Ciel & Terre is a global specialist in floating solar power technology with over a decade of expertise in this niche market. Today, Ciel & Terre has a presence in over 30 countries and has grid-connected over 600 projects globally. The company in 2018 launched its operations in India where it is rapidly establishing its footprint. In this exclusive interview, we have Deepak Ushadevi, Managing Director & CEO, Ciel & Terre India, giving us an in-depth understanding of floating solar power, and its relevant to India. Deepak Ushadevi notes with appreciate that the outlook for floating solar power in India is incredibly positive and that Ciel & Terre is poised to make a significant contribution towards developing this nascent industry in the subcontinent.
Floating solar power plants is a relatively new area in India. Roughly, when did floating solar plants make their early appearance globally? Which countries today lead the market?
Floating solar made its first appearance in the early 2000s. Specialists in the integration of photovoltaic systems, Ciel & Terre, in 2010, opened the doors to a new market: floating PV, driven by a global need to produce clean energy in a more efficient and land-saving way.
The company has been fully devoted to floating solar PV since then, developing the first patented and industrialized water-based PV concept HYDRELIO®. This solution consists of installing PV modules on inland and artificial water bodies to smartly produce clean and green energy.
Our group’s activity is fully integrated, including technical innovation, manufacturing, project development, and design. Over the decade we have done intensive R&D to enhance and make the technology more viable and sustainable.
Countries in South Asia, Southeast Asia and Europe are in the forefront of the floating solar segment.
“Ciel & Terre globally has more than 285 projects in its portfolio.”
As you have said, Ciel & Terre has been in the worldwide floating solar power industry for over a decade now. Tell us in brief about Ciel & Terre’s global portfolio – including projects commissioned and those under construction.
Ciel & Terre has more than 285 projects under its portfolio with a cumulative capacity of 1.23+ GWp. We have grid connected 620+ MWp as of December 2021 and another 610+ MWp is expected to be completed and commissioned by the end of this year.
We have a presence in 32 countries as of date and there are 40+ manufacturing lines operating.
Of the 30-plus countries that Ciel & Terre is currently active in, which ones today dominate the company’s portfolio?
The scope for floating solar is quite huge in Europe, Taiwan and with the increasing awareness and demand of FSPV in India, we are joining the club too.
“We have stepped up the standards of floating solar technology.”
Tell us more about the “Hydrelio” technology that Ciel & Terre has patented? In what way does this differ from conventional floating solar power technology?
Our projects are diverse and scalable, allowing us the ability to develop all types of floating solar plants with sizes ranging from 100 kWp to 500+ MWp and on distinct types of water bodies like irrigation reservoirs, hydroelectric dams, water treatment ponds, quarry and mining areas, storage ponds, canals, etc. This includes areas that are liable to flooding. We have stepped up the standard of floating solar technology.
This owes to a range of factors that are a positive result of our R&D:
- The floating PV made with eco-friendly components, hence making them tested BS6920:2000 drinking water compliant
- Resistant to UV corrosion for 20+ years. 40,000h cumulative UV testing according to ASTM G154 and ISO 4892-2
- Hydrelio® withstanding up to 210 km/h winds. Design validated through more than 70 instrumented wind tunnels runs at ONERA
- Design compliant with UL2703- tests performed up to 1000N/m2 snow loads
- Wave resistance for more than 2.5 million cumulative cycles up to 1m
Speaking about India, tell us in brief how the overall journey has been since Ciel & Terre began operations in around 2018.
Ciel & Terre India started in the year 2018 as a subsidiary of Ciel & Terre International. Initially there were challenges like increased capex cost and the market’s unwillingness to entertain a new segment. But upon realizing the scope, the industry as well as the government started exploring the opportunities. In the last 3.5 years, we have bagged six projects with a capacity of 115+ MWp. All thanks to our Hydrelio® for meeting developers’ and EPCs standards and requirements.
What does Ciel & Terre India’s current portfolio look like in terms of commissioned and under-construction projects?
Our current portfolio is:
- 452 KWp pilot floating project in CIAL (Cochin International Airport Ltd) Cochin, Kerala – Commissioned in Oct 2019
- 5.4 MWp floating project for WBPDCL, Sagardighi, Murshidabad, West Bengal –Commissioned by October 2020
- 14.8 MWp floating project for SPIC, Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu- Commissioned by December 2021
- 75 MWp floating project under Installation and expected completion by May 2022
- 10.8 MWp floating project under construction
- 10.1 MWp floating project under construction
“Floating solar has a more positive influence on economy and society than conventional renewable energy models.”
We appreciate that construction of floating solar plants calls for specialized technology and construction techniques. On this count, what advantage does Ciel & Terre bring to India?
India is the second most populated country, and we have a constant demand for energy and land. Considering this, we cannot depend on fossil fuels in the longer run and relying on green energy is the best choice the nation can make.
There are also issues like scarcity of space, land disputes, legal issues, and acquisition delays, which is why floating solar turns out to be a better solution.
Floating solar is influencing the economic/ environmental/ social section better than other conventional renewable energy models.
- Environmental benefits: Minimizes water evaporation (water & ecosystems conservation), Improves water quality and reduces algal bloom, Make PV possible when there is a lack of space
- Economic benefits: Converts unused spaces into profitable areas, enhances electricity generation (thanks to the cooling effect), Reduces grid-connection costs and major infrastructures investments
- Social benefits: Preserves valuable lands for other uses, Rehabilitates contaminated areas with clean energy, Compatible with recreational activities, Environmental amenity, positive aesthetics
“Proper planning and right vision can help tap India’s huge potential for floating solar.”
How does Ciel & Terre view the floating solar potential in India? What do you see as key challenges in harnessing this potential?
India has huge untapped potential for floating solar, and this can be effectively envisaged with proper planning and the right vision. With water scarcity, water evaporation issues, land issues, and on positive note plenty of water bodies available, the demand for floating solar has finally arrived in India.
Our country’s geography is so varied, and no two projects are similar. Hence, before the start of any project, our team does a thorough study on the water level variation, wave analysis, topography, wind speed, etc. The projects should be designed after conducting a proper analysis, understanding issues, probability of cyclones, rusting, moisture as these affect the plant performance.
Fundamental understanding is that design, adaptation, anchoring technology will vary with location, and one cannot give a standard solution to all projects. It requires design evaluation with regard to the anchoring principles and site conditions. Bathymetric, SPT, wind speed, wave analysis, should be considered while making a design suit.
Site visit before design craft and site surveys to undergo the bathymetry, soil composition analysis is necessary.
It is widely accepted that floating solar plants can help conserve land and reduce evaporation in water bodies. All the same, is there is any downside, especially with respect to O&M of floating solar plants vis-à-vis rooftop or ground-mounted ones?
The primary challenge is that the floating solar projects have a lifespan of 25 years. Keeping the fundamental techniques intact, each site should have unique designs depending on the topography of the area. There should not be a replication of a project.
With design optimization and lean engineering program, I believe we could sail through the price-sensitive Indian market without compromising on quality.
Talking about O&M, it is in fact more feasible to operate and maintain a FSPV plant when compared to ground-mount/rooftop solar as there are less soiling losses in FSPV and there is abundant water available around the floating arrays which can be used to clean the modules. This saves the cost of buying and transporting water. The floating arrays are equipped with structures that act as walkways, making it easier during O&M.
Till date, which has been Ciel & Terre’s most challenging project in India? And why?
Each project we have worked on is unique in nature. With the Indian subcontinent’s topography, no project can be replicated.
Having said that, our 14.7 MWp project in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu was indeed challenging and exciting. The project was completed amidst a global pandemic and necessities like logistic, supply chain, workforce were disrupted. Yet we succeeded in completing it on time. The plant was developed for Southern Petrochemical Industries Ltd in its water storage pond, over an area of 15.6 ha. Around 37,632 PV cells were mounted over our Hydrelio® Equato floats. The floats are locally manufactured supporting the ‘Make in India’ campaign. Our scope of this project included plant engineering, float supply and supervision.
Similarly, our 5.4 MWp floating solar project in Sagardighi Thermal Power Plant, West Bengal is unique too. It is the world’s first floating solar plant to be installed in a thermal power plant. Thermal power plants with water ponds or coal reservoirs can opt for floating solar to switch from fuel to green energy.
In the foreseeable future, do you see Ciel & Terre setting up manufacturing activities in India?
In fact, we already do. Globally we have 40+ manufacturing lines, out of which five are operational in India. As part of our ‘Make in India, Made in India’ mission, we have set up our manufacturing unit here to contribute towards the Indian economy and to create job opportunities. It has an annual production capacity of 300 MWp. Also, it facilitates easy transport of materials to the project site, hence reducing carbon footprint caused during logistics.
“Industries in India now have a full understanding of the concept of solar on water.”
Floating solar is a relatively new concept in India but with high potential. Given this, how does Ciel & Terre see its year ahead in the subcontinent? Also, do you see India making a significant contribution to Ciel & Terre’s global portfolio, in the years to come?
The FSPV as a technology is still in the nascent stages of development in India. India is still standing in sixth position behind China, Japan, North Korea and Taiwan.
However, industries are now having a full understanding on the concept of solar on water. The cheap electricity generation and saving huge electricity bills are now taken up by industry, also installing floating solar helps in preventing water evaporation apart from saving land. Hence it is more of utilizing available water bodies into energy and revenue yielding sources.
There are floating solar projects commissioned with close to 50 MWp capacity in India and more than 1GW worth of projects, which are in various stages of development, and much more are in pipeline making the outlook incredibly positive for this new segment. The FSPV sector is now getting a lot of attention in the country, which can be seen via an increase in the numbers of tenders and EOI that have been released in the past 2 years.
With wide opportunities in front of us, we are sure to contribute greatly to our global portfolio soon.
