Commissioning and performance of SOLEIL

The French 3^rd generation synchrotron light source, SOLEIL, was successfully commissioned in 2006. The Linac and the Booster are operational at their performance design. During the early phase of storage ring commissioning, essential designed parameters were reached very quickly even though the project incorporates some innovative techniques such as the use of a superconducting RF cavity, solid state RF amplifiers, NEG coating for all straight parts of the storage ring and new BPM electronics. Prior to the start of the commissioning, most of Insertion Device low gap vacuum vessels, including 10 mm inner vertical aperture vessels, were installed on the ring. The main results of one year commissioning and achieved performances are summarized in this paper.