Ismaning, 25th September 2012 -- Hanwha Solar, a global provider of total photovoltaic (PV) solar solutions and a flagship company of top-10 Korean business enterprise Hanwha Group, has delivered 7.7 MW of PV modules into the largest rooftop installation in France. Solvéo Energie, French EPC and customer of Hanwha Solar, has constructed a building in the municipality of Rion-des-Landes, which is designed to create ideal cultivation conditions for a Ginseng plantation. By equipping the rooftop with solar modules, the building furthermore secures the financing of the project. The plantation was officially inaugurated 21st September 2012.
"The Rion-des-Landes plant demonstrates how synergies with solar energy can successfully bring innovative projects forward” said Charles Kim, president of Hanwha Solar. “France is one of our key markets in Europe and we will continuously expand our presence and engagement here.”
Shadow for the plants, energy to finance the project
The production of Ginseng represents a new and promising approach within the French agricultural sector: with the plantation in Rion-des-Landes, France GINSENG, the producer of the medicinal plant, implements its third cultivation area in France. However, cultivation of Ginseng is demanding, as the roots need four years before they can be harvested and the Ginseng plant thrives in shady areas only. With the construction developed by Solvéo Energie, both ideal growing conditions and financing for the project could be secured: the huge roof of the building protects the plants from the sun, whereas the PV modules produce valuable energy.
"We are very proud that Solvéo Energie chose Hanwha Solar as partner for this challenging and innovative project," said Laurent Bodin, Sales Director of Hanwha Solar France. "The collaboration with Solvéo Energie was highly professional and inspiring, resulting in a win-win situation for both parties. We look forward to future cooperation with Solvéo."
The figures of the project are impressive: The 9 hectare rooftop is equipped with 36,900 PV panels, totaling 8.7 MW installed capacity, of which 7.7. MW have been delivered by Hanwha Solar. With an expected annual production of 10,000,000 kWh, the new home of Ginseng plants will cover the average electricity consumption of 4,000 households. In view of this large scale, the short construction phase of only six months is even more striking. Besides delivering its PV modules, Hanwha Solar was able to facilitate flexible financing through its financing tool kit that is available for selected projects.
"The cooperation with Hanwha Solar made the realization of this huge project possible,” said Jean-Marc Matéos, President of Solvéo Energie. “The professionalism and responsiveness of service that Hanwha Solar displayed during the process have significantly contributed to the successful construction."
Located in France, the EPC offers professional turnkey solutions for implementing PV or wind turbine projects and implements power plants of all sizes, overseeing planning, plant operation and maintenance.
About Hanwha Solar
Hanwha Solar is a global provider of total solar energy solutions and a leading manufacturer of silicon ingots, wafers and photovoltaic cells and modules. As the flagship company of Korea’s Hanwha Group—a FORTUNE 500 company—Hanwha Solar offers value beyond its high-quality products by providing various value-added services such as joint-development, project funding and co-marketing. As a global solar energy solution provider, Hanwha Solar maintains a strong worldwide presence, with employees located throughout Europe, North America and Asia. It embraces environmental responsibility and sustainability, playing a major role in the voluntary photovoltaic recycling program and various community-development projects. Delivering top value to customers through fully-integrated solar solutions, Hanwha Solar’s overriding goal is to set new standards in innovation and value by redefining what it means to be a vertically integrated company. For more information, visit www.hanwha-solarone.com.
About Hanwha Group
Founded in 1952, Hanwha Group is a leading Korean business group with 53 domestic affiliates and 78 global networks in three major sectors of manufacturing/construction, finance and service/leisure. In 2011, Hanwha Group held assets of USD 87.7 billion and total revenue of USD 31.6 billion. Putting strategic emphasis on renewable energies and global expansion, Hanwha Group has made successful advancements in solar energy, rechargeable batteries and biosimilars. Recently Hanwha became the 3rd largest solar cell manufacturer in the world through the successful acquisition of the German solar company Q-Cells. Hanwha Group has also extended its global footprint in Europe, China, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and the United States. For more information, visit www.hanwha.com
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