France supports agrivoltaics for the first time

France adopts a new law on renewable energies, enshrining for the first time agrivoltaics, which can produce as much electricity as the current French nuclear power plant by using less than 2% of the agricultural surface.

Share:

France is preparing to definitively adopt on Tuesday a new law on renewable energies that enshrines for the first time agrivoltaics.

A solar alternative?

The idea of agrivoltaics came from the fact that plants use only a small fraction of the sun’s radiation. According to Christian Dupraz, by using less than 2% of the agricultural surface in France to produce electricity thanks to agrivoltaics, it would be possible to produce as much electricity as the current French nuclear park. This would replace agrofuels and be more efficient.

The debate on agrivoltaic installations

The Renewable Energy Act prohibits ground-mounted photovoltaic panels on agricultural land, except for very long-term wastelands. It only authorizes agrivoltaics, which is considered a tool for agricultural production to protect it against climate change. According to Christian Dupraz, agrivoltaic power plants are hardly noticeable in the landscape, so there is no reason to restrict them to areas defined by mayors.

What is the agricultural benefit of these facilities?

According to Christian Dupraz, agrivoltaic power plants can reduce crop evapotranspiration by up to 30% by using photovoltaic panels that act as frost protection. In addition, the panels can also be used to grow fruit trees or vegetable crops, without interfering with commercial or rational production.

Modern innovations such as movable or controllable panels allow for a better exploitation of the agrivoltaic power plants. Some panels can also act as hedges to protect local wildlife, while other filtering models can use a specific light spectrum, using less space for crops that need a more humid or warmer environment.

In France, several hundred agrivoltaic power plants have already been built or are under construction, with many more planned for 2021. This innovative technology offers an ecological solution for crop production while producing solar energy.

GreenYellow and Meaders Feeds Ltd finalise a second 1.8 MWp solar project under the Carbon Neutral Industrial Sector Scheme aimed at decarbonising the Mauritian industrial sector.
The Lime Kiln project, developed by Chaberton Energy and Pivot Energy, will provide renewable energy to 500 homes and businesses in Maryland, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
MPC Energy Solutions has signed an agreement to sell its stake in the Planeta Rica solar project in Colombia. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2025.
EDF power solutions has commissioned the Aéroparc photovoltaic plant, with a capacity of 42.2 MWp, in the Territoire de Belfort, making a significant contribution to the region's energy transition.
The overproduction of solar energy in Europe is causing a drop in captured prices, undermining the profitability of producers. In Germany, Spain, and France, capture prices are at record lows, with profound economic consequences.
Altarea Energies Renouvelables has started work on its first ground-mounted photovoltaic plant in Caudecoste, marking a new milestone in its development. The 7 MWc plant is expected to be operational by the end of 2025.
Chinese manufacturer JinkoSolar has delivered three energy storage systems totalling 21.6 MWh to the American company Distributed Energy Infrastructure, as part of the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) programme aimed at strengthening local solar infrastructure.
TotalEnergies ENEOS has commissioned two photovoltaic installations totalling 1.2 MWp for marine logistics group Lee Huat Yap Kee in Singapore, under two long-term power purchase agreements with no upfront investment.
TCL Solar has concluded two exclusive partnerships in Suzhou with AU Solar and Madina Solar to supply 250 megawatts of photovoltaic modules to the Pakistani market, addressing rapidly growing local energy demand.
Mitrex secures Guinness Record for the largest integrated solar facade globally, combining photovoltaics and cultural art in Edmonton, covering over 30,000 square feet with installed capacity exceeding 265 kW.
EDF power solutions completes the acquisition of the 500MW Gate Burton solar-battery project from the company Low Carbon, strengthening its presence in hybrid photovoltaic-storage solutions in the United Kingdom.
The global photovoltaic films market is expected to see significant growth, reaching $41.59bn by 2034 due to the development of new solar technologies and the increasing demand for encapsulation suited to these innovations, a recent study indicates.
Italian group Plenitude has begun building Entrenúcleos, a 200 MW photovoltaic plant near Seville, set to deliver more than 435 GWh a year from 2026 while trialling locally produced green steel.
The state-controlled refiner has launched a 7.5-megawatt photovoltaic unit off Qingdao, the country’s first commercial installation designed for fully saline waters, intended to supply its future renewable hydrogen production.
The Emirati company Global South Utilities plans to install up to 250 MW of solar capacity in Madagascar, a project aimed at strengthening the national electricity network heavily reliant on fossil fuels and frequently facing energy deficits.
Emerging economies from the BRICS group now account for more than half of global solar electricity production in 2024, driven mainly by China, India, and Brazil, according to a new report by the organisation Ember.
Star Trade, a subsidiary of HD Renewable Energy, has signed a power purchase agreement with Lightsource bp to manage electricity distribution from a 115 MWp solar project located in Chiayi, strengthening their presence in the Taiwanese market.
TotalEnergies will develop a 1.8 MW photovoltaic installation for Daehwa Pharmaceutical, covering approximately 20% of the annual energy requirements of the production site located in Hoengseong-gun, South Korea, under a 20-year agreement.
Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners announces full operational launch of Cleve Hill Solar Park, now becoming the largest active photovoltaic power plant in the United Kingdom with a total installed capacity reaching 373 MW.
European photovoltaic module manufacturer BISOL is integrating G12R solar cells into its product range, replacing the former M10 cells, to improve product performance and technological competitiveness starting from the second quarter of 2025.