Between anger and incomprehension, the solar industry is calling for continued support for photovoltaics on buildings

"The government is considering reducing, retroactively to February 1, the levels of support for solar projects with a power of less than 500 kWc (segment known as +S21+), in such a way that no project will be economically viable in 2025," say the Renewable Energy Union (SER) and Enerplan, representing solar energy professionals.

"This actually amounts to establishing a moratorium, while waiting for a new support mechanism to be put in place within an undefined timeframe," they add.

They are asking him to "reverse his position by maintaining the current tariff framework" for solar projects with a power of less than 500 kWc (kilowatt-peak, which corresponds to an electricity production capacity of 1.000 watts), while a "new mechanism" is effectively put in place.

The Ministry of Energy announced on Wednesday the refocusing of its support on the 100-500 kWc segment, which has experienced "strong dynamism in recent years". It will see the support tariff adjusted "to preserve the economic balance of projects, while controlling public spending".

The decree also provides that in the 0-9 kWc segment, public support will be refocused on self-consumption "in order to offer our fellow citizens resilience in the face of variations in electricity prices".

For the SER and Enerplan, this is a "radical overhaul of the framework for the development of photovoltaic solar energy". These announced changes amount to "putting an abrupt halt to all future solar projects on medium-sized roofs and car park canopies in the short term, thus putting the viability of hundreds of companies and thousands of jobs at risk".

"The momentum of the S21 segment has been abruptly halted. This abrupt halt is not acceptable," lamented Daniel Bour, president of Enerplan.

The FFB and the GMPV-FFB deplore the major inconsistency of the draft decree relating to photovoltaics in buildings

Following the consultation launched in December 2024 by the Directorate General for Energy and Climate (DGEC), a draft decree has been communicated. This provides for a quota on public support for the development of solar power plants on buildings, reflecting a lack of ambition in contradiction with the challenges of the energy transition.

The FFB and the GMVP-FFB denounce the clear inconsistency between the recent provisions requiring the use of photovoltaics for all new construction (Climate Resilience law and APER law), and those provided for in the draft decree making the recovery of electricity produced on these same buildings much more complex.

The FFB and the GMPV-FFB had nevertheless formulated concrete proposals in order to avoid breaking this dynamic and to limit the destabilization of companies.

The immediate and serious consequences for craftsmen and entrepreneurs will be to reduce their photovoltaic activity, thus creating job losses and a loss of tax revenue for the State.

For Olivier Salleron, president of the FFB: "Challenging the current regulatory framework, which is proving its worth, amounts to once again missing the turning point of the resolute solarization of our real estate assets, nipping in the bud any desire for reindustrialization!"

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.