In the fourth phase of its plans to install 3,000 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity, France has awarded 103 solar projects aggregating 720 MW.

The successful developers bid at an average tariff of €58.2 (~$67.60)/MWh. This is 5 percent less than the average tariff bid in the previous round of auctions. For the larger solar PV projects of size between 5 MW to 30 MW, bidders quoted an average tariff of €52 (~$60.40)/MWh. It is the lowest price recorded in France for solar power projects.

Nicolas Hulot, the minister of state and the minister of ecological and solidarity transition, designated these 103 solar projects to the winners of the fourth round of tendering for a capacity of 720 MW.  These solar projects, which could provide power for around 100,000 homes on a yearly basis, are part of the French government’s plan to add 3,000 MW of solar capacity to the country’s energy mix by 2020. The plan, which was launched in 2016, has six periods of applications spread over 3 years.

The next two application periods will cover a volume of 850 MW each, in accordance with the commitment made at One Planet Summit to increase renewable energy generation.

The regions of the northern half of France represent 35 percent of the volume of projects, with around 85 MW of projects in the Center-Val de Loire region and 77 MW of projects in the Hauts-de-France region.

Nicolas Hulot also said, “All French regions can benefit from large scale development of solar photovoltaics. The energy transition is now taking place everywhere, in all territories. This is made possible in particular by the increase in volumes and the bonus on the environmental relevance of the site set up in this call for tenders.”

For the development of renewable energy, France recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India to cooperate in the field of renewable energy.

In March 2018, French President Emmanuel Macron was in the national capital at the inaugural conference of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) along with Prime Minister Modi.