Corsica: association proposes green hydrogen from floating solar on Lake Codole to power the island's trains

In Corsica, the Acquasole association is promoting a project to produce green hydrogen from a floating solar plant on the Codole reservoir, in the Reginu valley in Balagne, Corse Net Infos reported on Monday, 2 November. The project, called "RegHYnu", would produce, store and transport hydrogen to consumption sites, first of all the trains of the Chemins de fer de la Corse.

The figures. According to the promoters, quoted by Corse Net Infos, the panels would cover about 30 of the reservoir's 80 hectares and produce roughly 42 GWh a year. They estimate that the cover would cut evaporation by almost one million cubic metres of water a year, that retrofitting existing trains would lower operating costs by 30% compared with diesel, and that the Ajaccio–Bastia journey would be about 40 minutes shorter. Hydrogen specialist Bertrand Ciavaldini speaks of up to 200 direct jobs. Corse Net Infos stresses that these are projections and that the financial, technical and environmental feasibility has not yet been established.

Background. According to Stampa Paese, Ciavaldini, regional delegate of France Hydrogène, says the shallow reservoir suffers from strong evaporation and cyanobacteria growth, and that the site lies close to the railway and to high-voltage lines. Lionel Mortini, president of the L'Île-Rousse – Balagne community of municipalities, supports the project. In August, Acquasole launched a petition to include hydrogen production in the revision of Corsica's multi-year energy plan (PPE), Corse Net Infos wrote.

The island's grid. The Corsican power system remains under strain: on 29 October EDF Corse reported a record demand peak of 489 MW in summer 2026, against 1,044 MW of installed capacity, and warned that summers will remain tight until 2030.

What comes next. The petition has passed 1,000 signatures, and Acquasole is holding a public information meeting on 12 November at 17:30 in the Saleccia park in Monticellu.

Real-time data for the island are on the island page.