Mr. Rösner, how did the French photovoltaics market develop over the last year?
2017 was marked by an increase in deployment to a total of 887 MW. That’s a substantial improvement on the previous year, and a return to the levels seen in 2014 and 2015. It was driven in particular by public tenders for free-standing installations. Small rooftop installations also experienced growth.
What volume do you expect to see over the coming years?
The “Multiannual energy plan” (MEP) is the central pillar of French energy policy. It sets binding targets for all technologies. By 2023, photovoltaics should generate up to 20,200 MW. Currently it provides around 7.7 GW. This means that annual deployment needs to exceed 1.5 GW. To help achieve this, the volume of tenders was boosted by two thirds at the end of 2017.
Which market segments do you consider particularly promising at the moment?
The boost in tender volumes is likely to make free land yet more important. Another interesting area is self-consumption. In 2017, calls for tenders with a total volume of 450 MW were launched for self-consumption projects between 100 and 500 kW. Since May 9, 2017 there has also been a legal framework for collective self-consumption. The first projects are already up and running.
What issue is currently in the spotlight in the French PV market?
In early 2018, Secretary of State Sébastien Lecornu founded a task force with the aim of identifying potential ways to simplify approval procedures, and checking new financing models. There’s equally keen interest in issues around land use, business models for self-consumption, grid financing and the procedure for grid connection. A lot of things should move faster in the future, which will impact deployment figures. The binding targets in the MEP are creating the necessary pressure.
What prospects do you see for e-mobility in France?
At the end of 2016 there were just under 17,000 electric vehicles. The government’s strategy for clean mobility aims to increase the number of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids to 4.4 million by 2030 – that’s around 14% of the number of passenger cars on the roads today. The 2015 Energy Transition for Green Growth Act (LTECV) also sets the goal of installing at least 7 million charging points, likewise by 2030. Some departments of the country are already trying to position themselves as pioneers. The “clean air” stickers for passenger cars that were introduced in 2016 will generate momentum in the major urban centers, where for example French-made electric compacts and vehicles from the Autolib’ electric car-sharing scheme are already a common sight on the roads.
What role does photovoltaics play in the French energy mix?
It’s no secret that France has relied heavily on nuclear power in the past. In 2017, this made up 71.6% of the energy mix. Hydropower is the leading renewable energy, followed by wind energy and photovoltaics. Last year PV generated 1.7%, which represents an increase of just under a tenth over the previous year.
At The smarter E Forum, you’re organizing the event “PV in urban areas in Germany and France”. What’s this all about?
Self-consumption is taking on more of a key role in Germany, as is grid integration in France. So, for us, the logical next step was to address the challenges and opportunities that this creates for the various actors. For example, we’ll talk about how photovoltaics can help to regulate and optimize the grid in urban centers. And of course we can’t pass over the opportunities opened up by digitalization. Photovoltaics is becoming a pillar of the energy system. We want to explore and discuss what’s already being done to drive this development in Germany and in France.
Interviewed by the team of Intersolar
Join our special pv Guided Tour in French on Wednesday (June 20) and Thursday (June 21) at The smarter E/Intersolar Europe in Munich. Register here (you find the special tours in French at the buttom)
Intersolar Europe Conference: PV Markets Sessions | Tuesday, June 19, 2018
Trends and Driving Forces - "Markets Unleashed"
Global PV Markets: Europe (Italy, Spain, France, Turkey)
Global PV Markets: The World’s Four Largest Markets
Exhibition Forum | Thursday, June 21, 2018
Event: PV in urban areas in Germany and France: new models for intelligent grid integration
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