FLOATING PV ROUND-UP: Portuguese floating tender, Akuo project in France, US’ ‘largest’ FPV project

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
A floating solar project from Baywa r.e in Europe. Image: BayWa r.e.

A round-up of the latest news from the floating PV market, including the US’ “largest” floating PV plant, Akuo’s floating project in France and Portugal’s tender for FPV.

New Jersey inaugurates North America’s “largest” FPV array

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

05 June 2023: North America’s ‘largest’ floating solar (FPV) array was inaugurated at the Canoe Brook reservoir in New Jersey, the US.

New Jersey solar PV developer NJR Clean Energy Ventures developed the 8.9MW project to supply power to state utility New Jersey American Water’s water treatment plant in the Canoe Brook area.

New Jersey is a state where smaller scale floating and distributed solar projects have proven successful, and in February the state made a commitment to 100% of the electricity sold within its borders to be from clean generation sources. Community solar in particular has been successful; Wood Mackenzie forecast that favourable state policies will see community solar expand considerably in NJ.

Woodmac also published a forecast of the world’s FPV market last month, in which it highlighted New Jersey, along with Florida and California, as one of the US states to watch for development in floating PV.

Akuo’s 8.7MW FPV project in France is operational

02 June 2023: The same report said that Europe is fast becoming the world’s second-largest FPV market as the industry looks to reconcile its need for space with the premium cost of land on the continent.

Last week, French-headquartered renewable energy producer Akuo Energy reached operations on an 8.7MWp FPV project in Cintegabelle, near Toulouse. The project is situated on the 19-hectare Cap Vert lake, where Akuo said it has integrated environmental measures like a shielding hedge and panel installations which will reduce evaporation from the lake surface.

It is Akuo’s second FPV installation in France.

A 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) is in place with Octopus Energy for the project and financing was provided by Octopus, the Energy MAIF Transition fund and some regional banks.

Eric Scotto, Akuo’s chairman and co-founder, said: “Floating solar technology is crucial to meeting the energy challenges we must rise to together. At Akuo, we are accelerating this through our latest commissioning. We are also delighted to help a new production business model emerge, hand in hand with a longstanding partner, Octopus Energy, and our financial partners.”

Portugal launches floating tender

26 May 2023: A tender has been released by EDIA – a Portuguese regional infrastructure development company – for 4.5MWp of floating PV spread across five projects. Four reservoirs – Ferreira do Alentejo, Almeidas, Pias, Penedrão and Monte Novo – have been designated for submissions.

This call, the first of a planned four to be announced by the end of the summer, will represent €4.32 million (US$4.61 million) in investment and includes the execution, construction and operation contracts for the projects.

The four planned tenders are targeting a total of up to 70MW of floating PV, EDIA said,  with an ultimate investment value of around €60 million (US$64 million). Details of later calls were not given.

EDIA said that, as well as addressing land use issues, FPV installations can be more efficient than standard ground-mount PV due to the cooling effect of the water on the underside of the panel; they can also promote the health of the body of water beneath them, shading the surface and promoting algae growth. Reducing surface evaporation can also reduce water distribution costs for reservoir-based projects.

PV Tech Premium explored the development of floating solar technology, construction and deployment earlier this year.

7 October 2025
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
PV Tech has been running an annual PV CellTech Conference since 2016. PV CellTech USA, on 7-8 October 2025 is our third PV CellTech conference dedicated to the U.S. manufacturing sector. The events in 2023 and 2024 were a sell out success and 2025 will once again gather the key stakeholders from PV manufacturing, equipment/materials, policy-making and strategy, capital equipment investment and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out PV manufacturing in the U.S. out to 2030 and beyond.
21 October 2025
New York, USA
Returning for its 12th edition, Solar and Storage Finance USA Summit remains the annual event where decision-makers at the forefront of solar and storage projects across the United States and capital converge. Featuring the most active solar and storage transactors, join us for a packed two-days of deal-making, learning and networking.
2 December 2025
Málaga, Spain
Understanding PV module supply to the European market in 2026. PV ModuleTech Europe 2025 is a two-day conference that tackles these challenges directly, with an agenda that addresses all aspects of module supplier selection; product availability, technology offerings, traceability of supply-chain, factory auditing, module testing and reliability, and company bankability.
10 March 2026
Frankfurt, Germany
The conference will gather the key stakeholders from PV manufacturing, equipment/materials, policy-making and strategy, capital equipment investment and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out PV manufacturing out to 2030 and beyond.
16 June 2026
Napa, USA
PV Tech has been running PV ModuleTech Conferences since 2017. PV ModuleTech USA, on 16-17 June 2026, will be our fifth PV ModulelTech conference dedicated to the U.S. utility scale solar sector. The event will gather the key stakeholders from solar developers, solar asset owners and investors, PV manufacturing, policy-making and and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out the PV module supply channels to the U.S. out to 2027 and beyond.

Read Next

September 17, 2025
US renewables developer Longroad Energy has reached financial close for its 400MW 1000 Mile solar project in the US state of Texas.
September 17, 2025
Spanish renewables developer and operator Acciona Energía has commissioned its 412MWp Juna solar PV plant in Kawani village in the western state of Rajasthan. 
September 17, 2025
Nexamp has secured US$350 million through a long-term financing facility to expand its 6GW utility-scale solar and battery storage pipeline in the US. 
September 17, 2025
The California State Legislature has passed two bills that aim to reduce energy prices in the state, AB 825 and SB 302.
September 17, 2025
QatarEnergy has signed an EPC agreement with Samsung C&T for its 2GW Dukhan project. 
Premium
September 17, 2025
PV CellTech: Martin Pochtaruk, CEO of North American solar module manufacturer Heliene, says US producers must learn to survive without tax incentives.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
San Francisco Bay Area, USA