SolarinBlue Secures €6 Million Funding for Offshore Photovoltaic Project in Sète

SolarinBlue, a developer specializing in offshore photovoltaic solar parks for challenging conditions, has received €6 million in funding from the French government under the France Plan 2030 initiative. The funding is earmarked for constructing its first pre-commercial demonstrator with a capacity of 1 MWp.

The project, named “Méga Sète,” will be deployed off the coast of Sète, situated two kilometers from the Mediterranean shore at the site of a former offshore hydrocarbon unloading station. The park is expected to generate over 1,300 MWh of electricity annually. The power generated will be transmitted to the infrastructure of the port of Sète-Frontignan via submarine cable, supporting the port’s decarbonization strategy.

“Méga Sète” is led by a consortium comprising SolarinBlue, engineering firm Technip Energies, and the universities of Montpellier and Sorbonne-Oceanological Observatory of Banyuls-Sur-Mer. The project aims to replace the first Sun’Sète demonstrator, inaugurated in 2023 with a capacity of 300 kWp. Each float module is 12 meters long and wide, designed to withstand severe sea conditions, and accommodates 20 photovoltaic panels (approximately 10 kWp power) at a height of 3.5 meters above sea level to avoid contact with seawater.

Aurélien Croq, CEO of SolarinBlue, emphasized that “Méga Sète” will be certified for waves exceeding ten meters, highlighting the technology’s readiness for deployment in ports, island territories, and integration into offshore wind farms. SolarinBlue aims to leverage synergies with offshore wind projects to optimize infrastructure investments and plans to launch Europe’s first 1 GW projects by 2030. The “Méga Sète” project is scheduled for commissioning in 2025.