France to ease conditions for getting solar FiTs

The French government last week unveiled plans to ease the mechanism for subsidising rooftop solar projects and put a cap on the reduction of feed-in tariffs (FiTs) for larger projects.

The measures were proposed in order to encourage the production of electricity from solar energy, particularly in the commercial sector, the Ministry of Ecology said.

The first step calls for lifting the size limit for rooftop photovoltaic (PV) projects so that they are eligible to receive fixed tariffs from 100 kW to 500 kW without having to compete in tenders. The subsidies are currently distributed for projects up to 100 kWp covering an area of 1,000 sq m (10,764 sq ft). Before becoming valid, however, the plan has to be reviewed by the European Commission (EC).

Additionally, the government plans to reduce the degression rates planned for FiTs for solar projects larger than 100 kW. The rate is revised every three months now and if this formula is applied a tariff reduction of 8.7% will be made from October 1. This drop, according to the government, would not reflect the actual trend in PV costs and would slow down the segment. The proposed cap to the reduction of FiTs is planned to be 3.8%.

The government will publish a decree “in the coming days” after completing an ongoing consultation process.

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