Courchevel in Les 3 Vallées has been working with Savoyard start-up HéliosLite to integrate floating solar PV panels in the mountains.
In conjunction with the Société des 3 Vallées deployment of a 245 KW array is planned for the Ariondaz reservoir at an altitude of 2000m.
Another array is already in place on the Lac du Biollay, next to the Mercure hotel in Courchevel 1850.
The challenges include snow removal from the floating structures to maintain PV capacity during the winter, as snow and ice builds on the reservoir.
A prototype is being tested with 90 modules on 9 floats, each with two sides oriented East/West and equipped with a watering system on the edge.
Testing has gone well, so it’s hoped that both projects can be fully deployed in due course.
