Are solar panels a good investment in France?

As electricity prices continue to soar in France - up 60% in four years - more people are turning towards solar panel kits, which promise to help users save on energy costs and installation prices. The estimated extra cost of electricity in 2024, compared to 2020, is €540 per household per year.

Does France's auction mechanism lead to cheaper solar energy?

The French energy regulator says in a new report that France allocated about 5.55 GW of PV capacity through its auction mechanism for large-scale solar between 2011 and 2013. Despite falling solar module prices, the auction mechanism did not lead to cheaper PV electricity or lower project costs. From pv magazine France

Are France's solar PV auctions dwindling?

Aside from the rooftop solar PV auctions, France also held a ground-mounted tender in March of this year, which awarded nearly 1GW of PV capacity. After awarding over 500MW of capacity in the fifth tender, held in August 2023, the numbers have dwindled in the following auctions, as shown in the chart below.

Are French solar installations bolstered by a new law?

Beyond falling prices, the IEA PVPS report said solar installations were bolstered by the measures introduced in the French government’s Law for the Acceleration of Renewable Energies which came into force in 2023. A requirement that competitive tender winners share some of the added value with locals.

Do car parks need solar roofs in France?

A requirement that competitive tender winners share some of the added value with locals. Car ports and car parks have become a significant driver of solar adoption in France. In November 2022, the government passed a law requiring all large car parks to have solar roofs from mid-2023.