toul-rosières photovoltaic power plant

TOUL-ROSIÈRES
PHOTOVOLTAIC
POWER PLANT
ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE AT THE HEART OF
THE LORRAINE REGION OF FRANCE
PRESS KIT - November 2012
TOUL-ROSIÈRES PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER PLANT:
environmental excellence at the heart of the Lorraine
region of France
Power plant profile
p. 2
A conversion marked by History
p. 3
Technical and technological innovation
p. 4
A project aspiring to excellence: pollution abatement
p. 5
A project aspiring to excellence: construction
p. 6
Environmental performance
p. 7
Sustainable operation
p. 8
Solar photovoltaic
p. 9
Presentation of EDF Energies Nouvelles
p. 10
PRESS CONTACT
Clotilde Nicolas
+33 140 904 802
[email protected]
www.edf-energies-nouvelles.com
Press kit: The Toul-Rosières photovoltaic power plant
EDF Energies Nouvelles – November 2012
1
POWER PLANT PROFILE
Launched in 2009 by the towns Vals de Moselle and Esch, this project came about as a result of
the wish of the local area to convert the former Toul-Rosières air base 136, which had been in
disuse since 2004.
The 115 MWp capacity Toul solar photovoltaic power plant in Eastern France was designed,
developed and built by EDF Energies Nouvelles, which will also operate and maintain it for an initial
period of 20 years.
h Key figures
115 MWp
55,000 inhabitants
20 years
1.4 million
The Toul-Rosières solar power plant has an installed capacity
of 115 MWp.
The power plant’s production is equivalent to the power
consumption of over 55,000 inhabitants (including heating).
Initial service life.
Number of solar photovoltaic panels installed at the power
plant.
120 hectares
The panels cover a surface area of around 120 hectares. The
land occupied by the power plant accounts for a total area of
367 hectares at the 520 hectare site.
8,000 tonnes
Rehabilitation of the land involved the clearance of 8,000
tonnes of polluted soil and the dismantling of 280 buildings,
with asbestos removed in advance from 170 of them.
Press kit: The Toul-Rosières photovoltaic power plant
EDF Energies Nouvelles – November 2012
2
A CONVERSION MARKED BY HISTORY
h Rehabilitation of former air base 136
Created in 1944, the military airfield that later became Toul-Rosières air base no. 136 has left its mark
on the Lorraine region’s landscape and history.
Both NATO forces and the French army were stationed at
the base, which played a major role during the Second
World War and the Cold War. The US military withdrew
from the base in 1967 and it shut down in 1998.
Still now, the Toul-Rosières
site features a wide variety of surfaces, including bitumen
(landing and take-off runways, roads), prairies, wooded
areas,
buildings
(control
tower,
munitions
storage
facilities, plane hangars) and living quarters (school,
housing, rail connections).
Rehabilitation of this land as part of a renewable energy project was a genuine organisational
challenge, which was enthusiastically embraced by officials and the local community.
h Conservatory and “Energy House”
To pay homage to the site’s history as well as show visitors about its past and present, EDF Energies
Nouvelles and local officials will set up a Conservatory for the air base and an “Energy House”, an
exhibition center dedicated to photovoltaic, at the site.
The Cartignies-Canonica architects firm prevailed in an architectural competition to design an “Energy
House” with a geode-based concept. It will be built using pre-fabricated boxes made of natural wood
and the latest eco-friendly techniques, such as surface impoundment and Canadian wells. The House
will be equipped with a projection room, an exhibition area, and a roof platform providing a panoramic
view of the power plant.
Press kit: The Toul-Rosières photovoltaic power plant
EDF Energies Nouvelles – November 2012
3
TECHNICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION
h Panels: thin-film technology
The solar photovoltaic panels installed at the
Toul-Rosières power plant are manufactured by
First Solar.
They are designed using the next-generation
thin-film technology, which represents an
alternative to conventional silicon-based modules.
They are very well suited to the diffuse sunlight
conditions observed in the region.
h Elevated panels
To allow grazing activity (flock of sheep) to
continue at the site, the foundations of two
sections of solar panels have been installed on
elevated holders.
The sheep are able to graze safely around and
under the panels in operation and also help to
maintain the green spaces at the site.
h Foundations: screw-based process
The innovative screw-based process helps to anchor
the foundations deeper and maintain the stability of the
structure without requiring any excavations, trenches or
concrete.
Though screws are inserted at a greater depth than a
conventional foundation, their small size helps to
protect the soil without compromising the quality and
safety of the structure.
Press kit: The Toul-Rosières photovoltaic power plant
EDF Energies Nouvelles – November 2012
4
A PROJECT ASPIRING TO EXCELLENCE: POLLUTION ABATEMENT
Following the award of the building permits in late March 2011, the project began in April with site
preparation and pollution abatement works.
Based on over 1,000 samples at the site as
part of a diagnostic assessment of the soil, a
pollution abatement plan was drawn up
Meticulous efforts: demolition, asbestos
removal, pollution abatement
Preventative archaeological
excavations
280 buildings dismantled, asbestos removed
from another 170
Removal of buried
networks and former
tarmac road
surfaces
8,000 tonnes of polluted soil
cleared from the site and treated
at an approved facility
Press kit: The Toul-Rosières photovoltaic power plant
EDF Energies Nouvelles – November 2012
5
A PROJECT ASPIRING TO EXCELLENCE: CONSTRUCTION
Construction of the photovoltaic power plant was completed in less than 12 months between June
2011 and May 2012. Up to 700 people worked on the site during the construction period, half of whom
were recruited locally.
Labour-intensive roll-out
To meet the deadlines, the works were
carried out simultaneously: panels are
fitted in one section, while the support
structures stand ready in another.
Preparation of the foundations
Structures were assembled and 1.4 million photovoltaic panels put in place
The panels were connected
to the inverters and then the
power plant was hooked up to
the power grid. All the
equipments were then tested
before the power plant’s
commercial operation start.
Press kit: The Toul-Rosières photovoltaic power plant
EDF Energies Nouvelles – November 2012
6
ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE
From the outset, the project was designed to incorporate the site’s key environmental priorities as
effectively as possible, especially those related to the fauna, flora and landscape integration.
The wooded areas were retained inside and
between the various sections of the power plant
to create biological corridors for wild animals.
Preserving biodiversity
Certain sectors were excluded to protect sensitive
environmental areas and natural habitats (wet
lands, protected plant species, prairies).
Special lofts and nest boxes
were built to rehouse the bats
and cave-dwelling birds living
in the disused buildings.
Nectar-producing
plants were sown to
attract bees.
Landscape afforestation to the
north-east and hedges around
the site’s perimeter help to
integrate the power plant with
its surroundings
Press kit: The Toul-Rosières photovoltaic power plant
EDF Energies Nouvelles – November 2012
7
SUSTAINABLE OPERATION
The Toul photovoltaic power plant will be operated by EDF Energies Nouvelles for an initial period of
20 years.
h Expertise spanning the entire value chain
Studies,
Development
Construction
Generation and
Sale of Assets
Operations &
Maintenance
EDF EN develops, finances, builds and operates power plants generating renewable electricity,
especially by harnessing wind and solar energy. This presence right across the value chain gives
control over the quality of its facilities and allows to provide its partners with a commitment over
the long term.
h Eco-friendly site management
Throughout its service life, the site will undergo regular ecological and biological monitoring:
- eco-friendly management of the plant cover (late mowing),
- a ban on all fertilizer or chemical pesticide to allow natural areas to develop freely,
- regular environmental monitoring of the fauna and flora,
- regular checks on the groundwater.
h A reversible installation
At the end of its service life, it will be possible for EDF Energies Nouvelles to dismantle the whole
power plant, and the use of the decontaminated and rehabilitated land will revert to the local
authorities.
Press kit: The Toul-Rosières photovoltaic power plant
EDF Energies Nouvelles – November 2012
8
SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC
h Concept of solar photovoltaic electricity
Photovoltaic energy is generated by converting waves of light into electric current. At the heart of the
concept of solar-generated electricity lies a semiconductor that is able to free up electrons.
Photovoltaic modules comprise two layers of semiconductors, one with a positive, the other with a
negative charge. When the photons from solar radiation reach the semiconductor, they free up some
of the electrons from its structure: the electrical field present between its positive and negative layers
captures the free electrons, creating a direct electric current. The larger the flow of light, the stronger
the electric current generated.
h Operation of a ground-based solar photovoltaic power plant
The sun’s radiation on the photovoltaic modulesn is converted into a direct electric current, which
flows to an invertero.
The inverter converts this electricity (direct current) into an alternating currentp compatible with the
electricity grid. q A transformer increases the voltage before the electricity is added to the public grid
via a cabler.
Press kit: The Toul-Rosières photovoltaic power plant
EDF Energies Nouvelles – November 2012
9
PRESENTATION OF EDF ENERGIES NOUVELLES
EDF Energies Nouvelles, a subsidiary of the EDF group, is an
international leader in the generation of green electricity. The company
develops, finances, builds, operates and maintains power plants generating
renewable electricity.
KEY FIGURES
(at 31 December 2011)
2,200 employees
17 countries
A major force in wind energy, its original business, which currently
accounts for some 85% of its installed capacity and is its principal engine of
expansion, EDF Energies Nouvelles has become a leading player in solar
photovoltaic energy since 2008. As a specialist in renewable energies,
EDF Energies Nouvelles is also active in other segments, such as offshore
wind energy, marine energies and biogas.
Revenues
€1,351 million
EBITDA
€560 million
GLOBAL CAPACITY
(at 30 June 2012)
EDF Energies Nouvelles operates in 14 countries in Europe and North
America and is expanding into promising new markets: Middle-East,
Morocco and South Africa.
4,206 MW gross
in service
2,449 MW gross
under construction
EUROPE
France
Spain
Greece
Bulgaria
Germany
Poland
NORTH
AMERICA
Portugal
Italy
Turkey
United Kingdom
Belgium
United
States
Canada
NEW COUNTRIES
Middle-East, Morocco and South
Africa
h A major player in renewable energies in France
FIGURES FOR FRANCE
(at 30 June 2012)
489 employees
676 MW gross
commissioned
105 MW gross
under construction
EDF Energies Nouvelles, a pioneer of renewable energies, has very
strong positions in France. Around 15% of the Group’s revenues derive
from France.
In addition to its head office at La Défense, EDF EN is present in France via:
- 5 regional offices: Aix-en-Provence (PACA), Béziers (LanguedocRoussillon), Balma (Midi-Pyrénées), Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône) and
Nantes (Loire-Atlantique);
- 1 Operations & Maintenance center at Colombiers (Languedoc-Roussillon)
covering the whole of Europe, backed up by several regional maintenance
centers located close to the largest facilities (including one in the Eure-etLoir department).
The most successful projects are the result of close cooperation with all the key players in the
local community. A genuine partnership is built between the localsand EDF Energies Nouvelles. The
creation of a photovoltaic power plant is part of the local development and infrastructure
improvement policies pursued by officials and municipal authorities.
Press kit: The Toul-Rosières photovoltaic power plant
EDF Energies Nouvelles – November 2012
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