Ciel & Terre Installs India’s Largest Floating Solar Plant in Tamil Nadu

French floating photovoltaic (PV) specialist Ciel & Terre International’s Indian arm, Ciel & Terre India, has successfully completed the installation of a 14.7 MWp plant at a water storage pond of petrochemicals major Southern Petrochemical Industries Corporation (SPIC) in Tamil Nadu.

The company claimed that this is the largest floating solar power plant installed in the country as of now.

Out of the entire 25 MW project, which is situated in Thoothukudi district of the state, the company has installed a 14.7 MWp capacity. During the project life cycle its scope of work includes plant engineering, float supply, and supervision of the plant, as per the company sources.

Bengaluru-based company said that the floating solar plant, which spread over an area of 15.6 hectares, used Hydrelio® patent Equato floats, locally manufactured under “Make in India” campaign mounted 37,632 PV panels with 390 Wp capacity.

Also, this plant will produce competitive electricity and is expected to reduce over 18,686 tons of CO2 emissions.

Commenting on the development, Deepak Ushadevi, Managing Director of Ciel & Terre India said that “a captive project like this will benefit the industry from a competitive price compared to the grid and we can replicate the same model on other industrial reservoirs such as steel, thermal, fertilizers, cement, chemical, etc. Since we have high valued investors to finance similar projects, industries should utilize such benefits.”

He further said “over the years, Ciel & Terre® has gained vast expertise and strong experience in the installation of large-scale floating PV plants on artificial and freshwater reservoirs, our team has a thorough understanding of floating PV’s challenges and accordingly assisted our SPIC customer in the realization of the biggest floating plant in this country despite the covid19 pandemic challenges, this demonstrated our valued commitment and capabilities.”

“We are fully devoted to floating PV and our track record makes the company become the most experienced group in ‘Floating PV’, especially thanks to ‘all-in-one’ solutions and high quality of services,” said Stephane Provoust, Chairman of Ciel & Terre India.

In 2019, the company had commissioned its first pilot project of 452 KWp at CIAL Cochin, followed by 5.4 MWp project at Sagardighi thermal power plant in West Bengal last year being the biggest grid-connected floating plant in India as of today’s date.

Currently, the company has been executing a mega floating project of 75 MWp in South India and is expected to commission by October this year. Also, the Hydrelio floats are being produced at its 150 MWp/year manufacturing factory in Kerala.

Besides, Ciel & Terre International has launched a global R&D center in Bangalore this year for innovative engineering and new product development activities.