Project Focus: Tenesol completes first ‘positive energy’ installation in France

December 8, 2010
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

Global electricity supplier Tenesol, owned by Total and EDF, has completed the first ‘positive-energy’ production facility in France. The project, which generates up to three and a half times more energy than it consumes, is located near Avignon, and is fully owned by Isoltop.

Tenesol provided a 1,500m2 turnkey photovoltaic solution capable of producing 228,000kWh of electricity per year when the factory only requires 75,000kWh per year. The excess energy is fed back into the grid.

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

 “This Isoltop project marks a fantastic achievement by Tenesol and should serve as a benchmark for other companies looking to develop their green credentials,” says Benoit Rolland, general manager of Tenesol. “Today’s manufacturing processes are more energy efficient and more environmentally aware. At the same time, solar power continues to develop and advance. Together this means that positive-energy factories are an achievable target for any number of industries and facilities.”

 “It was critical we chose a reliable company that works on the same principles as we do,” said Patrice Riberolles, chief executive officer at Isoltop. “In addition to functional and financial considerations, we valued Tenesol’s professional approach and the company’s ideas, which were intelligent and realistic.”

“There has been a dramatic increase in the number of businesses with sizeable roof space or accessible façades that wish to investigate PV technology,” said Rolland. “But to exploit its full potential, the right solar partner must be selected. Tenesol has 27 years of experience delivering customized PV systems on a turnkey basis. We work with clients in every stage of a project – from technical and financial evaluations to installation, operation and maintenance – to deliver advanced PV solutions that suit exact customer requirements.”

Read Next

January 14, 2026
Australia’s utility-scale solar PV and wind assets collectively generated 5,420GWh in December 2025, a 19% increase from the previous year’s 4,551GWh, according to Rystad Energy.
January 13, 2026
The use of POE as an encapsulant in TOPCon module construction could limit the effects of degradation on the module’s electricity generation.
January 13, 2026
India added 37.9GW of new solar PV capacity in 2025, a 54.7% increase compared with 2024 installations and a historical record, according to JMK Research.
January 13, 2026
Portuguese utility EDP has begun operations on a hybrid solar and hydropower project in Portugal, the first of its kind in the country.
Premium
January 13, 2026
As headwinds emerge in India's home and overseas markets, Shantanu Roy explores how the solar manufacturing sector can sustain itself.
January 13, 2026
US distributed generation platform Aspen Power has raised US$200 million in capital to support 'growth initiatives' across the US.

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
February 3, 2026
London, UK
Solar Media Events
March 24, 2026
Dallas, Texas
Solar Media Events
April 15, 2026
Milan, Italy
Solar Media Events
June 16, 2026
Napa, USA
Solar Media Events
November 3, 2026
Málaga, Spain