Back- Solar-plus-storage facility launches with a capacity of 8.8 MWp for the photovoltaic installation and 3.75 MWp for the storage system
- Technical solution viable to address the intermittency of solar energy
- Marguerite led a successful 40-million-euro funding round for ZE Energy in late 2021
Marguerite-backed ZE Energy opens a solar-plus-storage hybrid power plant with an installed photovoltaic capacity of 8.8 MWp and a storage system of 3.75 MWp.
Located in central France on a 9-ha plot, ZE Energy’s innovative facility is the first of its kind in mainland France. It is poised to meet the yearly energy needs of up to 8,000 residents of the
Mennetou-sur-Cher commune.
Marguerite led a successful 40-million-euro funding round for ZE Energy in late 2021 investing via its pan-European infrastructure fund Marguerite II, together with French local utility Groupe Sorégies and historical shareholders Demeter, HTGF, EverWatt and ZE Way Invest.
”This first real-life hybrid power plant will be a great opportunity for the ZE Energy team to hone its skills at managing integrated solar and battery assets and pursue its ambitious European
development. We are collectively facing a great challenge to balance renewables intermittency and bringing more batteries into the system, backed with attractive remuneration schemes, can
accelerate the energy transition” said Guillaume Rivron, partner at Marguerite.
ZE Energy is a French integrated, independent power producer that develops, builds and operates hybrid solar-plus-storage power plants. Founded in 2019 by former Solairedirect managers, by 2025, the company aims to reach solar plants amounting to more than 700 MW in total PV capacity and over 350 MWh in running battery power for a turnover of €60 million. By then, it plans to operate in several other markets including Italy, Germany and Spain.
Solar power plants are quick to build and typically take 8 to 12 months to complete. The new generation of solar-plus-storage facilities allows to cope with demand peaks and grid congestion, thanks to the storage of the energy produced during the day.
Numerous advantages
The technology behind the project addresses the intermittency challenges of solar energy. It also contributes to increasing the share of renewables in the energy mix without the need for traditional power plants to compensate for periods of shortage, thus reducing CO 2 emissions and dependence on fossil fuels.
“This first project paves the way for new projects in France, especially since the government has understood the need to reduce certain administrative constraints,” said Mathieu Lassagne, CEO of ZE Energy. “The vast possibilities include brownfields, industrial, commercial and agricultural buildings. Our controllable solar power plants meet the needs of consumers in every respect: optimised production, controlled prices, and low-carbon energy. It is also a tool to facilitate the electrical connection of renewable assets to the grid by contributing to the stability of the latter,” he said.
Another advantage is that the power plants allow renewable electricity to be consumed more locally. “This solar park in Mennetou is the culmination of a long-standing project, which combines economic and technological viability with virtuous energy production,” said Christophe Thorin, Mennetou-sur-Cher Mayor. “In the context of the energy crisis, which has a strong impact on local stakeholders’ financial stability, such a solution serves a public purpose and should be deployed massively. It allows us to approach the energy future of our municipality with confidence,” he said.