Lecta has announced an innovative renewable energy project to harness solar radiation for thermal power to be used in manufacturing processes at its Condat Le Lardin-Saint-Lazare mill in France.
With the help of an expert specialized in the installation of thermal power plants for the paper industry, starting this fall Lecta will have a thermal solar power plant at the mill with a capacity of 3.4 MWth. Its total surface area will be 1.4 hectares, with 45,434 square feet of solar panels deployed on the surrounding land and an ability to provide around 3,900 MW/year of energy. Panels with solar trackers, mechanical devices that orient the collectors, will follow the position of the sun during the day and convert the sun's rays into thermal energy that will be sent to the mill as hot water.
Given the environmental benefits, including reduced gas consumption and CO2 emissions, as well as increasing the value of undeveloped land, job creation and, most importantly, promoting renewable energy in the New Aquitaine region with what will be the largest thermal solar power plant in France, the project has received the support of ADEME (French Agency for the Environment and Energy Management), which is financing 65% of the costs.
After the completion of the initial phase, which included its presentation to the local administration and securing the required licenses, the land is now being prepared for construction within the expected timeframe, with completion initially anticipated for September of this year.
Lecta is a leading European manufacturer and distributor of specialty paper for labels and flexible packaging, coated and non-coated paper for publishing and commercial printing.
