Company History

A pioneer in Africa

Tenesol’s roots can be traced back to Africa in 1983 and our response to an urgent humanitarian need: to supply drinking water to the Sahel desert areas. In this desert environment, solar technology was the only resource capable of generating the electricity required for pumping water, a key resource in the survival of local populations. As a result, the company’s expertise initially developed around the areas of solar water pumping and power supplies for remote sites.

Today, Tenesol and its two shareholders, Total and EDF, continue to franchise rural electrification programs in Morocco, Mali and South Africa. These measures have allowed us to supply photovoltaic electricity to more than 7000 isolated homes. Tenesol is also very involved in the provision of training courses on solar photovoltaic energy in developing countries. The aim of these courses is to educate local populations and enable them to become self-sufficient.

Driven by its commitment to community development, Tenesol has moved on from its modest beginnings and has progressively developed its skills and core activities, motivated by significant technological advances in the photovoltaic sector and by the growing importance of environmental issues in industrialized countries.

 

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Our corporate culture of sustainable development

The initial challenges that we faced in Africa proved intrinsic in shaping the future strategy of Tenesol. With a long-term involvement in providing specific and often vital applications to developing countries, the company’s activities have always been firmly embedded in an approach based on sustainable development.

By promoting the generation, deployment and distribution of clean, renewable energy right across the globe, Tenesol has spent the past 26 years working towards achieving global social, economic and environmental harmony.

At the heart of its current activities, Tenesol’s grid connection solutions allow professionals as well as private individuals to generate and supply environmentally clean energy back into the distribution grid.

 

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An international presence, with national roots

While contributing to the emergence of a now rapidly expanding market, Tenesol has steadily proven its credibility and has gone on to become an international company, with a presence in more than 50 countries today.

Tenesol’s two shareholders, Total and EDF, are actively involved in the growth of the company and its development on an international scale. Solid and strategic partners, they work alongside Tenesol in developing the company, thereby confirming their commitment to the renewable energy sector.

Tenesol currently has 20 subsidiaries worldwide.

> To find out more about Tenesol subsidiaries

While establishing itself on an international level, Tenesol has also consolidated its position in France :

  • In 2000, Tenesol set up its global head office in Lyon. By incorporating solar panels into its architecture, Tenesol’s head office buildings are a reflection of the company’s goals.
  • The company’s production activities, historically based in South Africa, were further strengthened by the opening of a new production center in Toulouse (France) in 2005 – Tenesol Technologies. The modules manufactured at this site are aimed at the rapidly expanding grid connection markets.
  • With a strong historical presence in overseas territories, the company set up a number of regional delegations in 2008 in order to develop a more hands-on approach to the different national markets and their customers.
  • Faced with growing demand and the need to manage supply flows, Tenesol established a 10 000 m² logistical center in Villefranche-sur-Saône, France. It has a staff of 40 employees and controls the distribution of all Tenesol products worldwide.

 

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Key dates

 

  • 1983

> Total Énergie founded in Africa, first installations implemented, steady development of the Total Énergie grid in 20 countrie.

  • 1990

> Initial investment in French overseas departments and territories.

  • 1995

> Grid connection business launched.

  • 1996

> Tenesa founded in Cape Town (South Africa), the first manufacturing facility for solar modules.

> EDF takes a 20% stake in Total Énergie.

  • 1999

> Initial production of industrial solar panels. Tenesa becomes Tenesa Manufacturing.

> Temasol program launched (large-scale solar franchises in Morocco).

> Expansion of European network: Germany, Italy, Spain.

  • 2000

> The head office of Total Énergie is set up in La Tour de Salvagny, close to Lyon (France).

  • 2003

> ISO 9001 V2000 certification obtained.

  • 2004

> Launch of business in Latin America.

  • 2005

> EDF becomes an equal shareholder with Total – the company is renamed Tenesol . Tenesa Manufacturing is also renamed Tenesol Manufacturing.

> Driven by growing demand in the European market (particularly in the grid connection market), the production center Tenesol Technologies opens in Toulouse.

  • 2008

> Tenesol’s production capacity reaches 90 MWp, translating into an effective output of 65 MWp.

> Regional delegations set up in France: Midi-Pyrénées, Languedoc-Roussillon, Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur, Alsace-Lorraine, Grand Ouest, Grand Est and Île-de-France.

> Production starts at Tenesol logistical center in Villefranche-sur-Saône, France.

  • 2009

> Rhône-Alpes regional delegation established.

> Production capacity reaches 105 MWp, translating into an effective output of 85 MWp.

> ISO 9001 V2008 certification obtained for head office, logistical center, and production sites (Tenesol Technologies and Tenesol Manufacturing).

> ISO 14001 certification, relating to efficient environmental management, obtained for production sites (Tenesol Technologies and Tenesol Manufacturing).

 

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