DuPont Breaks Ground on 4.4 Megawatt Solar Power Plant in France
CERNAY, France, Nov. 7, 2013 – DuPont today announced that work has begun at its facility in Cernay, France to build a 4.4 megawatt (MW) solar power plant. This will be the largest solar installation on DuPont land to date, consistent with the company’s aim to address the growing global demand for energy while reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
Spread over 6 hectares (almost 15 acres), the site will feature 17,952 crystalline silicon solar panels, manufactured by
Jinko Solar. The panels are made with
DuPont™ Tedlar® polyvinyl fluoride film-based backsheets, which protect the panels from the environment and provide essential electrical insulation, and
DuPont™ Solamet® photovoltaic metallization pastes, which help ensure reliable and efficient power output of the solar panels, during their expected lifetime of 25 years or more.
Initially developed by Voltalia, the project will be completed by Hanau Energies, a French project developer and investor in solar installations. It will fall under a twenty-year power purchase agreement with energy provider Eléctricité Réseau Distribution France (ERDF). The Cernay facility is expected to be connected to the grid by the end of 2013 and the amount of solar-generated electricity the site will produce is roughly estimated to be the equivalent to the amount of electricity 1,800 households consume every year in France*.
“We are extremely pleased to collaborate with Hanau Energies to develop the largest solar field on DuPont land in the world,” said Martin Virot, Country Leader – DuPont France. “Solar is not only a clean, sustainable source of energy, it is increasingly cost-competitive with other sources of electricity thanks in part to the greater power output and long term reliability that the advanced materials of DuPont provide. As the world’s population continues to expand and the demand for energy in France and elsewhere continues to grow, DuPont will continue to employ solar technologies to meet the energy challenge.”
The project, supported by local authorities, is fully aligned with the regional dynamics of Cernay’s federation of municipalities to reconcile its growing economic activities and social dynamics while preserving resources and limiting the environmental footprint. At the national level, the development of solar and other renewable energy sources are expected to grow in the overall energy mix. According to industry analyst IHS, France’s annual installation of solar is expected to increase by 50 percent next year to exceed 800MW and should keep growing steadily over the following years.
“We are committed to meeting the energy needs in France safely and sustainably, and the DuPont Cernay solar site is another shining example of how we can do this by harnessing the power of the sun, by using advanced and reliable technology and best practices in installation, operations and maintenance,” said Jean-Luc Westphal, president - Hanau Energies.
Tom Bollaert, DuPont Cernay site manager, considers the new solar installation to be an example of the business’ continuing investment in developing sustainable technology and solutions in collaboration with customers, employees and society.
DuPont is the leading global supplier of specialty materials to the solar energy industry. More than half of the world’s 400 million solar panels installed since 1975 have DuPont materials in them. To learn more, please visit
http://photovoltaics.dupont.com.
DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit
http://www.dupont.com.
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11/07/13
Caption: Construction has begun on a 4.4 megawatt solar power plant at a DuPont facility in Cernay, France, the largest installation on Company’s grounds to date. Image courtesy of Hanau Energies.
*Estimated figure based on average energy usage statistics by Hanau Energies.
