Tenesol, the global solar power provider owned by energy giants TOTAL and EDF, has completed its first turnkey PV project in Italy.
The company designed, manufactured and installed a 100 kWp rooftop system at an organic farm in Ispica City, on the island of Sicily. The system can generate up to 150,000 kWh of electricity per year, most of which is delivered directly to the farm to reduce its consumption of traditional electricity. The remaining power it produces is fed into the local electricity grid to generate revenue.
The organic farm is owned by Natursana, a company that specialises in controlled agriculture and organic farming, and is a strong believer in alternative energy sources.
“PV technology is very well suited to farms and our system will have a hugely positive impact on our business,” says Sonia Calabrese, the owner of Natursana. “It offers environmental and economic benefits. In fact, the energy it generates is equivalent to our power needs so we can be energy self-sufficient. Solar power’s ability to reduce a company’s reliance on traditional energy sources is a great incentive to businesses to invest in renewable energy, particularly during a time of economic uncertainty. We chose to work with Tenesol because it is a multinational company with much experience and offers direct relationships with people who have a deep-seated knowledge of the solar industry in our region.”
The 6,000 m2 organic farm is situated on protected land. To be allowed to cultivate crops, it must comply with the latest European standards for reducing environmental impact. As a result, Natursana decided to invest in PV technology. Having heard of Tenesol’s operations in Italy from various contacts, Natursana approached the company to create a bespoke PV system.
In November 2010 Tenesol set to work creating the PV system. The 99.36 kWp system comprises 432 advanced PV modules, which are manufactured by Tenesol at its production facility in Toulouse, France. The installation work did not disrupt the farm’s day-to-day operation and took one month to complete.
Tenesol’s 85 MWp Toulouse production facility presents a strong advantage for supplying the Italian market. Its proximity to the country means it can offer faster delivery times while reducing travel costs and minimizing the journey’s environmental impact.
“This is a milestone project for us and marks our continued expansion in one of the world’s fastest growing solar markets,” says Claude Escala, European Director of Tenesol. “We have provided turnkey PV systems to markets across the globe for 27 years. Our experience and knowledge mean we can deliver effective and reliable systems to exact customer requirements. As our team in Italy grows, I look forward to building on this progress and delivering our next installation in Italy.”
Established in 1983, Tenesol has been present in Italy through its global distribution network for years. The company set up an Italian subsidiary in Milan in 2009.
About Tenesol
A rapidly expanding global player in the field of solar energy (with a turnover of €300 million in 2010, which has increased 25% per year for three years), Tenesol works on behalf of businesses, local uthorities and private individuals. For more than 27 years, Tenesol has been engineering, designing, manufacturing, installing and operating solar energy systems. Its services cover systems that produce or consume the energy they generate (off-grid sites, electricity grid connected, solar water heating) for customers around the globe. A benchmark player in its sector, Tenesol currently has a staff of over 1,000 employees across 24 subsidiaries including two production facilities.
For more information, please visit: http://www.tenesol.com/?lang=en.