Within the scope of its policy to intensify R&D activity, the GSE Group has demonstrated its pro-active attitude to sustainable development by creating a subsidiary that will be concentrating on the development of “turnkey” photovoltaic plants integrated in the rooftops of industrial and logistics buildings. 

With the launch of this new activity, the GSE Group provides its clients both in France and abroad with the possibility of obtaining an integrated offer which combines building construction with the installation of a photovoltaic plant.

		The new subsidiary, closely linked to GSE’s General Contracting activity, carries out the technical and financial feasibility studies, does the installation work, starts up operations of the photovoltaic plant, and monitors connection to the EDF grid. Photovoltaic installations use the amorphous silicon technology on a flexible membrane, ensuring leaktightness for the building. This solution obtains a price rate of 0.55€/kWh for the electrical production provided to the grid. In addition to the installation work, the new subsidiary will be investing on its own account and will be directly operating photovoltaic plants. Diversification to other photovoltaic technologies and other renewable energy sources is planned for the mid-term.

		Activity is building up
		The subsidiary’s first contract involves the installation of a 235-kWp photovoltaic plant on the logistics platform built by GSE for ProLogis in the town of Sorgues (84) (France). Photovoltaic membranes will cover nearly 6,000 m² of roofing. Work is scheduled to begin in late January 2008 and finish in mid-April. Other projects are currently on the drawing board for major partners in the logistics field. The cumulative power produced by the projects under study reaches 2 MWp.