For nearly six months,AMJE Clunyhas been supportingThibaut Louvet, a third-year student in the Grande Ecole Engineering Programme at the Arts et Métiers campus Arts et Métiers Cluny, specializing in wood engineering, on a solar carport project that was completed this past January 2022. This study was commissioned by Vinci Energies, a major player in the infrastructure sector and a patron ofArts et Métiers. The AMJE Cluny team is proud to present this prototype, which was unveiled on the Arts et Métiers campus Arts et Métiers Cluny by Fabrice Dudragne, regional director of Vinci Energies.
Hugo FRECHET, president of AMJE Cluny, reviews the stages involved in manufacturing the prototype.
The construction of this structure was carried out in four main phases:
- Computer-aided design: before building the wooden structure, Thibaut Louvet designed it using CAD software. This digital design enabled him to identify the EUROCODES standards and obtain a precise overview of the structure down to the smallest detail. He was therefore able to estimate the optimal volume of wood required.
- Carbon footprint: as part of an eco-friendly approach, Thibaut compared the environmental impact of a wooden structure with that of a similar metal structure. He was able to identify sources of CO2 emissions by looking at freight, inputs, product life cycle, and, above all, energy consumption.
- Electrical and ecological sizing: Thibaut then sized the solar panel to meet the specifications in terms of energy and dimensions, while ensuring optimum efficiency.
- Manufacturing: to complete this project, once the cutting and drilling had been carried out in the woodworking shop, Thibaut assembled a full-scale prototype in the campus parking lot.
This study is part of AMJE Cluny's commitment to developing sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions. This issue is close to our hearts and illustrates our CSR approach in our interactions with other stakeholders in this study.
This prototype was made possible thanks to the support of the staff and faculty at the Cluny campus, who helped make this project a reality and enabled the installation of this prototype.
Our contractor carried out a carbon assessment during the design phase, demonstrating the energy benefits of wood compared to other conventional materials such as metal or concrete. Finally, he committed to using only materials available within a 62-mile radius of Cluny.
