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Overview
The French State supports the RES-E sector with several schemes. The most widely adopted tools - in terms of technologies supported – are the feed-in tariff and the premium tariff. Tenders for issuing feed-in and premium tariffs are also one of the largest support schemes in France. In the NECP, the French government has set a target of 40% for the share of renewable energies in final electricity consumption by 2030.
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Summary of support system
- Feed-in tariff: a minimum price is paid to the renewable energy plant operator by the supplier for the electricity exported into the grid.
- Premium tariff: paid to renewable energy producers in order to compensate for the difference between the income from energy sale and a reference level of remuneration, set by decree depending on technology and size of the plant.
- Tenders for issuing feed-in and premium tariffs: the PPE lays out the objectives for calls for tenders for 2023 and 2028.
- Over-the-counter contracts for energy purchase to compensate for the additional costs linked to energy purchase contracts on the non-interconnected islands.
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Competent authorities
Ministry of Energy
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Overview
The subsidy for biogas and solar thermal technologies (fonds chaleur) is the main support scheme for RES-H&C on the national level in France. It is a subsidy administered by ADEME and is targeted towards biomass and solar thermal technologies.
There is also a Regional scheme for the subsidy, which is administered by ADEME in the form of regularly launched calls for projects aimed at local authorities and companies wishing to develop systems for producing heating or cooling from biomass, geothermal energy, thermal solar energy and biogas.
In the NECP, France has set a target of 38% renewable energies in final heat consumption by 2030. -
Summary of support schemes
- Fonds chaleur – subsidy for biogas and solar thermal technologies
- Éco-prêt à taux zero – zero interest loan for energy renovation
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Competent authorities
Agence de l’Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l‘Énergie (ADEME)
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Overview
There are several support schemes for RES-T in France, spanning from a bonus on the purchase of low-emission vehicles, a tax incentive for biofuel incorporation, to a tax credit for installing a charge station for electric vehicles.
In its NECP, France has set the target of a reduction in emissions for the transport sector of 5% in 2030, and 6% in 2050 compared to 2015. Apart from that, according to the NECP, France foresees to achieve a 35% electric passenger vehicle market share and a 10% plug-in hybrid passenger car market share in 2030 (27% and 7% respectively in 2028). -
Summary of support schemes
- Bonus écologique - Financial aid allocated to any purchaser of a vehicle with a CO2 emission rate less than or equal to 20 g/km
- Taxe incitative relative à l'incorporation de biocarburants – tax incentive on the incorporation of biofuels
- Crédit d’impôt pour l’installation de bornes de recharge pour véhicule électrique – Tax credit of 75% for the installation of an electric vehicle charging station
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Competent authorities
- Agence de services et de paiement (ASP)
- French customs administration
- Direction Générale des Finances Publiques
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Summary
In France, one of the most complex parts of the permit and authorization process is the identification of suitable locations for renewable energy plants. Indeed, the majority of the work on authorizations and spatial planning takes place during the "administrative procedure" phase, which includes spatial planning, environmental impact assessments (EIA), and construction authorization. This phase can represent an obstacle for the French State as the procedure is lengthy and involves a large number of stakeholders. On the other hand, only PV systems (including ground-mounted and rooftop) and wind onshore projects with an installed capacity of more than 50 MW require an energy production license.
The grid connection procedure, which depends on installed capacity, is an additional requirement for RES projects in France.
The Energy Transition for Green Growth Act sets targets for the share of renewable energy in final energy consumption at 33% and no less than 40% of electricity production by 2030. The most important growth targets are planned for onshore wind (from 11.7 GW in 2016 to 33.2 - 34.7 GW in 2028), ground-mounted PV (from 3.8 GW in 2016 to 20.6 – 25 GW in 2028) and rooftop PV (from 3.2 GW in 2016 to 14.5 - 19 GW in 2028), which is why the description of permit and authorization processes will focus on these three RES-E technologies. -
Sequential order of process steps
1. Site selection
2. Electricity production license
3. Administrative authorisation
4. Grid connection permit -
Competent authorities
- Regional Departments for the Environment, Development and Housing (Directions Rgionales de l'Amenagement et du Logement - DREAL)
- Ministers of Energy
- Ministry of Defence
- Departmental Territorial Directorate (Direction Departementale des Territoires - DDT)
- French Architectural Review Board (Architecte des Batiments de France - ABF)
- Gestionnaire du Réseau de Transport d’Electricité (RTE)
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Overview
France has an existing regulation for prosumer and collective self-consumption.
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Summary of regulations
- Ordonnance n° 2021-236 du 3 mars 2021
- Loi n° 2017-227 du 24 février 2017
- Code de l’énergie
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Overview
France has several policies to support the integration of renewable energy sources. There are both training programmes for RES plants installers and construction workers, and certification programmes for RES installations. The French State is also leading the way by example, and it has pledged to renew a significant amount of public buildings and to finance public R&D projects.
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Summary of policies
- Qualit’EnR – professional training for installers of renewable energy installations
- Qualibat – professional credentials for installers of renewable energy installations
- Alliance Qualité Photovoltaique –label certifying quality of services provided by companies in the solar photovoltaic sector
- Flamme verte – certification for high-quality products such as wood-burning fireplace inserts, stoves, and boilers
- NF414 – certification label for heat pumps
- Plan de rénovation énergétique des bâtiments – support scheme for energy renovation of public buildings
- Programme d'investissements d'avenir – R&D programme for renewable energy sources
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Competent authorities
- Qualit´EnR Association
- Local Qualibat Agency
- French renewable energy syndicate (SER)
- French Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME)
- French certification organisation (AFNOR)
- Ministry of Energy
