This report offers a comprehensive analysis of France’s photovoltaic market and developments over the past year. 2023 was a record-breaking year for PV installations in France, with a total of 4.0 GW of new photovoltaic capacity added to the grid, pushing the country’s cumulative capacity to 24.5 GW DC.
Several factors drove this exceptional growth, including the publication of the Law for the Acceleration of Renewable Energies, which introduced key regulations in 2023 that have boosted the solar market. These regulatory advancements, combined with changing market dynamics, helped shape a pivotal year for solar energy in France.
Key Highlights of the Report:
- New Regulations: The 2023 law introduced mandatory solar installations on buildings over 500 m², solar canopies for large car parks, a legal definition for agrivoltaics, and new rules allowing PV systems on unused land near infrastructure like roads and train lines.
- Market Growth: A total of 4.0 GW DC of new capacity was installed in 2023, surpassing 2022’s revised volume of 3.2 GW DC. While industrial and utility-scale systems dropped to 37% of new installations, residential systems grew significantly to 24% of the market.
- Self-Consumption Trend: Nearly 40% of new PV capacity in 2023 was intended for self-consumption, marking a significant increase from previous years.
- Project Pipeline: Approximately 7 GW DC of new projects entered the grid connection queue in 2023, with a growing pipeline of more than 26 GW DC awaiting connection, ensuring continued growth for years to come.
