Gwénaëlle Deboutte
Hedge planting for community acceptance of agrivoltaics
The Hauts-Plateaux de l’Yonne Energy Association (EHPY) has started planting 5.8 km of hedges in central France to integrate 14 agrivoltaic projects into the landscape. The initiative aims to improve project acceptance and promote biodiversity.
Solar modules deployed in France in 1992 still provide 79.5% of original output power
New testing conducted at France’s oldest PV system have shown that its solar modules can still provide performance values in line with what the manufacturers promised.
French agency warns against unchecked reuse of secondhand solar modules
Soren, the French environmental agency, has warned that uninstalled panels are often resold or exported through loosely regulated reuse channels, especially to developing countries.
French roofing specialist offers adhesive solar modules for low-load bearing roofs
France-based Iko is launching Iko Excel Solar, a lightweight PV solution for roofs that cannot withstand excessive loads. The 18.3%-efficient module weighs approximately 2.5 kg/m².
Switzerland’s solar installations hit 602 MW in January-April
Switzerland installed 602 MW of solar in the first four months of the year, bringing its total installed PV capacity to around 6.8 GW by the end of April.
Brookfield seeks to acquire Neoen for €6.1 billion
Canada’s Brookfield Asset Management has revealed plans to buy France-based Neoen for €6.1 billion ($6.6 billion).
France may lower FIT threshold for rooftop PV from 500 kW to 100 kW
The French authorities might be poised to lower the feed-in tariff (FIT) threshold for rooftop PV from 500 kW to 100 kW. France’s Direction générale de l’énergie et du climat (DGEC) says the proposed measure is designed to reduce the expense of the FIT scheme, despite opposition from trade groups such as Enerplan and SER.
Carbon aims to start 500 MW pilot production at module factory in France
Carbon, a French PV module maker, says its new €1.7 billion ($1.8 billion) manufacturing facility will initially produce TOPCon products.
Recom subsidiary Sillia closes plant in France and moves to Italy
The subsidiary operated a module manufacturing facility in Lannion, Brittany, northern France. According to Recom, the annual production capacity of the Sillia plant had been expanded from 50 MW in 2017 to 500 MW. The Recom Group as a whole remains unaffected by this liquidation and is in the process of consolidating its European cell and module manufacturing in one central location in Padua, Italy.
France allocates 49.8 MW in PV tender for non-interconnected areas
CRE, the French energy regulator, initially planned to allocate 99 MW in its PV tender for non-interconnected areas, but ultimately allocated 49.8 MW.
