Building-integrated photovoltaics: developers call for two dedicated tenders before 2027

A group of photovoltaic developers is raising concerns about the replacement of tenders dedicated to buildings, rooftops, and carports with technologically neutral procedures. Believing this timeline threatens project financing and jobs in the sector, they are calling on the government to publish two 300 MWp "building" tenders before the 2027 presidential election.

The tender schedule of the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE), presented on July 7, 2026 by Energy Minister Maud Bregeon, is causing concern among several photovoltaic developers. The plan includes a technology-neutral tender for 500 MW in October 2026, followed by a second tender potentially organized in January 2027, the size of which has not been announced.

These tenders pit several renewable electricity production technologies against each other: ground-mounted or building-mounted photovoltaic installations, hydroelectricity, and onshore wind power. For the signatory companies, the lack of new procedures specifically addressing buildings, rooftops, greenhouses, and shade structures risks penalizing the photovoltaic projects concerned.

A group fears a halt to photovoltaic projects on buildings

According to the press release sent to BATINFO, the members of the collective represent more than 2,5 GW of renewable capacities already installed or operated, as well as several gigawatts of projects under development or planned for 2030.

"This provisional timetable for the CRE's calls for tenders amounts to condemning the photovoltaic sector on buildings, roofs and shade structures to death, contradicting several years of national public policies and the energy transition strategies prioritized in the territories," the collective believes.

Developers consider the announced volumes insufficient in view of the objectives of the third Multiannual Energy Programme (PPE 3), published in February 2026. They also consider that the technologically neutral calls for tenders do not allow building projects to compete under economic conditions comparable to those of ground-mounted photovoltaic power plants or other renewable technologies.

“Not only are the volumes called for far below the commitments made by the Government when the Multiannual Energy Programme (PPE 3) was published in February 2026, and do not meet the challenge of the energy transition, but the sudden generalization of “neutral” tenders creates a de facto moratorium on building-integrated solar energy, which no longer has a funding pathway.”

Simultaneously, stricter requirements for solar installation have been established.

The group highlights the gap between this timetable and public policies which for several years have favoured the installation of photovoltaic panels on buildings and already artificial surfaces.

The signatories note in particular that the provisions of the law relating to the acceleration of renewable energy production, known as the APER law, are progressively strengthening the obligations for solar or green roofs applicable to certain buildings and parking lots. The Climate and Resilience law, at the same time, sets a target for reducing soil sealing.

According to the group, only 10 to 15% of the sites concerned by the solarization obligations of the APER law would be in compliance by July 1, 2026. However, this estimate is not accompanied by any methodology in the press release.

The developers also warn of the potential consequences for the agricultural sector. They point out that ground-mounted solar power plants, rooftop installations, solar carports, and photovoltaic greenhouses serve different purposes. They argue that direct competition between these projects could limit access for certain agricultural sectors to solutions suited to their activities, particularly in market gardening, horticulture, viticulture, and arboriculture.

A transition deemed too rapid by the developers

The signatory companies regret the lack of a transition period for projects already underway. They emphasize that developers have incurred study costs, mobilized teams, and undertaken steps to obtain the necessary planning permissions.

The group also relies on the report by Jean-Bernard Lévy and Thierry Tuot, which focuses on optimizing public financial support for renewable energy. The authors of this report recommend a gradual shift towards technologically neutral tendering processes to allow the various sectors to adapt.

Approximately 45.000 direct jobs are mentioned in the sector.

According to the signatories, the photovoltaic sector represents approximately 45.000 direct jobs in France. A significant portion of these jobs are concentrated in the development, installation, and maintenance activities associated with rooftop projects, often carried out by very small and small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) based in local areas.

The group claims that several companies in the sector have already initiated redundancy plans, without specifying the number or identifying the companies involved. It also fears that this lack of visibility will jeopardize projects to reindustrialize photovoltaic production in France.

The signatories cite in particular the abandonment, announced in May 2026, of the Carbon photovoltaic panel gigafactory project in Fos-sur-Mer. This decision concerned an integrated factory with a planned capacity of 5 GW per year, representing an estimated investment of 1,5 billion euros and more than 3.000 potential direct jobs.

Two "building" tenders for 300 MWp each have been requested.

To ensure a transition between support schemes, the group is asking the Government to publish two calls for tenders dedicated to photovoltaics on buildings, with a volume of 300 MWp each, before the presidential election of 2027.

"to respect its commitments, to demonstrate consistency with its own public policies and to give visibility to an industrial sector ready to invest in the ecological transition and energy sovereignty of our country," the collective calls.