Mandatory shade: large-scale distribution denounces an “inoperative” decree

The 2023 renewable energy law requires outdoor car parks (new and existing) to install photovoltaic canopies over half of their surface area, which are infrastructures covered with solar panels that provide both shade and produce energy.

While many companies and communities have started to equip themselves, the mass retail sector, the first to be affected with its 21.000 stores and shopping centers, and its 70 million square meters of parking, had requested in April a postponement of the deadline "by at least two years".

The government has almost granted them: managers of large car parks (over 10.000 square metres) finally have until 1 January 2028 to equip themselves, a year and a half longer than initially planned, according to a decree published in the official journal on Wednesday.

Problem, according to the technical distribution federation, Perifem: "the conditions of application of the decree make it inoperative in the absence of a constituted French photovoltaic panel sector".

For the federation, the decree requires that a commitment contract be provided quickly. "But if French photovoltaic panel factories start to emerge, the first productions are estimated at the earliest in the course of 2027," Perifem also says. "No tariff exists, nothing is certain," which complicates order taking right now.

"Who would take the risk of spending several million euros by the end of the year on products from non-existent factories, at unknown prices and delivery times?" asks the organisation's general delegate, Franck Charton, quoted in the press release.

He estimates investments in photovoltaic panels at "11 billion euros". "We do not decide on investments of this size without having a minimum of visibility on the market", he deplores.

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.