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
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
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
Our history
1980 : Design and manufacturing of the boiler for the Themis solar tower power plant
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)
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
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
In 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
SUNCNIM 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