Akuo accelerates floating solar in France

Akuo has just closed the financing of two floating solar power plants located in Cintegabelle and Gouts in France.

Two new projects

Akuo announces two floating solar projects with a capacity of 8.5MWp for Cintegabelle and 10.8 MWp for Gouts. These projects in Haute-Garonne and Landes are attracting investors including Arkea Banque and Caisse d’Épargne. The Energy MAIF Transition fund also finances the project.

The electricity supplier Plüm has committed to purchase the electricity produced by the two plants from Akuo for 20 years. With these two projects, the company is increasing its capacity in the field of floating solar. Thus, the company has a total of 200 MWp under construction, development or financing in France.

Akuo’s first floating solar project in France, O’MEGA1, is located in Piolenc in the Vaucluse region. The plant has a capacity of 17MWp, and at the time of its commissioning it was the largest in Europe. Moreover, the site of implantation consisted in a quarry of extraction of immersed materials.

The O’MEGA1 complex received an extension in 2022. An additional island brings the production of the park to 22MWp against 17MWp at its inauguration. The whole system supplies 5,700 households with renewable energy, i.e. a production of 25,500Gwh per year.

Proven technology

The success of the O’MEGA1 project, finalized in 2019, is enabling the emergence of floating solar power in France and Europe. The sector is developing in the French Overseas Departments and Territories with a total of 11 MWp under development in French Guiana, Martinique and Reunion. In addition, Akuo has been awarded an 18MWp project in Illkirch-Graffenstaden, in parallel with the 16MWp project in Eschau.

According to Akuo, the development of this technology only proves its relevance. France would have a potential of 10GW. According to the company, one of the major assets is the development of new surfaces.

Eric Scotto, President and Co-founder of Akuo says:

“We are delighted to see that floating solar is gaining momentum since the success of O’MEGA1. Not only does this technology open up new perspectives for accelerating the energy transition by developing new unexploited surfaces, but it has also proven to be a reliable, sustainable, and widely deployable solution. Its development is key to meeting the energy challenge we must collectively address.”

In addition, the water temperature prevents the panels from overheating, thus improving their efficiency. In addition, reverberation in a water environment increases radiation and reduces natural evaporation.

Floating solar is an innovative and rapidly growing sector that brings great economic profitability. Akuo’s floating solar power plants have advantages that the company says help offset higher construction costs. Nevertheless, the technology is gaining in importance and smaller projects are becoming more common at smaller sites.