Q Energy powers Europe’s ‘largest’ 74.3MW floating PV plant in France

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
The Les Ilots Blandin solar plant spans 127 hectares and features over 135,000 photovoltaic modules, delivering an installed capacity of 74.3MWp. Image: Q Energy via LinkedIn.
The Les Ilots Blandin solar plant spans 127 hectares and features over 135,000 PV modules, delivering an installed capacity of 74.3MWp. Image: Q Energy via LinkedIn.

German-based energy service provider Q Energy and independent power producer (IPP) Velto Renewables have inaugurated Europe’s largest floating solar (FPV) power plant, according to the companies, in France.

Located in the municipality of Perthes in the Haute-Marne region of France, the Les Ilots Blandin solar plant spans 127 hectares and features over 135,000 PV modules, delivering an installed capacity of 74.3MWp. As part of the final setup, a 2MW ground-mounted solar system was added to the site to enhance both the project’s total energy output and its economic efficiency. 

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

Corentin Sivy, development director and deputy managing director of Q Energy France, said the project’s success was largely due to the company’s strong relationships with local officials, government bodies, and economic stakeholders, and a deep understanding of local dynamics. 

Initiated by Q Energy in 2019, the project entered construction in September 2023 following over five years of planning and achieved full commissioning in June 2025. The floating structures and inverters were handled by FPV solutions provider Ciel & Terre. Meanwhile, Perpetum was responsible for electrical procurement and construction of the ground-mounted array and Solutions30 oversaw cabling, grid connection, and overall commissioning. 

In September 2024, Q Energy secured €50.4 million (US$56 million) in financial debt for the floating solar PV project. The financial close was arranged by French banking institutions Crédit Agricole Transitions & Energies and Bpifrance. 

Floating solar is an emerging technology across Europe, with significant potential especially in regions where land availability is limited. While FPV plants offer unique advantages, they also face economic challenges due to higher construction and maintenance costs compared to traditional ground-mounted systems.

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.

Read Next

October 7, 2025
Econergy will acquire 100% stake in the 155MW Ratesti solar project in Romania, further expanding its European renewable energy portfolio.
October 7, 2025
Solar PV will account for almost 80% of the 4.6TW of new renewable power expected to be added by 2030, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
October 6, 2025
German solar inverter manufacturer SMA Solar will cut 350 jobs in 2026 as it adapts to the “weak” residential PV market.
October 6, 2025
An expert panel has identified a series of grid failures that led to April's unprecedented power outage in Spain and Portugal, ruling out renewables as the leading cause.
October 2, 2025
Spanish waste management company Trabede and energy firm Greening Group will build a solar module recycling plant in Granada, Andalusia, Spain.
October 2, 2025
The European solar sector will lose around 5% of its jobs in 2025, the first contraction in employment for the sector in nearly a decade.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
October 21, 2025
New York, USA
Solar Media Events
November 25, 2025
Warsaw, Poland
Solar Media Events
December 2, 2025
Málaga, Spain
Solar Media Events
February 3, 2026
London, UK