The seventh round of France’s rooftop solar panel installation tender witnessed a sharp decline in developer bids. The total capacity of submitted projects reached only 274.8 megawatts, representing a mere 69% of the targeted 400 megawatts.

This downturn is attributed to concerns over potential government subsidy cuts for rooftop solar projects. The French Ministry of Ecological Transition and Solidarity is reportedly considering reviewing the feed-in tariff for electricity generated from these projects or reducing the maximum project size.

This marks the third time rooftop solar projects in France have faced challenges related to government support. In June 2021, the government announced a reduction in subsidies for large-scale solar energy producers. Furthermore, a report published in January 2023 indicated that France might struggle to achieve its solar and onshore wind energy targets.

Despite these challenges, France remains committed to solar energy, aiming to install 100 gigawatts of solar capacity by 2050.

As of 2023, France’s installed solar capacity had reached 20 gigawatts, with 1.9 gigawatts generated from rooftop installations.