-load electrical supply, creating demand for localized renewable generation that does not compromise productive land. To optimize spatial utilization and meet industrial energy demands, Sun’R established a technical consortium leveraging Ciel & Terre’s aquatic photovoltaic engineering alongside civil and electrical engineering resources from Eiffage.

Engineering Architecture and Partner Roles
The central generation unit comprises a 38 MWp floating photovoltaic installation engineered by Ciel & Terre. The system integrates specialized anchoring and floating structures engineered to maintain stability under hydrological variations while preserving the aquatic ecosystem. The design incorporates artificial vegetated islands, landscaped lake boundaries, and reinforced utility pontoons that allow the body of water to support concurrent light water-sports operations without mechanical interference.

Sun’R oversees the overall engineering, procurement, land management, and environmental compliance, while directing the long-term operations and maintenance protocols. Complementing the aquatic installation, a 12 MWp ground-mounted solar array is deployed across adjacent terrain, integrated via Power Purchase Agreement structures or turnkey long-term leasing options.

System Integration and Energy Storage
To manage balance-of-plant requirements and support electrical grid stability, the installation incorporates supplementary solar canopy systems ranging from 100 kWp to 840 kWp across vehicle parking surfaces. The technical roadmap includes an integrated Battery Energy Storage System to decouple generation peaks from consumption cycles. This storage unit buffers intermittent solar output against the heavy electrical loads of the Vicat processing facility, reducing peak demand charges and stabilizing localized voltage levels.

Edited by Natania Lyngdoh, Induportals editor, with AI assistance.

www.eiffage.com