Ciel & Terre building four floating solar projects in US

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
 Ciel & Terre has completed a 252kW FPV system wastewater treatment pond in Kelseyville, California, part of four projects in the US totalling 5.3MW in the third quarter of 2018. Image: Ciel & Terre 481kW system in Taiwan.

France-based floating solar (FPV) specialist Ciel & Terre has completed a 252kW FPV system wastewater treatment pond in Kelseyville, California, part of four projects in the US totalling 5.3MW in the third quarter of 2018.

The 252kW FPV project is for the Lake County Special Districts on behalf of Kelseyville County Waterworks Dist. #3 in partnership with local contractor North Coast Solar and the first public FPV system installed in California.
 
The project uses Ciel & Terre’s ‘ Hydrelio’ floating system technology and includes 720 PV modules and module optimizers provided by SolarEdge to maximize output, which is expected to deliver up to 1,650kWh of electricity in its first year.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

Jan Coppinger, Special Districts Administrator for Lake County said, “We didn’t have available land or rooftop space suitable for this project, but our wastewater treatment pond had enough surface area to accommodate a sizable solar system. Floating is a great way to control algae growth in the pond at the same time we generate virtually free energy. All costs to provide utilities continue to increase, which forces Special Districts to seek out and implement any means possible to reduce future costs. This floating solar system will result in significant savings in future years.”

The project was financed by a municipal lease.

Read Next

August 7, 2025
US-based floating solar (FPV) developer D3Energy is constructing a 6MW floating solar system in Monroeville – a village in Huron County, Ohio. 
August 7, 2025
Independent power producer Arevon Energy has powered the second phase of the Eland solar-plus-storage Center in Los Angeles, California.
August 6, 2025
The first MW-scale floating solar project in the Philippines has come online, according to solar EPC contractor Black & Veatch.
July 21, 2025
The CEC has awarded a US$4 million grant to perovskite developer Tandem PV to test its perovskite-silicon tandem solar panels.
July 17, 2025
The California Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee has amended Assembly Bill 942 (AB 942) and removed a net metering amendment that would have affected residential solar owners’ rates when acquiring a home or property.
July 15, 2025
Greater policy clarity will be needed if Germany is realise its FPV potential, according to a report from Fraunhofer ISE.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
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