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Chloé Stringaro
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Lille, 28th September 2026 – The Matignicourt floating solar project, located in the Marne region of France, has entered the construction phase. Developed by Neoen, the project has a total capacity of 35 MWp, including 28 MWp of floating solar power plant installed on a former quarry lake that is no longer in operation.
To deliver the project, Neoen is working with an EPC consortium comprising Equans, as lead contractor, and Ciel & Terre for the floating solar plant. As part of the project, Ciel & Terre is responsible for the design of the floating solar plant and its anchoring system, as well as anchor installation, the assembly of floats and PV modules, and the installation of the floating islands on the lake.
The project is located in the same region as Les Îlots Blandin, a 72 MWp floating solar plant that is currently the largest floating solar project in Europe. It is therefore part of a particularly dynamic area for the development of large-scale floating PV plants on water bodies resulting from former industrial activities.
With 28 MWp of floating PV, Matignicourt further contributes to the development of large-scale floating solar projects in France. The use of a former quarry lake makes it possible to use an existing water surface to generate renewable electricity, without creating a new land footprint.
For Ciel & Terre, the project is part of the company’s development of large-scale floating solar, with particular attention on system reliability, site-specific adaptation and the integration of environmental constraints from the design stage onwards.
“Every floating solar project requires finding the right balance between installed capacity, site constraints, environmental requirements and long-term performance,” explains Vincent Pinchou, Head of project, Ciel & Terre EMEA.
The Matignicourt floating solar plant was designed with the site’s specific environmental constraints integrated from the outset.
One of the main challenges was to maximise installed capacity while maintaining a defined distance between the reservoir’s banks and the floating islands. The positioning and dimensions of the islands were therefore optimised to find the right balance between the size of the plant and environmental requirements.
The anchoring system also required a site-specific design. The anchors must be installed along a defined level line on the reservoir floor, while maintaining sufficient elasticity in the mooring lines. This configuration allows the system to adapt to the geometry of the water body while ensuring the positioning and stability of the floating islands.
These constraints highlight the importance of an integrated approach to FPV design, in which island layout and anchoring systems are designed together and adapted to the environmental conditions of the site.
Construction is starting within a very tight timeframe. Anchoring works are already underway and must be completed before 31 October. Beyond this date, a particularly sensitive period begins for certain animal species present on the site, preventing the installation of the percussive anchors used for the project.
This constraint requires precise planning of the anchoring operations and a strong ability to adapt construction rates in order to make the most of the available environmental work window. Once this phase is completed, construction will continue with the assembly of the floating structures, installation of the photovoltaic panels and the progressive deployment of the various floating islands across the four reservoirs.
At Matignicourt, the environmental constraints directly influenced both the project design and the organisation of the construction site. We have a very short window to carry out the anchoring works, which requires us to carefully anticipate each stage and adapt our resources accordingly. This is also where the value of experience gained through floating solar projects with diverse configurations becomes particularly important.
Vincent Pinchou
Head of project, Ciel & Terre EMEA
Another distinctive feature of the project is that the plant will be spread across four separate reservoirs.
This configuration requires a specific organization of workflows, teams, and installation schedules. In addition, another project is being delivered simultaneously, requiring production, procurement, human resources and logistics to be coordinated across several construction sites in France.
Ciel & Terre has experience with projects involving similar logistical constraints. The company adapts its assembly methods, installation rates and deliveries to operate across several water bodies and maintain construction progress despite the dispersion of the work areas.
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Neoen is one of the world’s leading renewable energy companies. Its expertise in solar, onshore wind and storage enables it to accelerate the energy transition in the countries where Neoen produces green, local and competitive energy. Since its creation in 2008, its capacity in operation, under construction or under management has reached 10.2 GW. A fast-growing company, Neoen aims to reach 20 GW by 2030. Neoen is led by an experienced international management team headed by Xavier Barbaro, director of Neoen Limited and Neoen Holding Limited, and director of Cartusia S.A., CEO of the group.
Neoen operates nearly 200 assets across three continents. Its most iconic projects include Western Downs Green Power Hub in Australia, which comprises one of the country’s largest solar farms (460 MWp) as well as Western Downs Battery (540 MW / 1,080 MWh); Collie Battery (560 MW / 2,240 MWh), one of the world’s largest battery storage facilities; Cestas, France’s largest solar farm (300 MWp); and Mutkalampi, Finland’s largest wind farm (404 MW).
To learn more
The post Floating solar: 35 MWp Matignicourt project enters construction phase appeared first on Ciel et Terre.
To deliver the project, Neoen is working with an EPC consortium comprising Equans, as lead contractor, and Ciel & Terre for the floating solar plant. As part of the project, Ciel & Terre is responsible for the design of the floating solar plant and its anchoring system, as well as anchor installation, the assembly of floats and PV modules, and the installation of the floating islands on the lake.
A new large-scale project for French floating solar market
The project is located in the same region as Les Îlots Blandin, a 72 MWp floating solar plant that is currently the largest floating solar project in Europe. It is therefore part of a particularly dynamic area for the development of large-scale floating PV plants on water bodies resulting from former industrial activities.
With 28 MWp of floating PV, Matignicourt further contributes to the development of large-scale floating solar projects in France. The use of a former quarry lake makes it possible to use an existing water surface to generate renewable electricity, without creating a new land footprint.
For Ciel & Terre, the project is part of the company’s development of large-scale floating solar, with particular attention on system reliability, site-specific adaptation and the integration of environmental constraints from the design stage onwards.
“Every floating solar project requires finding the right balance between installed capacity, site constraints, environmental requirements and long-term performance,” explains Vincent Pinchou, Head of project, Ciel & Terre EMEA.
A design adapted to the site’s environmental constraints
The Matignicourt floating solar plant was designed with the site’s specific environmental constraints integrated from the outset.
One of the main challenges was to maximise installed capacity while maintaining a defined distance between the reservoir’s banks and the floating islands. The positioning and dimensions of the islands were therefore optimised to find the right balance between the size of the plant and environmental requirements.
The anchoring system also required a site-specific design. The anchors must be installed along a defined level line on the reservoir floor, while maintaining sufficient elasticity in the mooring lines. This configuration allows the system to adapt to the geometry of the water body while ensuring the positioning and stability of the floating islands.
These constraints highlight the importance of an integrated approach to FPV design, in which island layout and anchoring systems are designed together and adapted to the environmental conditions of the site.
Anchoring works carried out within a strict environmental schedule
Construction is starting within a very tight timeframe. Anchoring works are already underway and must be completed before 31 October. Beyond this date, a particularly sensitive period begins for certain animal species present on the site, preventing the installation of the percussive anchors used for the project.
This constraint requires precise planning of the anchoring operations and a strong ability to adapt construction rates in order to make the most of the available environmental work window. Once this phase is completed, construction will continue with the assembly of the floating structures, installation of the photovoltaic panels and the progressive deployment of the various floating islands across the four reservoirs.
At Matignicourt, the environmental constraints directly influenced both the project design and the organisation of the construction site. We have a very short window to carry out the anchoring works, which requires us to carefully anticipate each stage and adapt our resources accordingly. This is also where the value of experience gained through floating solar projects with diverse configurations becomes particularly important.
Vincent Pinchou
Head of project, Ciel & Terre EMEA
A logistical challenge for Ciel & Terre
Another distinctive feature of the project is that the plant will be spread across four separate reservoirs.
This configuration requires a specific organization of workflows, teams, and installation schedules. In addition, another project is being delivered simultaneously, requiring production, procurement, human resources and logistics to be coordinated across several construction sites in France.
Ciel & Terre has experience with projects involving similar logistical constraints. The company adapts its assembly methods, installation rates and deliveries to operate across several water bodies and maintain construction progress despite the dispersion of the work areas.
About Ciel & Terre
Founded in 2006, Ciel & Terre has specialised in floating solar PV since 2011. The company develops solutions for installing photovoltaic plants on existing water bodies. With more than 350 projects completed and over 1.4 GWp installed, Ciel & Terre addresses the full range of challenges associated with floating solar plants, including floating system design, anchoring engineering and design, as well as support for the construction and installation of the plants. Its solutions include Hydrelio®, WattRack® and Fusio®, designed to meet different water body configurations and project scales.
Learn more about our products
About Neoen
Neoen is one of the world’s leading renewable energy companies. Its expertise in solar, onshore wind and storage enables it to accelerate the energy transition in the countries where Neoen produces green, local and competitive energy. Since its creation in 2008, its capacity in operation, under construction or under management has reached 10.2 GW. A fast-growing company, Neoen aims to reach 20 GW by 2030. Neoen is led by an experienced international management team headed by Xavier Barbaro, director of Neoen Limited and Neoen Holding Limited, and director of Cartusia S.A., CEO of the group.
Neoen operates nearly 200 assets across three continents. Its most iconic projects include Western Downs Green Power Hub in Australia, which comprises one of the country’s largest solar farms (460 MWp) as well as Western Downs Battery (540 MW / 1,080 MWh); Collie Battery (560 MW / 2,240 MWh), one of the world’s largest battery storage facilities; Cestas, France’s largest solar farm (300 MWp); and Mutkalampi, Finland’s largest wind farm (404 MW).
To learn more
By Chloé, marketing
The post Floating solar: 35 MWp Matignicourt project enters construction phase appeared first on Ciel et Terre.