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France plans new calls to tender 2 GW of renewable energy capacity

The French Government has announced plans to open several calls for tenders to develop 925 MW of onshore wind capacity and 1.2 GW of solar capacity to reach its renewable energy targets. The tender for 925 MW of ground-mounted solar PV is expected in late August 2024, that for 300 MW of rooftop PV in late August 2024-early September 2024, and that for 925 MW of onshore wind in early September 2024.

Among the expected changes to the next calls for tenders are a new eligibility criterion to estimate the carbon content of solar panels (country mix approach to promote a low-carbon industrial sector for the production of solar panels). In addition, already-authorised agricultural solar projects will become eligible to apply for state aid through tenders. Moreover, the pre-qualification phase for the country’s ninth offshore wind tender to develop four offshore wind projects (2.5 GW) has been opened. The competitive dialogue is scheduled for the October-December 2024 period, and the awards announcement for autumn 2025. 

In 2023, the French Parliament adopted a law aimed at accelerating the development of renewables in an attempt to exceed 100 GW of solar capacity, to double onshore wind capacity to 40 GW, and to deploy 50 offshore wind parks totalling 40 GW by 2030. At the end of 2023, France had an  electricity capacity of 149.3 GW of which wind represented 15% (23 GW) and solar 11% (19 GW).