August 30 (Renewables Now) – Q Energy on Tuesday said it has been given the thumbs up to construct France’s largest floating solar power plant, a 66-MW facility that will be located on a former quarry in the northeastern part of the country.
The project was developed by Q Energy France, a subsidiary of recently created Q Energy Solutions SE and previously the French business of UK-based renewables developer RES Group that was acquired last year by Korean group Hanwha Solutions Corp (KRX:009830), the parent of solar panels maker Q Cells.
Q Energy secured the 66-MW project in the latest PPE2 tender of the French government. With a fixed tariff and a planning permit in place, the Les Ilots Blandin development is now ready to start construction in the first half of 2023, with commissioning due in mid-2024. It will consist of several islands that will be anchored to the banks or the bottom of 127 hectares (314 acres) of former gravel pits.
The installation is also the second largest authorised in Europe so far, according to the announcement.
Q Energy France says it has a development pipeline of over 200 MWp of floating solar projects.
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