Session: 

Submission Number: 157415

Sun Sète: 1st Offshore Floating Solar Photovoltaic Farm in the French Mediterranean Sea 

The Sun Sète project represents a pioneering initiative in the field of renewable energy, focusing on the development and deployment of offshore floating photovoltaic (OFPV) systems. This project, launched by the French leader in offshore photovoltaic solar power: SolarinBlue, aims to harness solar energy in marine environments, offering a sustainable and innovative solution to the growing global energy demand.

The project has been sponsored through EVOLEN – Citeph, a private French innovation fund, including French leading companies in the engineering and energy sector committed to advancing renewable energy technologies. Their support has been instrumental in driving the innovation and implementation of the Sun Sète project, ensuring its success and sustainability

The Sun Sète project is located off the port of Sète, on the southwest coast of the Mediterranean in France, and involves the installation of a OFPV array. This paper presents the design, implementation, and performance evaluation of the OFPV system, highlighting the unique challenges and solutions associated with offshore deployment. Key aspects include the structural design of floating platforms, mooring systems, and the integration of photovoltaic modules capable of withstanding harsh marine conditions.

After more than one year of operation, preliminary results indicate that the OFPV system resists harsh marine conditions (waves over 8 meters Hmax) and can achieve high energy yields while minimizing land use conflicts and environmental impacts. The project also explores the economic feasibility and scalability of FPV technology, providing valuable insights for future large-scale deployments.

This publication will discuss the technical innovations, environmental considerations, and economic implications of the Sun Sète project. By sharing our findings, we aim to contribute to the advancement of OFPV technology and promote its adoption as a viable renewable energy source.

Presenting Author: Marc Cahay Technip Energies

Presenting Author Biography: Marc CAHAY is Graduate Engineer in civil Engineering in 1990 from Ecole Spéciale des Travaux Publics (E.S.T.P.) in Paris, France. Member of the Technip Energies’s Experts network. He is managing the Offshore R&D activities since 2006 at Technip Energies in Paris, France, covering new technology, platform concept, installation system, floating offshore wind and solar. He has more than 30 years’ experience in fixed and floating structural design.