France's PV installed capacity crosses 10-GW mark

France has brought live 283 MW of new solar capacity in the third quarter, thus exceeding the 10 GW-threshold for grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) capacity, new statistics show.

France's solar PV capacity is planned to reach 20.1GW by 2023.

At the end of September, the country had 10,201 MW of installed solar power capacity, according to data by French renewable energy association SER, based on figures released by the Association of Electricity Distributors in France (ADEeF) and grid operators Enedis and RTE. With 2,705 MW, the Nouvelle Aquitaine region is the leader in terms of cumulative installed capacity, followed by Occitanie with 2,132 MW.

Third-quarter solar additions increased from 179 MW in the preceding quarter.

France’s solar parks produced 4.46 TWh of electricity in July-September, with the output rising by 4.9% in annual terms and surpassing the record-high 4.43 TWh from the previous quarter. Photovoltaics supplied 4.6% of the country’s electricity demand, up from 2.9% in the 12 months through the end of September.

At the end of September, France had 55,314 MW of installed wind, solar, hydropower and bioenergy capacity, or 2,385 MW more than a year before.

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