Discover SUNCNIM

SUNCNIM is the solar subsidiary of the CNIM group which designs, builds (EPC) and operates solar plants with energy storage for the production of electricity and thermal energy

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Mastering Solar Energy and Energy Storage

SUNCNIM designs, builds (EPC) and operates solar plants with storage for thermal energy production using its proprietary technologies in the field of CSP
The in-house developed technologies are based on the principle known as Fresnel mirrors which brings many advantages :  competitive cost of steam, modular conception, robustness, high local content and automatic operation

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An integrated solar industrial actor

SUNCNIM acts as an EPC contractor by providing complete turnkey solutions in design, construction and operation for the whole solar steam generators based on its historical skills in electricity, automation, mechanical, steam generation and thermodynamic cycles

SUNCNIM also provides a full set of services for Operation, Maintenance and Management of the asset during the entire plant lifetime

Value chain

Our history

1980 : Design and manufacturing of the boiler for the Themis solar tower power plant

Themis

In 1980, CNIM designed and manufactured the molten salt solar boiler of Themis solar tower power plant - 2 MWe located in France

Themis solar tower power plant was built and operated by EDF

The solar facilities are today operated for R&D purposes by the French solar laboratory CNRS-PROMES


2009 : Design of a patented concentrated solar technology based on linear Fresnel mirrors

Based on its strong experience and know-how in mechanical and thermal engineering, CNIM developed its proprietary patented Fresnel CSP technology for thermal & electricity applications


2010 : Inauguration of PROSOLFRE, first Fresnel CSP demonstration plant in France (La Seyne-Sur-Mer)

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Only one year after CNIM designed its CSP Fresnel technology, the PROSOLFRE demonstration plant of 500 kW thermal energy was inaugurated

The demonstrator was partially financed by the French state through an innovation support fund

 


2012: eLLO (9MWe with 4 hours thermal storage), project awarded by the French state

eLLO

In July 2012, CNIM is awarded by the French state a 20 year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for electricity production by eLLO Fresnel CSP project located in eastern Pyrennées - France

The eLLO project is fully developed by the CNIM group and is the first CSP Fresnel power plant with storage in the world


June 2015: Creation of SUNCNIM, the subsidiary of the CNIM group dedicated to solar energy

SUNCNIMIn June 2015, the SPI fund financed by the French government’s Future Investments Program is pleased to announce its first investment in SUNCNIM alongside the CNIM industrial group

A  total  of  €55M,  including  contributions  in  kind  of  technology,  is  invested  in  SUNCNIM,  of which €25M will be provided by the SPI Fund. The venture will enable a strong industrial base to be  created  and  aims  ultimately  at  creating  500  direct  jobs  in  France,  as  well  as  generating considerable indirect employment

SUNCNIM becomes the subsidiary of the CNIM group dedicated to solar energy with a capital owned by CNIM 55% and SPI fund 45%

 


September 2016 : Construction start in the eLLO project

eLLOSUNCNIM and the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations, shareholders in the project company eLLO, have
managed to raise €60 million from a banking pool made up of the Caisse d’Epargne CEPAC, Arranger of
the project financing, Bpifrance Financement, Caisse d’Epargne et de Prévoyance Languedoc-Roussillon, 
Crédit Coopératif, Crédit du Nord and Crédit Mutuel Arkéa

Construction started in September 2016