More info:

http://www.cre.fr/documents/deliberations/communication/tarifs-photovo
ltaique

Complete Press Release:
http://www.photon-international.com/newsletter/document/59637.pdf

This is a region which is resolutely focused on solar energy. Convinced of the benefits it represents. Making sure it has all the resources possible to develop it. Since 2009, the Poitou-Charentes region has a solar plan. "The" solar plan. Because, although others have since followed suit, this region was the first to implement a series of innovative tools to assist companies, associations, groups and other public bodies wishing to install photovoltaic plants.

First, there is the "usual" direct aid, in the shape of grants from the Regional Environmental Excellence Fund. But what makes this plan special is its double-funding feature. This is made possible by the EIB, the European Investment Bank, together with the Crédit Agricole, both of which have agreed to fund the plan with a loan each of 200 million euros. This is unprecedented in Europe. And it's working. "The initial objective of the plan was to produce 70 MW in the region within the space of four years," says Jean-François Macaire, Vice President of the Regional Council. "But since the production capacity proved larger than expected, this figure has revised upwards with a new target of 270 MW over 5 years!"

This decision to go with solar does not come as such a surprise for a region that has made environmental excellence its priority. And this since 2004. A region which also has a plentiful supply of sunlight. Additional incentive: the resultant job creation. Indeed, since 2009, more than a dozen regional companies have been set up, transformed or expanded around the solar power plants. "We also want to establish a production chain in the region", explains Jean-François Macaire. Notably, the region plans to forge a partnership with Solairedirect, a company which is keen to install a photovoltaic solar panel manufacturing plant.

Despite the plan and all the goodwill behind it, the development of photovoltaics in the region has suffered – as has this entire industry sector – as a result of the recent governmental measures. In order to surmount this, the industry has had to innovate, remain flexible, learn to bounce back. For example, as part of the Photovoltaic Resistance Fund set up by the region in March, Poitou-Charentes and Solairedirect created a joint local semi-public company called "Solar Electricity of the (Ester) Poitou-Charentes Region." The objective: to support the development of 120 MW of solar in the next 5 years, while at the same time promoting the production of photovoltaic electricity at market prices. And the region's involvement is paying off. In September 2011, 107 MW were connected, compared to 3 back in 2008. "We have a steady rate of installation despite the recent difficulties in the sector," says Jean-François Macaire.

When we ask him what he would advise other regions wishing to invest more in solar, he replies: "First and foremost, this is a tried and tested technology, with some plants in existence for over 30 years now, and still going strong. Its business model has progressed significantly. And today we are seeing that the Chinese panels are not the be all and end all. There is a real place for French industry." Not to mention the ecological issue: "This is a sector with known production costs, unlike fossil or nuclear energy," says Jean-François Macaire. "It is a guarantee of energy autonomy and assured energy supply throughout the region." The Poitou-Charentes Vice President will be participating in the Solar Energy Conference being organized by Solarplaza on November 10 in Lyon – where he will be explaining in detail the ins and outs of this innovative plan. A not-to-be-missed event!

The prospect of a probable reduction in nuclear in France presents a fantastic opportunity for the photovoltaic industry. And never mind the Chinese competition – the French players have their card to play.

LYON, 7 NOVEMBER 2011 - It is a commitment which could appear timid, or even somewhat feeble at a time when some of their neighbors have already declared, "It's over," "Basta to the atom," "Stop nuclear." This commitment is that made by the Socialist presidential candidate, François Hollande. "We need to reduce the amount of nuclear power in our electricity generation. [If I am elected], I will strive towards achieving, by 2025, a reduction in nuclear from 75% to 50%," said this supreme office candidate.

Indeed, it is little, compared to other countries that have decided to forgo nuclear in the near future. Plain and simple. As Germany has done; as Belgium wishes to do so. But for one country, France, where nuclear produces more than 78% of electricity, this is a huge step. And even more so due to the policies that have been in place for the last forty years. For Francois Hollande, therefore, rather than debate the relinquishment of nuclear by 2040 or 2050, it is better to make a "firm, clear-cut commitment for the coming fifteen years."

"It's a common sense proposal," says Thierry Lepercq, President of Solairedirect, a company involved in development and financing for solar plants. No one is disputing the importance for France of implementing a more balanced and safe energy mix." And especially since the Fukushima disaster. This hypothesis of a reduction in nuclear has up until now been ideological, for the most part – but has now also become economic.

Continuing along the nuclear path may prove costly. Very costly. Even more. There is of course the inevitable cost of dismantling plants – "extremely expensive", according to Edwin Koot, the CEO of Solarplaza. But above all, there are the billions which will need to be invested in order to upgrade the rest, not to mention sector employees who will be reaching retirement, and the training of new experts... All this in an area renewable energy costs are constantly diminishing. So, why not simply stop the expenses? Say, as of today: "Ciao, nuclear!"

According to the negaWatt experts, it would indeed be possible to totally forgo nuclear in France. And this as of 2033, please. Engineers in the sector have described this energy outlook in a well-crafted script. The guiding principle? A trilogy of "sobriety-efficiency-renewable energy". During this "energy transition," the economies in petrol imports generated by the scenario would mean savings of more than 750 billion by 2050 and the creation of 600,000 jobs by 2020.

"The goal can only be achieved through a combination of energy efficiency and replacing other energies with renewable energy," states Thierry Lepercq, who notes the "very interesting perspective opened up by this scenario with what has become known as 'Power-to-Gas', the large-scale storage of intermittent renewable electricity (solar and wind) in the form of hydrogen-based synthetic methane derived from water electrolysis." This is the photovoltaic industry's trump card – where "Goodbye nuclear" resonates with "Hello, solar energy." According to negaWatt, by 2050, 91% of France's electricity will come from renewable energy – there's how a single number can light up the future of photovoltaics.

For Thierry Lepercq, this is a certainty: the prospect of nuclear power reduction contributes more towards the development of PV than all the subsidies granted to the sector. "In addition to energy efficiency efforts, the simple fact of reducing nuclear from 75% to 50% would mean that in the future approximately 150 TWh more would have to be produced using alternative energy sources," he says."This is significant!" In his opinion, given the current serious financial situation in France, there is no way this transition will be made using energy subsidies. So there is only significant room for solar if it is competitive, "which is practically the case at the present time."

The expert goes even further, stating: "Most of this 150 TWh will only be obtainable from solar." Why?"Well, because it is the only energy that can provide the volumes and costs, whilst at the same time being socially accepted and environmentally necessary!" In this regard, it will of course be necessary to address the issue of network intermittency and stability, "which is technically and economically more than feasible."

That may be so. But at the end of the day, what is the point in investing when Chinese competition comes along and crushes it all? What's the point in struggling, when we know that, by the end of the year, 85% of PV cells manufactured worldwide are expected to be manufactured in Asia, according to a study by the firm IMS Research? "We must be careful not to fight the wrong battle," believes Thierry Lepercq. "France will only prosper if it develops a differentiated and competitive technological and industrial offer, in cooperation with the top global players – including the Chinese – in each sector."

He makes a comparison with flat screens. "They are already all being manufactured in Asia, and no one's complaining!" Edwin Koot of Solarplaza echoes this view. "Let's let the Chinese make their cells. It will be cheaper. The jobs lie in engineering and integrated products. Moreover, services are local. The installers for the French market are located in France, not China. Furthermore, the Chinese are taking out huge loans, and as such need ever increasing capital." "The real industrial challenge is that of building offers for systems, intelligent solutions and services, with high value-added," adds Thierry Lepercq. So, to all the French players in the solar photovoltaic industry – it's your call!

Where does PV stand in the French electricity offer? Join us on 10 November in Lyon for a major conference

The different scenarios for the French energy mix and their impact on the photovoltaic market are high on the agenda of the solar energy conference to be held in Lyon on 10 November 2011, at the initiative of Solarplaza. http://www.thesolarfuture.fr/

The plenary session scheduled for 4:15 p.m. will address the subject: Where does the photovoltaic industry stand in the French electricity offer? The conference will be attended by industry experts, politicians and high-level experts, for an innovative and interactive discussion.

Another major challenge, according to this expert, is one for sustainable development players: that of convincing the candidates for the supreme office that renewable energy will be tomorrow's economy. "If France does not position itself in the market very quickly, " warns Arnaud Gossement, "it will quickly be overtaken by other countries which have already made this choice - notably Germany. " In this regard, Enerplan, the solar energy trade association, hopes to convince the campaign teams that the photovoltaic industry is capable of creating 100,000 jobs in France between now and 2020. "Either we invest in 2012 and we obtain an industry worthy of this name, or we continue with an ambitionless policy, as is the case today - and in that case, we will see a trade deficit of 1.5 billion euros in 2020, " resumes Richard Loyen, Managing Director of Enerplan.

With the major solar energy players meeting this weekend in Paris, their proposals will be notably at the heart of the international conference on the future of solar taking place in Lyon on 10 November, at the initiative of Solarplaza.

This key event will be attended by industry experts: professionals from the sector, state officials, project developers, financial experts... These experts will present their visions for the evolution of the French market, and will share their experiences and knowledge in the field of solar energy in France.

Information and registration on the conference website:
www.thesolarfuture.fr

Rotterdam / Lyon – As of 2020, all new buildings will be positive energy buildings. This represents a fantastic opportunity for the photovoltaic industry players.

"The positive energy building is the global future." Jean-Louis Estèves, CEO of TCE Solar, can barely contain his enthusiasm. For him, there is no doubt: the positive energy building, a building that produces more electricity than it consumes, is one of the saviors of the photovoltaic industry. The Grenelle has declared, on the basis of the European Directive on Energy Performance of Buildings: As of 2020, in France, all new buildings will be positive energy buildings. This obligation will enter into force for local authorities as of 2018.

And where there is positive energy, there is electricity generation, and therefore integrated solar photovoltaics. According to Jean-Louis Estèves, all of the players in this industry have their part to play. "The green building requires mastery of little-known technologies," he explains. "There is still much progress to be made with regard to, firstly, solutions for integrated production of solar photovoltaic electricity. The industry must address this topic: improving what already exists, and inventing what does not yet exist." In his opinion, it will then be possible to export this specific "French-style" know-how worldwide for decades to come. Not to mention all the buildings that will require renovation and rehabilitation! "It's a challenge which we could look at as saving the planet," says Jean-Louis Estèves.

The topic of positive energy buildings will be at the heart of the International Conference in Lyon on 10 November, organized by Solarplaza, an independent organization specializing in solar photovoltaic energy. This major event will be attended by renowned industry experts: professionals in this sector, state officials, project developers, financial experts... These experts will present their outlook for the French market and share their experiences and knowledge in the field of solar energy in France. A not-to-be-missed day: http://www.thesolarfuture.fr/

ROTTERDAM/LYON –

In July 2011 the Minister for Ecology, Nathalie Kosciusko, announced that "the system does not change anymore", referring to stability and visibility for the PV sector. The announcement follows a new legal framework introduced by the government in March. Stated goal: better control of the development of solar energy to prevent a surge in costs which would impact too much on electricity bills.

For small roof installations below 100 kW (“peak” kilowatt, a measurement unit in the industry), hardly anything changes. This category, which notably includes individuals, remains funded by the previous feed-in tariff. For the others, however, it is a different story. From now on, every project will be subject to a call for tenders, depending on its size. The first type of Call for Tenders will cover installations on buildings ranging between 100 and 250 kW. The second covers those above 250 kW as well as ground-mounted projects.

For PV practitioners, this new regulation is like a cold shower, raising uncertainty for future projects. "Today, players wishing to answer those calls for tenders will have to deal with an “everything or nothing” system,” according to Jean-Baptiste Brochier, a consultant and solar energy specialist. “They end up with a sword of Damocles hanging over their heads. Compared to a gradual system based on a feed-in tariff, they cannot be certain that their project will be selected, and there is no guarantee that the government will then retain any selected project!” In short, stability and visibility one day maybe, but not right now. 

So, in these circumstances, what is the future of PV energy in France? And how can the industry bounce back? These questions will be at the centre of an international conference taking place on November 10 in Lyon and hosted by Solarplaza, an independent organization specializing in solar PV energy. 

This major event will bring together players from the entire industry including PV professionals, government representatives, project developers and financial experts. These experts will present their predictions and ideas for developments in the French market and share their knowledge and experience.  An opportunity not to be missed: http://www.thesolarfuture.fr

“The lowest scenarios studied in the current talks with the photovoltaic industry will prompt us to go very largely beyond what is planned,” Pierre-Franck Chevet, head of energy and climate at the Environment Ministry, said at a conference in Paris today. “We’ll go beyond targets.”

France in December suspended the registration of solar- energy projects for three months to study cuts in feed-in tariffs and measures to limit growth in the industry following a boom in installations that will inflate the cost of electricity paid by consumers. The halt applied to projects with a capacity of more than 3 kilowatts.

The cost of producing a solar power ranges from 300 euros to 600 hundred euros per megawatt-hour, compared with European power market prices ranging from 50 euros to 70 euros, Chevet said.

Before the suspension, France’s solar power capacity was expected to rise to about 2,150 megawatts at the end of 2011 from 200 megawatts at the end of 2009, according to the energy regulator.

The moratorium prompted First Solar Inc. and EDF Energies Nouvelles SA, the renewable arm of Electricite de France SA, to suspend a plan to build a 120-megawatt solar panel factory in Blanquefort, France. Smaller makers and installers of solar panels, supplied mostly from China, also said the decision may lead to job losses.

Read full article here

Will solar energy be one day cheaper than nuclear energy? In the state of North Carolina, in the U.S., this is already a reality, based on a study published this summer (1). According to the authors of this report, two researchers at Duke University, the cost of solar energy is currently competing with nuclear energy, cancelling out public financial subsidies.

Will solar power one day replace nuclear power in France? “This is certainly not the right question to ask,” warns Arnaud Mine, chairman of Soler, the photovoltaic branch of the Syndicat des Energies Renouvelables (Syndicate of Renewable Energies). “Rationally speaking, we cannot compare the costs of these two types of energy one against the other, because they don’t represent the same thing.” When we quote the price of a kWh produced by a nuclear power station, we don’t take in account the cost of its delivery to the user, the home or the company. Nor does it comprise the cost of the power station’s disassembly, or the cost of waste management and storage, etc. “A solar kWh does not include all these supplementary costs,” emphasizes Arnaud Mine, “since it is produced in proximity to the consumer”.

The specialist also notes that whereas a nuclear kWh produces approximately the same energy all year round, this is not the case of the solar kWh. The latter is produced mostly during the summer and during daytime, which actually corresponds very well to the consumption profile of the south of France in particular, and of the building market where it is quickly becoming a competitor.

In Arnaud Mine’s view, we must compare the solar kWh to the kWh of the final retail price once the photovoltaic generators are installed in the buildings. And as far as this plan goes, Mine has no doubt whatsoever: “the solar kWh will become absolutely pertinent in the next five years,” he estimates. “With the optimization of output, the release of new technologies, the drop in prices, and the volunteer approach of the manufacturers, the consumer price of a solar kWh should get down to 15 cents at that point”. Today, the buying price is around 35 to 37 cents. Eventually, if we’re to trust the specialist, photovoltaic energy will be technologically significant and should become an undeniable solution for building. This includes France, where the market is dominated by nuclear energy. The future of solar energy will be the theme of the conference organized by Solarplaza on the 9^th of the coming month of November, in Marseille.

Website: www.lavenirsolaire.fr

(1) Solar and Nuclear Costs - The Historic Crossover : Solar Energy is Now the Better Buy; a study carried out by John O. Blackburn and Sam Cunningham - Duke University of North Carolina, with the participation of the non-government organization NC WARN (Waste Awareness & Reduction Network). 

Abruptly, without notice, without consultation ... To avoid overheating the photovoltaic industry with a series of measures (reduction in the purchase price of electricity, reduction in the tax credit for installing solar panels), the French government has tried to calm the spirits of market players.

If it deems the government measures appropriate, the industry points out the dangers of this regulatory instability, highlighting the consequences it could have: penalising players in the sector, investor apprehension. Also, it negates the possibility of an explosion in the access applications already filed with the ERDF. This is one of the arguments of the Charpin Report, according to which the 2020 targets of the Grenelle Environment Round Table (5,400 MW) will be attained in 2012

Currently, 3,000 MW of projects are awaiting connection. In late 2009, there were 4,800 MW. "There is a problem of governance of the solar sector. The government cannot take new decisions every six months on the figures presented solely by the EDF. It would be in the interest of all stakeholders to put in place a Grenelle-type governance so that decisions taken are better informed and better received, " said Attorney Arnaud Gossement, Huglo-Lepage partner, before adding: "The right, which has gone a bit mad, would win! We must stop the barrage of legislation with which operators and consumers are confronted."

"This figure of 3,000 MW of pending projects, those other than the ERDF, comes from who knows where,” insists Arnaud Gossement. “The government deemed the 'speculative issues” justifiable, as well as its actions this year to avoid the effects of a windfall. What is needed is a public and transparent filtering process for access applications. Today, we still do not know to what these pending applications correspond, nor where the 1800 MW have gone that are missing from the queue..." To date, only 220 MW have been connected.

This issue of obstacles to the implementation of projects related to solar power in France will be one of the themes of the conference on solar energy held in Marseille on November 9 by SolarPlaza. Numerous French industry experts will be present.