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.
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“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.”