France Lowers PV Target To 65-90GW By 2035 in Final PPE3 Draft

France Lowers Photovoltaic Target in Final PPE3 Draft

The French Ministry of Ecological Transition has unveiled the final draft of the Multi-Year Energy Plan (PPE3), setting a revised target for national photovoltaic (PV) capacity. By 2035, France aims to achieve a cumulative installed capacity of 65-90GW, lower than the previously set goal of 75-100GW.

To meet the new targets, France will need to add 4GW annually to reach 65GW or 7GW annually to reach 90GW. In 2023, the country installed 3.2GW of PV capacity, followed by 3.5GW in the first nine months of 2024. While progress has been steady, further acceleration will be required to achieve the updated goals.

Planned Bidding Rounds and Capacity Allocation

Starting in the first half of 2025, France plans to conduct two rounds of bidding annually for ground-mounted photovoltaic power stations, with each round offering a capacity of 1GW. Additionally, there will be three rounds of rooftop photovoltaic project bidding each year, with a scale of 300MW per round. A further 500MW technology-neutral project tender will cover PV, hydropower, and onshore wind power projects.

Distribution of Photovoltaic Capacity

According to the PPE3 draft, by 2030, the photovoltaic capacity mix will be as follows:

41% from small and medium-sized rooftop projects

5% from small ground-mounted photovoltaic projects

54% from large-scale installations

For agricultural photovoltaic projects, the government plans to introduce a dedicated bidding mechanism, with detailed plans to be determined later.

Strengthening Photovoltaic Manufacturing

PPE3 also outlines production capacity targets for key segments of the photovoltaic manufacturing supply chain by 2035:

3-5GW of silicon material production

3-5GW of silicon ingots and wafer production

5-10GW of solar cell and module production

Public Consultation and Industry Concerns

The PPE3 draft has been opened for public consultation on the official website of the Ministry of Ecological Transition from March 7th to April 5th, 2025.

However, concerns have emerged following the French government's proposal for a retrospective reduction in the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) for rooftop photovoltaic installations. The proposal has sparked opposition from the PV sector, as it may undermine investor confidence and hinder growth in the solar industry.