Photovoltaic mapping in 2022: France is accelerating deployment with a disparity of resources in the region

While it was significantly behind compared to its European neighbors, France is accelerating the deployment of solar energy, with a rise in self-consumption. The analysis carried out by Dome Solar reveals that the most energy-intensive players, such as the industrial or residential sectors, are not necessarily those which invest the most. There is a particular appetite for solar power in agricultural buildings, but in a market in full swing, trends are set to change completely.

For Jean-Philippe Leray, President of Dome Solar: “The news of the past six months has created a real shift for the photovoltaic market. The rise in the cost of global energy has directly impacted the solar sector, driving the price per MWh from less than €50 to over €1.000 in just a few months! But the picture we see today does not yet reflect the impact of these changes and could change radically in the next two years. Availability of resources in the regions, raw material needs, administrative rigour, so many brakes which still condition the speed of deployment of photovoltaics. However, the situation has completely changed and demand - driven by regulatory obligations - now comes from all sectors, everywhere in France. »

Photovoltaics on the rise in all regions: New Aquitaine, champion in terms of installed solar capacity

All regions are recording an increase in installed solar capacity between 2020 and 2021, although the distribution remains quite uneven.

The Nouvelle-Aquitaine region has the highest density of solar energy [1] , followed by the Occitanie region, the Sud Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region and the Grand Est region.

It should be noted that the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region is the leading producer of renewable energy in France.

[1] Ranking of regions according to installed power (as of 30/04/2022) – Source: ODRE (Open Data Networks-Energy)

Industry and residential are the most energy-intensive sectors, while a trend is emerging in the equipment of agricultural buildings with solar panels

This mapping reveals that at present there is no correlation between energy needs and investment dynamics in favor of photovoltaics.

Indeed, if industry and residential are the first two “sectors” that consume the most energy, we find the highest density of panels installed in the agricultural sector. First causes: rapid financial profitability, more flexible installation conditions, etc.

For Jean-Philippe Leray: “The trend in demand is set to be profoundly disrupted, driven in particular by the new regulations emanating from the Climate & Resilience Law. Since January 1, all roofs of tertiary buildings of more than 1.000m2 must be green or equipped with photovoltaic panels. As of January 1, 2024, the rule will apply to all roofs of more than 500 m2, an absolutely immense deposit for the development of solar energy in our country. »

Self-consumption, a recent phenomenon, favored by simplified regulations

Soaring energy prices, energy independence, use of renewable energies, the current context could encourage more and more companies to consider opting for self-consumption.

Note that this practice is actually a very new phenomenon in the tertiary sector, it dates from the end of 2021 with the publication of a decree in October 2021 [3] which notably simplifies the procedures related to connection requests.

For Jean-Philippe Leray: "The next few months will be decisive in assessing how companies could arbitrate between different practices - self-consumption, self-consumption & resale of surplus or direct resale - knowing that when installing their panels, they must make a choice. between these practices and cannot reconsider their decision. »

[2] Source: ODRE (Open Data Networks-Energies)

[3] Order of the 6 October 2021