FOTOSOLAR was created on the initiative of a group of professionals from the energy sector in 2004. It was set up as a group devoted to the development, construction and operating of projects involving renewable energy and, in particular, photovoltaic solar energy, both in Spain and in other European Union countries that promote this kind of energy.

In 2006, the EDF Energies Nouvelles Group, a leading company worldwide, acquired a shareholding in FOTOSOLAR. In 2007, EDF EN consolidated its position with a shareholding of almost 50%, thus adding its financial capacity and R&D&I to the experience and technical capacity of FOTOSOLAR. www.edf-energies-nouvelles.com

FOTOSOLAR’s capacities have increased significantly thanks to the incorporation of EDF EN, especially in technological terms, where EDF EN’s subsidiaries include the manufacturers TENESOL www.tenesol.com (photovoltaic panels) and JACQUES GIORDANO www.giordano-solar.com solar thermal collectors and units).

FOTOSOLAR has broad experience in all aspects of a solar energy project: technical, scientific, economic-financial, legal, tax, operational, maintenance, vigilance and security.

FOTOSOLAR has a team specialised in the design, engineering and construction of solar photovoltaic energy projects. The team has different, complementary backgrounds (industrial engineering, civil engineering, mining engineering, forest engineering, and mathematics). The team is young (with an average age of 28) and international (with 4 nationalities and 9 different languages spoken), and has an outstanding academic and professional background (3 staff members were the top graduates in their class and most have subsequently specialised in renewable energies).

This combination of specialities ensures greater quality in the services provided to customers; the solar installations have a lifetime of 25 years, which implies that top quality in design, construction and maintenance is essential.

Furthermore, FOTOSOLAR has collaboration agreements with financial organisations, suppliers, administrative bodies, R&D&I organisations, insurance companies, etc., which constitute the best guarantee for its customers in terms of ensuring their investment, operation and maintenance, and risk coverage.

FOTOSOLAR does its utmost to achieve its objectives in the development of renewable energies, thus contributing to mitigating climate change that is threatening our planet and society. www.movimientoclima.org

FOTOSOLAR forms part of the Management Committee of APPA Solar, the Association of Renewable Energy Producers www.appa.es is an associate of ASIF www.asif.org, the Association of the Photovoltaic Industry, and collaborates in studies and projects with various public and private bodies.

FOTOSOLAR’s main activity is focused on the implementation of solar energy (mainly photovoltaic) projects; this involves the development, construction, operation and maintenance of the installations.

FOTOSOLAR has recently begun to carry out projects related to the construction of solar thermal energy installations for hot water and heating, within the scope of the new Technical Building Code.

http://www.codigotecnico.org/index.php?id=33

As such, FOTOSOLAR is currently involved in two photovoltaic project lines:

.: Large-scale solar installations: known as Photovoltaic Solar Farms, these are clusters of photovoltaic solar installations grouped on the same site where they share access, transformation and electrical connections, security, operation and maintenance infrastructures, as well as certain other common elements. One of the most important installations that it has constructed so far is “FOTOSOLAR AZNALCOLLAR 1890” Solar Farm on top of the old mining basin. This natural area was struck by disaster in 1998 in the form a chemical spill that ended up affecting the Doñana Nature Reserve and has now been restored by the Agency for Innovation and Development of Andalusia (IDEA) and has been turned into one of the largest solar parks in Spain.

.: Architectural Integration of Solar Energy Installations: these are solar energy projects that are designed to blend into the façades of different kinds of building (residential buildings, industrial warehouses, shopping and leisure centres), providing electricity generation at consumption points. FOTOSOLAR has built photovoltaic façades for public buildings, merging aesthetics and functionality.

Investment in photovoltaic solar energy production installations represents attractive profitability and the possibility of significant tax relief. It is possible to invest in one’s own individual installation on the roof of a dwelling, on private land, in an industrial facility, or to become involved in a larger-scale solar farm project. This flexibility attains the objective of making investment in solar energy socially accessible.

In the implementation of a solar installation project, FOTOSOLAR carries out the following activities:

1 – Economic-financial analysis of the project.
2 – Technical pre-project.
3 – Execution project.
4 – Construction.
5 – Operation and maintenance throughout the life of the plant.

All the above activities are carried out with high quality and professionalism, in such a way that the result represents a long-term investment for customers, who receive a comprehensive and reliable service.

The technical team is greatly experienced and employs the latest design tools, to seek the technical optimum of the photovoltaic plant and to minimise electricity production losses by choosing the best quality and most durable equipment. The lifetime of the plants is designed to be over 25 years.

The construction management ensures that the technical specifications are fulfilled and that execution is in accordance with current legislation, on the basis of obtaining all the necessary permits and authorisations from the Ministries of Industry, the Environment and Urban Development, and from Local Councils. The construction is completed with the issuance of the Start-Up Certificate of the photovoltaic plants.

The operation and maintenance team carries out one of the most important activities and its organisation and training are therefore essential, given that it must keep the plant operational with high levels of availability for more than 25 years. In order to meet this objective, FOTOSOLAR has qualified personnel to manage operation by remote control in its offices and locally in the plants.

The Administrative-Legal Department is responsible for the processing of the necessary permits and authorisations, for communication between parties and for the drawing up of contracts with customers.

FOTOSOLAR collaborates with local entrepreneurs and professionals in the various regions of Spain in which it operates; always looking for the most efficient way to create long-term value in the aforementioned regions.

FOTOSOLAR’s service encompasses the comprehensive implementation of solar installations, from the identification and technical-economic feasibility analysis of sites to the operation and remote control of all the installations from its central offices in Madrid.

www.edf-energies-nouvelles.com

EDF ENERGIES NOUVELLES is one of the world’s leading renewable energy operators.

EDF ENERGIES NOUVELLES, FOTOSOLAR’s leading partner, is the renewable energies subsidiary of the French multinational electric group EDF.

EDF EN currently accounts for an installed power of 1,037 MW and more than 600 MW under construction, with a majority percentage in wind energy, and with activities mainly in Europe and the United States.

It is one of the main actors in the world wind power and renewable energies markets. Its aim is to reach 3,000 MW in renewable energy by 2011.

In November 2006, EDF EN was listed on the Stock Exchange as one of the world’s leading renewable energy companies, being quoted at €2.3 billion at the start of this year.

EDF EN provides FOTOSOLAR with more than 15 years experience in the sector, with its large technical capacity and its technology both in the field of photovoltaic solar energy and that of solar thermal energy.