France mandates 50% canopies; Carrefour and 10 federations respond

In France, Carrefour and ten federations challenge a decree mandating the coverage of 50% of outdoor parking lots with photovoltaic canopies, citing unrealistic deadlines and significant economic impacts.

Share:

Gain full professional access to energynews.pro from 4.90€/month.
Designed for decision-makers, with no long-term commitment.

Over 30,000 articles published since 2021.
150 new market analyses every week to decode global energy trends.

Monthly Digital PRO PASS

Immediate Access
4.90€/month*

No commitment – cancel anytime, activation in 2 minutes.

*Special launch offer: 1st month at the indicated price, then 14.90 €/month, no long-term commitment.

Annual Digital PRO Pass

Full Annual Access
99€/year*

To access all of energynews.pro without any limits

*Introductory annual price for year one, automatically renewed at 149.00 €/year from the second year.

The French Council of State is reviewing a request filed by eleven professional federations, including Carrefour, contesting a decree implementing the APER law. This law mandates that outdoor parking lots larger than 1,500 square meters cover 50% of their surface with photovoltaic canopies.

Unrealistic deadlines, say economic actors

The federations argue that the deadlines set by the decree, ranging from July 2026 to January 2028, are unachievable. According to Franck Charton, general delegate of Perifem, an association representing companies such as Carrefour, Casino, and Ikea, “the average time to install photovoltaic canopies is around 18 months per project.” Most companies affected by the regulation have not yet started the necessary work.

This delay, coupled with the limited production capacity of the French industry, will likely force stakeholders to import equipment, mainly from China. “These deadlines do not give the national industry enough time to respond to demand, increasing our dependence on foreign suppliers,” said Charton.

Controversy over the calculation of surface area

The federations also dispute the calculation method introduced by the decree. Initially, the law required coverage of 50% of parking spaces. However, the decree has expanded this requirement to include circulation lanes, which make up a significant portion of parking lot areas.

This adjustment effectively obliges operators to cover all parking spaces to comply, a constraint that Charton describes as “disproportionate and impractical.” These requirements also complicate infrastructure management, making it challenging for certain vehicles to navigate and limiting future possibilities for additional developments such as housing or tree planting.

Significant economic repercussions

Professionals warn of the financial implications of these new obligations. The investments required to comply with the regulation could heavily burden parking lot operators, particularly smaller businesses.

This situation reflects a broader challenge: balancing the government’s environmental ambitions with the economic and industrial realities faced by businesses. The federations hope that the Council of State will provide clarity and adjustments to the decree to strike a balance between ecological goals and economic feasibility.

Re-elected president Irfaan Ali announces stricter production-sharing agreements to increase national economic returns.
Coal India issues tenders to develop 5 GW of renewable capacity, split between solar and wind, as part of its long-term energy strategy.
US utilities anticipate a rapid increase in high-intensity loads, targeting 147 GW of new capacity by 2035, with a strategic shift toward deregulated markets.
France opens a national consultation on RTE’s plan to invest €100 billion by 2040 to modernise the high-voltage electricity transmission grid.
Governor Gavin Newsom orders state agencies to fast-track clean energy projects to capture Inflation Reduction Act credits before deadlines expire.
Germany’s energy transition could cost up to €5.4tn ($6.3tn) by 2049, according to the main industry organisation, raising concerns over national competitiveness.
Facing blackouts imposed by the authorities, small businesses in Iran record mounting losses amid drought, fuel shortages and pressure on the national power grid.
Russian group T Plus plans to stabilise its electricity output at 57.6 TWh in 2025, despite a decline recorded in the first half of the year, according to Chief Executive Officer Pavel Snikkars.
In France, the Commission de régulation de l’énergie issues a clarification on ten statements shared over the summer, correcting several figures regarding tariffs, production and investments in the electricity sector.
A group of 85 researchers challenges the scientific validity of the climate report released by the US Department of Energy, citing partial methods and the absence of independent peer review.
Five energy infrastructure projects have been added to the list of cross-border renewable projects, making them eligible for financial support under the CEF Energy programme.
The Tanzanian government launches a national consultation to accelerate the rollout of compressed natural gas, mobilising public and private financing to secure energy supply and lower fuel costs.
The Kuwaiti government has invited three international consortia to submit bids for the first phase of the Al Khairan project, combining power generation and desalination.
Nigeria’s state-owned oil company abandons plans to sell the Port Harcourt refinery and confirms a maintenance programme despite high operating costs.
The publication of the Multiannual Energy Programme decree, awaited for two years, is compromised by internal political tensions, jeopardising strategic investments in nuclear and renewables.
The US Energy Information Administration reschedules or cancels several publications, affecting the availability of critical data for oil, gas and renewables markets.
Brazilian authorities have launched a large-scale operation targeting a money laundering system linked to the fuel sector, involving investment funds, fintechs, and more than 1,000 service stations across the country.
A national study by the Davies Group reveals widespread American support for the simultaneous development of both renewable and fossil energy sources, with strong approval for natural gas and solar energy.
The South Korean government compels ten petrochemical groups to cut up to 3.7 million tons of naphtha cracking per year, tying financial and tax support to swift and documented restructuring measures.
The U.S. Department of Energy has extended until November the emergency measures aimed at ensuring the stability of Puerto Rico’s power grid against overload risks and recurring outages.

Log in to read this article

You'll also have access to a selection of our best content.