THE BIGGEST PHOTOVOLTAIC FARM IN FRANCE

Transcription

1 THE BIGGEST PHOTOVOLTAIC FARM IN FRANCE FOR GREEN GROWTH LP CPTD 2015/2016 CANON Céline and CRAVINO Elodie

2 ABSTRACT This paper aims to describe the project of a photovoltaic park on the Plaine de la Colle, which is part of an energy transition logic in the Durance Valley. We have tried to highlight the assets of this project, and even the constraints. We have focused on difficulties encountered by the various stakeholders for this project. We have described the context and possible development for the future. Finally, we have written two articles in which we express our opinion concerning this project and its impact on the environment and development planning. Key-words: photovoltaic park, energy transition logic, assets and constraints, impact on the environment, development planning TABLE DES MATIERES The Context... 2 The site... 2 Environmental context... 2 Socio-economic context... 3 Development strategy... 3 Institutional context... 4 Description... 5 Technical description... 7 Client and contractor... 8 Budget and financing... 8 Sustainable, but Studying strengths and weaknesses. 10 Sources

3 THE CONTEXT THE SITE Our study relates the implantation of power generation units on a solar farm site, in the department of Alpes De Haute Provence (04), in the region Provence Alpes Cote d Azur, near the town of Les Mées, more precisely on "Les Plaines de Hautes Montagnes". ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT This project is realized in a particular environmental context. In fact the site has a Mediterranean climate with mountain influences, hot dry summers and generally mild winters. Its location may experience a violent mistral, and enable a high level of sunshine (estimated at 1,900 kwh per square meter per year right onto the immediate study area). The soil is composed by more than 800 meters of sediment, east of the Durance. These cover large areas generally with gentle slopes. Finally the territory is in seismic zone 4 (medium seismicity), but it doesn t present significant challenges in terms of natural hazards. The area has a dense natural environment with a rich and varied fauna and flora forming ecological corridors on the valley connected together in a wooded agricultural habitat. 2

4 SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONTEXT At the socio-economic level, the town of Les Mées is located between several urban and economic centres (Digne- Les-Bains and Manosque) with a total of over 1,000 jobs. It accounts for 75 farms and many forestry activities dedicated in part to the production of lavender and cereals. The region PACA has a high potential for renewable energy development. Below is a summary table of its current situation in terms of primary energy production. DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY Today, the region has more than 36 solar parks, including 15 in the Alpes de Haute Provence. The department is very sensitive to agriculture, landscape and environment. The idea of controlling the growth of solar parks has become necessary, therefore, several recommendations were implemented: In January 2010: A doctrine on the development of technology using solar radiation in the department. One stop shop for the processing of applications for authorisation and a technical committee. The latter analyses each project to validate the relevance of the prospective location in terms of planning, agricultural and environmental constraints. In January 2011: Departmental scheme of New Energies defining the development strategy on the scale of Alpes-de- Haute-Provence and an action programme. Thus, the town of Les Mées is positioned as a key area in terms of renewable energy. Through its urban planning documents, it promotes the implementation and operation of several solar parks on the ground Puimichel plateau (or La Colle des Mées). The development of projects in this sector should eventually produce 100 MWp spread over 200 ha, corresponding to the annual consumption of 8,300 inhabitants. To date, several projects have already been carried out under different project owners. 3

5 INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT The site was chosen based on technical and regulatory feasibility criteria to meet a growing need for electricity, facing a more and more alarming climatic context. Sunshine on the site of Les Mées ensures a good regular production. This choice is a combination between three approaches: A Regional reflection crossing the criteria sunlight, topography and proximity of the electrical network. A Development approach to identify potential areas based on local issues. This approach seeks to identify particular courses available. A Regulatory approach, assessing the compatibility of the project with the regulatory context of the site, especially in terms of environmental protection, landscape and heritage, urban planning and planning documents, etc. This project falls within an institutional context with the development of many European commitments in terms of climate and energy, responding to national circumstances including the Grenelle Environment law. Regionally, the Grenelle 2 introduces several patterns on Climate, Air and Energy, connection diagrams to the network of renewable energy and Territorial Climate Energy Plans. Faced with a growing demand for energy from renewable resources, solar parks like Les Mées are of interest. 250 Kw peak. At the same time, an environmental impact study was done. Following this, three other cases were made, for a total of six. This project is the result of several years of work. The aim is to take into account the best environmental sensitivities of the site, and leave plenty of room for cooperation, notably by administrations. This work has optimized the project, so that it fits best to the site environment, while maintaining its primary goal: production of renewable energy. The realization of this project required several issues including one on deciphering a second demand for a building permit under the Code of Urbanism because the project has a power greater than a 4

6 THE PROJECT DESCRIPTION In the Durance Valley, the lightening is perfect to implant solar farms. Les Mées and Montfort, two proximate communes, decided to exploit this unlimited energy that is the sun light. The photovoltaic installation of Les Mées is designed and realised on a sustainable approach, included in the millennium development goals. Their determination is to go on the ecological transition, and to reach these issues. The communes want to reinforce economic development on their territory, so they determined some issues: To provide energy self-sufficiency for the municipality and to make a homeland energy security To reduce regional sensibility on dependence and energy risks To reduce greenhouse gases and to participate in the development of renewables energies by producing some electricity without noise pollution, without any water consumption, without producing any wastes To reinforce territory attractiveness for photovoltaic firms. La Colle des Mées offers one of the sunniest climates in France. The leaders of this project want to become an example for other cities who want to develop the use of solar energy. At the beginning 5

7 of this project, SolarDirect wanted to create a new company building solar panels in Peyruis to increase the employment and to reduce CO 2 emissions induced by the transport from other countries or other continents. But this industry was never built because SolarDirect couldn t reach a mutual agreement with the communes and public institutions. Actually, the peak power of this photovoltaic installation is about 33 MW, allowing to fuel 13,000 habitations in electricity on this country. To date, it is the biggest photovoltaic farm in France. Overall, the solar farm could cover 200 ha farms on this 1600 ha area on the Colle plateau. At least, 200 ha of solar panels could be installed in Peyruis and 90 MW peaks would be available for 83,000 local inhabitants. This activity could generate 14.5 million euros per year. Despite the significant number of solar panels, this installation is spread over ancient agricultural land presently inoperable, rented by farmers to solar companies. These solar farms have no visual impact for the village and permit the preservation and enhancement of the geological heritage of this place. The conservationists made appeals about new building permits because they thought that solar farms can find a better place on already built surfaces, like on the roofs of industrial companies. 6

8 TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION Client Photovoltaic farm implanted on les Mées in the Alpes de haute Provence. One of the most lightening regions in France with 1,900 kwh per square meter per year of horizontal solar irradiation 70 ha of fields 6 solar farms A production capacity about 33 MW peak 112,780 polycristalin panels set on steel structures A potential of 1,455 kwh/kwp/year An electricity production about 45,000 MWh per year An investment of 110 M Design office Environmental expertise Landscape expertise Hydraulic expertise 7

9 CLIENT AND CONTRACTOR The work is carried out by Siemens. The project is developed by Eco Delta, a French company linked with the big Japanese Sumitomo Corporation. On this place, Eco Delta has the biggest solar installation with a peak power of 31 MW located on an area of 22 ha (2011). Eco Delta employs five workers on this site, to plan maintenance and maintain the bee-forage plants (containing nectar to make honey). The objective is to limit the use of concrete on the surface area under solar panels, in order to permit, over time, to produce honey or essential oils once the photovoltaic installation is obsolete. One other big company like SolarDirect, with its firm SolarDurance has installed solar panels with a total peak power of 24 MW (in 2010). For this project, many companies were consulted in order to determine, initially, the stakes of this site and then found the solutions to be adopted. An ecological expertise was first carried out to determine the impact of the implementation of a photovoltaic park, by Ecoter. Then, a landscape company (Territoires et Paysages) demonstrated the visual impact of the solar panel fields on the present geological site nearby (Les Pénitents des Mées) and which constitutes one of the main touristic site territory. Hydraulic expertise (made by EcoGeoSafe) completed this study to ensure the project continuity in time. The design office (BLG Environnement) considered the implementation of this solar farm, the spacing between different rows of panels to ensure optimum use of space and maximum sunlight. Companies continue to introduce new pieces of land, slightly increasing the size of the solar farm each year. Two more are planned in the towns of Peyruis and Monfort and within the Arkéma company between 2016 and BUDGET AND FINANCING The photovoltaic park project of Les Mées was conducted by a joint subsidiary of the Caisse des Dépôts and SolarDirect, Solar Durance has a budget of 100 million euros, besides the subsidies. The Territory of Durance just signed a convention in territory with positive energy for green growth in last October. So, the territory got a subsidy of about 500,000 to conduct sustainable projects leading to sustainable development. Actually, SolarDirect is signing a convention with the ecological ministry to lead projects for green growth. So, new subsidies would contribute to the growth of photovoltaic farms. 8

10 SUSTANAIBLE, BUT In my opinion, this project is a good idea to develop new energy supply and go on to ecological transition. The energy generated by these solar panels permits to reduce the cost of electricity consumption for a lot of inhabitants from Peyruis and the nearest communes. From my point of view, the fields of solar panels on the plain of Colle, are consistent with the principles of sustainable development. Indeed, these panels are on land left fallow, abandoned by farmers and a future solution has been thought that these lands are not lost concerning the point of view of biodiversity. This is why hives have been implemented, allowing development of beekeeping, and bee-forage plants were planted to allow the soil to become rich and fertile, thanks to the work of pollinating provided by bees. Furthermore, the solar panels produce clean and inexhaustible energy, allowing, in a few years, the Durance valley to become selfsufficient in electricity. relatively short, which does not allow to balance the CO 2 emission of the production and recycling, with the gain produced by the panels during their lives (15 to 30 years). The last problem is transportation. The panels are not produced locally, transport is expensive and also generates CO 2 emissions. However this project is in line with the ecological transition and strengthens the economy of this rural area. CRAVINO Elodie Even if solar panels produce clean energy we need to consider the production of the solar panels themselves emitting a lot of greenhouse gasses, harmful for the health. Recycling them is also a big problem. The processing of various components, including photovoltaic cells, is not really developed and is very expensive. This is particularly a problem that the life of the solar panels is 9

11 STUDYING STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES I think this project is interesting because it reflects a need increasingly important today, while adapting as much as possible the environmental challenges of our area: This Project is trying to be better adapted to the landscape, the fauna and flora of its immediate environment. There is an optimization of the used space. It respects regulatory constraints. This solar farm is also useful at the socioeconomic level because it makes possible to create jobs, to make electricity savings on the budget of the inhabitants with a photovoltaic energy, renewable and free. Unfortunately I find that there are also negative aspects it is important to highlight: The manufacture and assembly of the solar panels require a lot of energy and produce a lot of waste in carbon dioxide. We need several years before they are profitable. They often contain toxic elements. Recycling is still fully effective. CANON Céline SOURCES - Mairie des Mées et visite personnelle du terrain. - 'Impact%20Parc%20solaire_Les%20MeesPartie1.pdf ance.php AFques_de_la_Colle_des_M%C3%A9es - Provence)#Les_centrales_solaires_des_M.C3.A9es 10