Dec 18 2008
EDF Energies Nouvelles (Paris:EEN) has announced the commissioning and official opening of the La Narbonnaise photovoltaic solar power plant in the Aude region of France. With capacity of 7 MWp, this solar farm - built in 2008 - is the largest solar power plant currently in operation in mainland France.
The photovoltaic power plant was officially opened on 18 December 2008 by Pâris Mouratoglou, Chairman of EDF Energies Nouvelles in the presence of Bernard Lemaire, Préfet of the Aude region, Yves Piétrasanta, Vice-Chairman of the Languedoc-Roussillon regional authority, and Jacques Bascou, Deputy Mayor of Narbonne and Chairman of the Narbonne local community authority.
Built on land owned by the Narbonne local community authority, the solar farm is located on industrial wasteland in the commune of Narbonne.
With capacity of 7 MWp, it will provide the electric grid with the equivalent of annual electricity consumption of over 4,200 people and prevent the emission of 2,752 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. This capacity should be regarded in relation to the current installed capacity of 54 MWp supplying the French national grid1.
The power plant has 95,000 new generation modules using thin film technology, the alternative to conventional solar panels made from silicon. These modules were supplied by US company First Solar.
Pâris Mouratoglou, Chairman of the Board of Directors of EDF Energies Nouvelles, comments: "Solar energy has become one of our priorities. The La Narbonnaise power plant is an example of our mastery of innovative technology on a large scale. We would like to be able to set up power stations in regions other than in the very south of France, to allow the country to catch up with other markets and establish itself as a major solar energy market, generating investment, innovation and jobs".
Photovoltaic solar energy has become EDF Energies Nouvelles’ second most important area for growth after wind energy. The company has set itself the target of capacity of at least 500 MWp by 2012. At the end of June 2008, EDF EN had 22.6 MWp in service or under construction and over 1,550 MWp at different stages of development in France and a number of other countries.