Changing the Face of Solar: Inside Europe's Largest Floating PV Park

Spanning 127 hectares across five disused quarries in France, Europe's largest floating photovoltaic (PV) park, Les Îlots Blandin, is nearing completion. This landmark project, developed by Q ENERGY and its partners over six years, features around 135,000 solar modules with a total output of 74.3 MWp. It represents a monumental achievement in engineering and collaboration, setting new standards for the future of floating solar.

The realization of a project of this scale on water presented immense challenges that required specialized expertise and innovative solutions.

A Feat of Engineering on Water

From the outset, it was clear that standardized solutions would not suffice for Les Îlots Blandin. The project faced significant logistical hurdles, including building on a site where gravel was still being actively mined in adjacent basins. This required careful coordination of continuous equipment deliveries, with over 8,000 floating elements arriving each week, all while managing limited storage space.

This led to several groundbreaking technical innovations:

• The floating platforms were specially designed for the project and produced in France.
• Sungrow inverters suitable for high humidity were carefully selected and installed directly on the water instead of along the shore.
• In a first for France, all cabling was combined in large groups on floaters and routed to land in a single, large, bundled cross-section, a design optimization that helped increase the plant's total output from an initial 60 MWp to 74.3 MWp.

The Power of Collaboration

The project's success was built on a strong consortium of specialized partners, each with clearly defined responsibilities.

• Q ENERGY served as the EPC main contractor, handling financing and purchasing the modules.
• Ciel & Terre, a partner from the early design stages, developed the special floating platforms and oversaw their anchoring and the installation of modules and inverters.
• Solutions 30 acted as the general contractor, responsible for central coordination, cabling, connections, and commissioning.
• Solutions 30 acted as the general contractor, responsible for central coordination, cabling, connections, and commissioning.

As Q ENERGY's EPC Director, Jean-Luc Lopez, states, "This way, all parties brought their strengths and expertise to the table."

Overcoming Economic and Environmental Hurdles

The project team had to navigate significant economic and environmental challenges. With a fixed feed-in tariff set by the French energy regulation commission (CRE), the project had to maintain cost efficiency while competing with conventional land based projects in the much sunnier south of France. Favorable site conditions, such as the low water depth and the absence of other economic uses for the quarries, helped make this possible.

The environmental impact assessment was a lengthy process, given the project's size and its location in a region that serves as a resting place for avifauna. In close collaboration with the regional environment agency, a comprehensive package of measures was defined, including strict water quality monitoring during construction, the restoration of a nearby wetland, and continuous monitoring of the flora and fauna throughout the plant's lifecycle.

A Blueprint for the Future

After just one and a half years of construction, the plant is set to begin operations on time this summer. The project's success has not only provided a tremendous amount of experience for future floating solar projects but has also strengthened a network of specialized French companies.

This high level of professionalism and profitability also convinced lenders and investors. The project secured external financing totaling €50.4 million from French banks Crédit Agricole Transitions & Energies and Bpifrance. In March 2025, Q ENERGY announced the successful sale of the project to Velto Renewables, a pan-European independent power producer.

Les Îlots Blandin is more than just Europe's largest floating solar park; it's a testament to what can be achieved through strong collaboration, innovative engineering, and a commitment to sustainability, paving the way for the future of renewable energy in Europe.

Learn more about Q ENERGY's projects: www.qenergy.eu