The money will be used to build three solar parks in southeastern France (Esparron 1 and 2, Saint-Hilaire du Rosier) with a total capacity of 20 MW. Among those contributing funds to the projects are Natixis Lease, Oseo, Unifergie (Crédit Agricole group) and 123 Venture.
With the successful conclusion of this financing round, Solairedirect has been able to set a European record in solar levelized cost of electricity at 15.4 euro cents per kWh, a development the company believes positions it at the forefront of the race toward making solar power as competitive as other sources of energy.
In the meantime the company’s Solaire Durance division has entered into a jointed venture with Caisse des Dépôts, France’s largest state-owned financial institution, to build the nation’s largest solar park to date at Les Mées (in the Provence Côte d’Azur region). Once operational, the park will have a total capacity of 24 MW.
In a written statement, Solairedirect said it intends for the Les Mées solar park to be a global showcase for utility scale solar power through its implementation of systematic innovations in photovoltaic modules design and production, electrical systems design, and unique construction methods.
In addition to the company says it has employed innovative legal and financial approaches to reduce risks and hence, capital costs.
As if that weren’t enough to make it an enterprise on the move, Solairedirect also announced the launching of solar IPP businesses in South Africa, India and Morocco.
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