Despite the assistance of the Ademe this was a failure

Five buildings, 1.4 kilometre of cumulative length, 36,000 square metres of photovoltaic panels and a capacity of 4.5 MW. The farm of Jean-Luc Westphal and his brother, the production must be done as early as next month, is simply the largest integrated photovoltaic installation in the world. To get an idea of the magnitude of the project, the California seat if publicized Google, also with photovoltaic panels, offers three times less power. A record is that Suntech Power Holding see Japanese industrial "of un des Un alsacien d' Alsatian of d' asked, registered to Japanese supplier Guinness Book". The Pharaonic project of 20 million was funded 95 by bank debt to two institutions: Unifergie, the subsidiary of the credit specialist agricultural of the financing of projects in renewable energy, and Natixis Lease, equivalent to the Banques Populaires. The amortization of the project is calculated on seventeen years.

But for Jean-Luc Westphal, formed in several institutes and universities in Germany, no question of these records. Its objective "Mount a stream". Originally, this passionate about ecology had invested tens of thousands of euros in the development of a second generation biodiesel. Despite the assistance of the Ademe, this was a failure. "I then said to myself: do simpler." "Use the plant as of biomass", says, looking for example at plants with high dry matter content as miscanthus, also called "elephant grass". For drying plants, nothing beats free air from tall buildings. "It was the time of the massive takeoff of photovoltaics". "The idea came naturally", he says today. A project of ecological doubly so. Unless, say some, first had the idea of solar integrated with a roof, which allows to have a better rate of redemption for Electricité de Strasbourg (ES). The use of the buildings to dry biomass is especially useful to quickly obtain the building permit.

Relational good, attractive prices

In any event, the project is the road. Since after the drying, the biomass will be used to produce 10,000 tons per year of pellets, pellets for heating. "The project was interesting with a value of the land, but on a very large scale implementation." "Need to establish a financial model to match the revenues from the sale of electricity with the repayment of the debt", explains Christine Delamarre, Director General of Unifergie.

While his brother is responsible for the farm, Jean-Luc Westphal has not stop there. With its Hanau Energies company, he began in parallel in the sale of turnkey facilities. On the international fair of suppliers of agriculture and livestock (Sima) held late February, his stand has not spousal. It says already have 100 files and table on a turnover of EUR 40 million this year. His arguments A very good relationship with industrial (Japanese MSK, bought by Chinese Suntech, for panels, inverters Siemens), a site worth all showrooms and attractive prices. Not to mention a worthy of the best commercial GAB: "I sell the quality of a Mercedes at the price of a Lada."

Alphonse Cornelisse, farmer in the expensive, is one of its first customers for a project of 3.5 million and 250 kilowatt hours. Already customer of Photowatt who has installed signs on a building (61 kilowatt-hours), Alphonse Cornelisse chose the offer of Hanau Energies: "once seen his project, its relationship with Siemens and Japanese industrial, its seriousness and the attractive prices, we are satisfied." Jean-Luc Westphal does not fear too rapid growth while its own facility is not yet operational "No." Take the market immediately. Soon, redemption rates will be revised downward and there are so many projects! .