France allocates 720 MW in large-scale solar tender, final average price reaches €58.2/MWh
In the fourth of six tenders totaling 4 GW planned for the utility-scale segment, the French government selected 103 solar projects. In the next two, and final, rounds, around 1.7 GW of additional solar capacity will be assigned.
Fitch revises up outlook for French solar market
The U.S. firm expects France will reach a cumulative capacity of 28 GW by 2027, 3 GW more than previously forecast. The reasons for the increase are the renewed efforts of the French government to push for more solar, and the solar plans of big energy players such as EDF and Total.
Spain’s Holaluz to sell power generated at 46 MW solar park in Portugal
The solar plant was commissioned last week in Ourique, southern Portugal. The project was developed by UK-based renewable energy company Welink and Chinese engineering services provider China Triumph International Engineering (CTIEC).
France reports record share of renewables for Q2 2018
According to French grid operator RTE, it is the first time since the 1960’s that renewables have reached a similar share in the country’s power mix. Solar, wind and bioenergies contributed by covering around 10% of national demand.
EU commits €578 million for Iberian-EU energy market integration
Spain, Portugal, France and the European Commission have signed a deal to increase the capacity of the energy interconnection between the Iberian Peninsula and Europe. Currently, the interconnection capacity is 6,000 MW and, thus, far from the 15% goal set in 2015.
Total looks to Chinese EV market
Oil and gas company Total has announced it will work alongside Shanghai-based NIO – the world’s inaugural Formula E champion – to develop products for a potentially huge electric vehicle marketplace in the populous Asian nation.
Two strategic M&A transactions announced in the French PV sector
French solar project developer, Solstyce and rooftop PV specialist, Enerpur are merging into a single company; while France-based building materials provider, Terreal has become the largest shareholder of mounting system provider, GSE Integration.
France unveils details of 300 MW solar tender for Fessenheim nuclear site
Through the tender, the French government intends to allocate 200 MW for ground-mounted PV plants up to 30 MW, and 100 MW for rooftop solar systems up to 8 MW. Projects financed through crowdfunding will be granted the €3/MWh bonus, which is also included in all of the national tenders.
France makes room for solar, Total announces 10 GW plan
The announcement was given by the French energy company during the #PlaceAuSoleil initiative, a new plan of France’s government to speed up PV development, and to make surfaces for large-scale solar plants available. The new package of measures includes doubling the volume of tenders for PV projects on agricultural land and increasing by 50% the volume of tenders for rooftop PV.
Europe’s first GW-sized solar park may be built in France
The huge 1.2 GW PV facility is currently being planned in the Lot-et-Garonne Department, southern France. The project’s required investment is expected to reach around €1 billion. Five big solar players are currently interested in developing the plant.
