Ciel & Terre sets up U.S. floating solar joint venture

French-based solar power developer Ciel & Terre has through its subsidiary Laketricity formed a joint venture with BlueWave Solar to deliver floating solar projects in Massachusetts and across the northeast region of the United States.

With over 155MW of solar projects developed to date throughout the American northeast, the partnership with Laketricity also marks BlueWave Solar’s entrance into the floating solar space.

Dubbed floatovoltaics, the floating solar arrays are said to address global need to produce clean energy in efficient ways that also save common greenfield land.

Such projects are especially important in areas like Massachusetts, where building on man-made ponds and reservoirs solves land use problems and ensures no disruption to the state’s terrestrial habitats while reducing energy costs and bringing clean energy to local businesses and residents, according to BlueWave Solar.

John DeVillars, co-founder and chairman of BlueWave Solar, said. “We are thrilled to work with the world’s leading floatovoltaics provider to bring floatovoltaics to New England. BlueWave is pioneering dual-use agrivoltaics and setting high ecological standards for sustainable site development and management. Partnering with Laketricity represents another step in our efforts to partner with those who share our core environmental protection values”.

Alexis Gaveau, CEO of Ciel & Terre and president of Laketricity USA, added: “Our joint venture accelerates the deployment of smart solutions to positively integrate renewable energies in the local environment. We look forward to implementing these projects in partnership with such a local expert that shares our human & environmental values as well as growing the scope of our joint venture in the years ahead”.

Ciel & Terre has installed over 230 floating solar projects globally, and 21 projects specifically in the U.S. with over 162 megawatts-peak (MWp) power.

The future projects to come of the partnership, beginning in Massachusetts with intent to expand throughout the region, seek to position BlueWave Solar and Laketricity as floatovoltaic leaders in the U.S. northeast while contributing to clean energy goals and maintaining valuable land in the areas they will operate in.