EDF Renewables' first floating solar power plant in France, located in Lazer in the Hautes-Alpes, was inaugurated on Tuesday June 20, 2023. Combining two renewable production tools on a single site is the challenge taken up by the EDF Group by installing solar panels on the reservoir of a hydroelectric dam.
Created in 1992, the Lazer reservoir is operated by EDF Hydro for the production of electricity, in order to respond to peaks in consumption in particular, and by farmers during the three summer months. Recently, the reservoir has been the subject of a daring challenge: combining hydraulics and solar power, by hosting more than 50,000 photovoltaic panels placed on floats.
The story begins in 2017. The town is attracted by the project and technical and environmental studies demonstrate that the Lazer hydroelectric reservoir has many advantages. “At a time when land is becoming increasingly scarce and renewable production objectives are increasing, capitalizing on what already exists is a big plus” explain Jonathan Delattre, project manager at EDF Renouvelables.
When work began in 2021, the huge storage area, now deserted, saw around forty men working on assembling solar panels on floats. From the bank, an inflatable platform then welcomed them, before being towed by small motorboats to the middle of the reservoir. “Once placed on the water, the floating panels were moored to 700 concrete blocks of four tonnes each, previously anchored at the bottom of the reservoir” continues Jonathan.
Managing this innovative project, three actors: EDF Renewables, project leader and builder, EDF Hydro, which promotes relations with the territory and ensures the operation of the dam in optimal safety conditions, and the engineering center hydraulic (CIH), which brings its technical know-how (geotechnics, sediment management and currentology).
At the beginning of 2023, the installation was connected to the four transformer stations and since May, the plant has been delivering its first megawatt hours to the network. With its 20 MW, it will produce the equivalent of the annual electricity consumption of 12,500 people.
At the very end of the reservoir, near the spillway, two rafts made up of different sensors (radiation, air and water temperatures, oxygen in the water, etc.) were moored to the power station to measure the influence of weather conditions. on local solar production, and assess the impact of the floating solar power plant on evaporation and water quality in the reservoir. The data collected will make it possible to optimize future projects.
With strong national ambitions of 100 GW of solar by 2050, this plant contributes to carbon neutrality objectives, as well as those of the EDF Solar Plan for 2035.