France Launches Europe’s Largest Floating Solar Farm on Former Quarry Site
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📰 The quick summary: Europe’s largest floating solar farm has begun operations in Perthes, France, transforming a former gravel extraction site into a renewable energy powerhouse capable of providing electricity for 37,000 people annually.
📈 One key stat: The floating solar farm will prevent 18,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, significantly contributing to France’s climate goals.
💬 One key quote: “Understanding the local dynamics allowed us to design a project that is both technically sound and integrated into the region,” Corentin Sivy, development director and deputy managing director of Q ENERGY France, said in a statement.
1️⃣ The big picture: Europe’s largest floating solar farm has just become operational in Perthes, France, bringing new life to a former industrial site. Built on a 127-hectare former gravel extraction pit that closed in 2020, the Les Îlots Blandin facility boasts over 135,000 photovoltaic panels with a capacity of 74.3 megawatt peak (MWp). This innovative project demonstrates how disused industrial sites can be repurposed for renewable energy generation without disrupting natural ecosystems or creating land use conflicts. The floating solar technology offers unique benefits, including better performance from water cooling and reduced water evaporation from the reservoir.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: This renewable energy project transforms an abandoned industrial site into a productive clean energy generator, avoiding the land use conflicts that often plague renewable installations. The floating solar farm will generate enough electricity to power 37,000 homes while preventing 18,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. Beyond carbon reduction, the installation offers additional environmental benefits by limiting bank erosion and reducing water evaporation. The success of this project creates a blueprint for similar developments across France and Europe, showing how private-public partnerships can overcome economic challenges in renewable energy scaling.
3️⃣ What’s next: France aims to continue expanding its renewable energy capacity to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Private investments, like those that supported Les Îlots Blandin, will remain crucial for future floating solar developments. Identifying more former industrial sites suitable for similar projects could further accelerate France’s clean energy transition without competing with agricultural or natural land use.
Read the full story here: EcoWatch – Largest Floating Solar Farm in Europe Begins Operations
