Cestas photovoltaic power plant

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Last modified by the author on 21/06/2017 - 10:43
  • Year of commitment : 2015
  • Address 1 - street : 188 ROUTE D'ARCACHON - 33610 CESTAS, France
  • Diameter : 10000
  • CO2 Impact : Reduction of the equivalent of approximately 19200 tonnes of CO2 per year
  • Green energies : Energy production, Photovoltaic solar
  • Biodiversity & Ecosystems : / Ecosystems preservation /

  • 285 000 000 €
  • Builder
    Clemessy via its subsidiary RTM
  • Manager / Dealer
    RTM group of companies, operation and maintenance for 20 years

Ideally located in a sunny region, the Cestas photovoltaic power plant in Gironde has been designed to produce more than 350 gigawatt hours of electricity each year, which corresponds to the domestic consumption of the population of Bordeaux. From design studies to piloting the group, through the phases of selection, validation and follow-up of the manufacture of the panels until the organization of the site, Clemessy (a 100% subsidiary of EIFFAGE) has set up an industrial organization to carry out the project with the collaboration of the local teams and the Spanish subsidiary of Eiffage Énergie. 983,500 photovoltaic panels, placed on 16,500 steel and aluminum support tables, and nearly 5,000 km of overhead and underground electrical cables to deliver electricity to the grid were installed in just five months. The solar park, directly connected to the very high voltage network, was delivered at the end of 2015.

Progress Status

Delivered

Data Reliability

Self-declared

Funding Type

Private

Website Enterprise / Infrastructure

 http://fr.clemessy.com/realisations/les-projets/centrale-de-cestas
 https://www.neoen.com/centrale-solaire-sol-de-cestas-300-mwc
 http://www.krinner.fr/construction-centrale-solaire-cestas

Sustainable Development

    From the outset of the project, Neoen and all of the group's stakeholders have positioned sustainable development as an indispensable component in the construction of the Cestas power station. Each stakeholder in the project has focused on values of respect for people, the environment and the ecosystem.

    In the construction phase, a life base, including an infirmary, was properly sized to allow the reception in very good conditions of all the personnel.

    • Showroom for schoolchildren and local residents: each child could discover the different sources of energy and understand in a fun way the history and principles of photovoltaic energy. The inhabitants of the neighboring communes were able to discover the operation of the plant and the details of the project.
    • Training School: Several apprentices and trainees were involved in the project. Important responsibilities have been assigned to young graduates working alongside experienced professionals.
    • The panel cleaning system, specially designed for the project, was developed by a French company.
    • A regular vegetation control and maintenance plan is in place using grazing. A contract was signed with a local breeder.

    • Protection of sedge fadet by preserving its preferential breeding site: moist moorland (1.35 ha of wet moors preserved)
    • Protection of the small common fauna of the moors by the creation of grassy spaces under the panels and access in the fence
    • Landscape integration of the plant through the planting of trees and bushes along roadside fences
    • Eradication of an invasive plant present on the site and classified as plant plague (in partnership with the ONF - National Forest Office and INRA - National Institute of Agricultural Research)
    • Waste management: the installation of a waste collection center allowed the collection of recyclable materials, totaling 38,000 tons of wooden pallets and 800 tons of recycled cardboard. The separation of all the packaging waste from the panels was implemented at the start of the project.
    • Use of ecological and ephemeral paints in structures to make it easier for homes to locate pre-holes

    • The areas between the modules are vegetated, which reduces the risk of erosion and facilitates the infiltration of water at the site in case of heavy rains.
    • Reduction of the volume of materials used for construction by the creation of an underground drainage of rainwater.

    Regular maintenance of the vegetation on the ground is done to avoid shading and to favor ventilation and air circulation under the modules (reduction of the heating to the ground level).

Governance

    Neoen (investor and owner)

    Private Company

    Clemessy via its subsidiary RTM

    Other

    RTM group of companies, operation and maintenance for 20 years

    Private

    ​Composition RTM :

    Clemessy (mandataire, pilotage, études, terrassement, travaux électriques)
    Schneider Electric (conversion électrique)
    Krinner (fondations vissées et structures)

    Neoen owns 40% of the shares of the project and has associated infrastructure funds. Private investment based on the purchase obligation (KWH) by RTE over a period of 20 years.

Sustainable Solutions

    Cleaning of panels with osmosis water

    Cleaning is done with osmosed water and not with water directly from the network. In osmosis water all minerals are extracted using filters which make it softer. So this water facilitates cleaning, is greener, without chemicals, limits water consumption and drying times.

    The cleaning machine (prototype) was specially designed for the Cestas project, taking into account the special features of the site: passing 1.2 m between the panels, 650 km to go for cleaning. It has a 3m brush. Water jets (front and back of the brush) propel the water at 5-6 bars on the panels to remove the dirt before brushing and rinse after it passes. Flow and pressure settings were made to minimize water consumption.

    • Water management
     http://www.europe-service.com/fr/nos-produits/propret%C3%A9-nettoyage/laveuses/autres/laveuse-panneaux-solaires#


    Anticipation of dismantling at the end of life

    Selection of inert photovoltaic panels
    Support of panels without any concrete
    Participation in the association PV Cycle for the recycling of panels

    • Waste management

Reasons for participating in the competition(s)

La centrale photovoltaïque de Cestas, en adéquation avec toutes les instructions réglementaires et sur la base de 300 MWc, apporte les bénéfices suivants :

  • Produire de l’électricité pour répondre à la consommation d’environ environ 280 000 habitants.
  • Réduire l’équivalent d’environ 19 200 tonnes de CO2 par an.
  • Optimiser au maximum l’emprise au sol grâce à une configuration innovante : le parc produit trois fois plus d’électricité par hectare que la plupart des autres parcs construits en France et en Europe, montrant ainsi la capacité du photovoltaïque à s'intégrer avec la meilleure efficacité possible dans les territoires. L'orientation des panneaux Est/Ouest a largement contribué à cette optimisation.
  • Rendre les énergies renouvelables plus compétitives face à des autres sources de production, grâce à la mise en place une véritable organisation industrielle par le groupe d'entreprises.

Building candidate in the category

Coup de Cœur des Internautes

Coup de Cœur des Internautes

Grand Prix Infrastructure Durable

Grand Prix Infrastructure Durable

Green Solutions Awards 2017 - Infrastructures
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Author of the page

Christophe Buhot

Responsable Pôle activités infrastructures - Direction Développement Durable Innovation Transverse


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