From August 19 to 30, ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) tenders will accept up to 925 MW of projects, while building-mounted PV tenders will run from August 26 to September 6, targeting a total capacity of 300 MW. The latter marks shifting from life cycle assessment (LCA) carbon footprint requirements to a "country mix" approach.
As France awaits its new multiannual energy plan (PPE) and government composition, the Directorate-General for Energy and Climate (DGEC) and the Directorate-General for Enterprise (DGE) have announced two new calls for tenders for photovoltaic installations set for the end of summer 2024. These tenders will offer 1.225 GW of solar energy across two auctions.
Specifically, the bidding periods for solar energy are:
August 19-30: Ground-based PV installations with a total capacity of 925 MW.
August 26-September 6: Building-based PV installations with a total capacity of 300 MW.
Ground-mounted solar installations may be located on sheep and cattle farms. Depending on their height, other agrovoltaic projects may also be tendered for ground or building installation.
The DGE stated, "The candidates must commit to ensuring the preservation of significant agricultural activity under the panels, in line with the objectives set by law for the acceleration of renewable energy production."
To promote European-manufactured panels, the tender will introduce new criteria related to solar modules' carbon footprint. This involves transitioning from the LCA method to a "country mix" approach. Each country will be assigned a carbon score applied to each module, cell, or wafer imported from that country. "This modification could, if successful, be generalized to all photovoltaic assembly systems," the DGE explained in a press release.
The new methodology aims to minimize fraud and circumvention of carbon footprint requirements. Market observers note that it also aims to directly promote future French and European solar panel production projects with favourable ratings despite having a carbon footprint similar to or slightly better than that of current Chinese producers.
The LCA method has enabled Chinese manufacturers to improve their production lines and contribute to a more environmentally friendly global solar value chain. It allowed the classification of production units based on their actual carbon footprint, increasing the value of manufacturers' initiatives, such as switching suppliers or developing on-site self-consumption PV systems to mitigate the impact of China's carbon-intensive energy mix.
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