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Photovoltaic energy in France

 
General


France plans to meet the binding target imposed by Directive 2009/28/EC without resorting to the cooperation mechanisms permitting a part of the renewable energy production efforts to be made via another member country (statistical transfer or joint projects) or via a country that is not a member of the European Union (joint projects). However, France has reaffirmed its commitment in favour of the Mediterranean Solar Plan (MSP). This plan may lead it to put in place cooperation mechanisms (joint projects) with non-member Mediterranean rim countries. In this case, the contribution of additional renewable energies would permit France to exceed its target of 23% of energy produced from renewable resources in the gross final energy consumption in 2020. The ten-year estimation being an exercise subject to numerous uncertainties, it is difficult to estimate to what extent France will be able to use the cooperation mechanisms in the context of the MSP. Therefore this national action plan does not fix a target superior to the 23% target imposed by Directive 2009/28/EC and does not take into account the contribution of renewable energies via one or more joint projects with Mediterranean rim countries.


Regarding photovoltaics, the new support scheme (Decree of 4th March 2011) aims to balance the increased cost to consumers of electricity, the balanced development of a competitive industrial sector for export and improving energy and environmental performance.
It provides a target for new projects of 500 MW per year for the next few years. This target will be reviewed in mid 2012 and will be revised upwards to 800 MW. Given the ongoing projects, the development prospects for 2011 and 2012 are supported and evaluated between 1000 and 1500 MW per year, or more than the amount installed in 2009 (300 MW) and 2010 (700 MW).
On these bases, the objectives of the Grenelle Environment Forum will be largely outdated compared to the original target (1 100 MW combined in 2012 and 5400 MW in 2020). The requirements will be increased on environmental quality and industrial projects including integration of recycling obligations at end of life and dismantling after the summer 2011 and the obligation to provide an analysis of life cycle from 1 January 2012. Projects outside the residential facilities will also provide a bank statement to prove the sustainability and serious projects.

Renewable electricity : photovoltaic energy (PV)


The government has adopted new tariff on March 4 2011 (Decree of 4 March 2011)

The purchase rate only concerns projects with a capacity below 100 kW. The principle of integrating the building is preserved, but in the limit of 36 kW or 9 kilowatts if it is not used for human habitation, education or health. A simplified fare integration building is set up for powers between 36 and 100 kW (between 9 and 100 kW for non-residential buildings, health or education) and for buildings not necessarily closed on all their faces.

Beyond the power of 100 kW, tenders will be established for all projects. This will be bidding simplified, partly systematized, up to 250 kW. Parks and facilities on ground buildings over 250 kW will be subject to their bids more traditional type, "tender CRE”. The first could be released this summer for the annual power from 150 to 200 MW.

Objectives on the other segments are 100 MW for residential <100 kW for both the non-residential <100 kW. For medium roof (100 to 150 kW), the objective is 100 to 150 MW. The government completely abandoned the segment facilities over 250 kW on the roof. Capping by market segment very much carved enhances the risk of not achieving the same goal, however modest, of 500 MW.

The purchase prices will see a quarterly decline very important. It is calibrated to yield a decrease of 10% per annum if the goal of 100 MW is met separately on each of the two market segments affected by the rates (residential, health and education / other buildings). It will be larger or much larger if the rate is higher, up 9.5% quarterly decline if the installed power exceeds 65 MW. Reduced over a year, if more than 200 MW are installed in the residential, health and education, the decline will be 22%! This decline would be even if the annual volume of more than 260 MW plants, 33% after 1 year.

The starting point of the tariffs is around 20% below those prevailing before the moratorium 9/12/2010
The order and design principles are of great complexity. He will return to the CRE to carry out the calculation of lower tariffs and to publish them on its site for a minimum of transparency and understanding. Dates will be adjusted on 1 July, 1 October, ...

Finally, for any facility with a capacity greater than 9 kW, guarantees on the financial feasibility of the project will be required by the provision of capital certificate (issued by the statutory auditor of a bank or a public accountant) or a loan offer.


NEW Feed -in Tariffs

The following table shows the different purchase prices proposed in the draft order for the first quarter after its entry into force.

 

Facility Type

Rate initial purchase made in the new device

Residential

Building integration

[0-9kW]

46 c€/ kWh

[9-36kW]

40.3 c€/ kWh

Simplified integration to building

[0-36 kW]

30.35 c€/ kWh

[36-100 kW]

28.83 c€/ kWh

Education or health

Building integration

[0-9kW]

40.6 c / kWh

[9-36kW]

40.6 c€/ kWh

Simplified integration to building

[0-36kW]

30.35 c€/ kWh

[36-100kW]

28.83 c€/ kWh

Other Buildings

Building integration

[0-9kW]

35.2 c€/ kWh

Simplified integration to building

[0-36kW]

30.35 c€/ kWh

[36-100kW]

28.83 c€/ kWh

Any installation

[0-12 MW]

12.00 c€/ kWh

 Beyond the first quarter following the entry into force of the device, revision of tariffs is expected following a quarterly basis. It will take particular account of the cumulative power plants can benefit from compulsory purchase and which were the subject of requests for connection to the previous quarter.

 

As a guide, the annual targets for each category of installation are the following:
 

Category

Eligible installation

Annual target

Regulatory tool

1. Residential Roofing

Facilities on residential buildings, building-integrated, low power (<9kWc and <36kWc)
[100-100] MW

[100-100] MW

Tariff reviews each quarter

2. Roofing nonresidential

A. Installations on non-residential building-integrated, low power (<36kWc)

 

[80-100] MW

Tariff reviews each quarter

 

B. Installations on buildings, integrated simplified built, small and big power (36 to 100 kWp)

 

 

 

C. Installations on buildings, integrated simplified built, small and big power (100 to 250 kWp)

[100-150] MW

Tender simplifies

 

D. Installations on buildings, integrated simplified built, high power (> 250 kWp)

[0-20] MW

Tender

3. Central Ground

Ground facilities

[150-200] MW

Tender

 





Future programme changes expected

No information is available on future programme changes.


Sources

- Decree of 4 March 2011 laying down the terms for buying electricity from plants using radiant energy from the sun as referred to in 3 of Article 2 of Decree No. 2000-1196 of December 6, 2000
- http://www.cler.info/

- National action plan for the promotion of renewable energies 2009-2020 In accordance with Article 4 of European Union Directive 2009/28/EC
 

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Last update:  March 2011