Industrial company CARBON, specialised in solar technologies, is launching a citizen-based fundraising initiative in collaboration with investment platform Enerfip to support a major industrial project. This marks a first in France for a project of this type, aiming to raise at least €1 mn from the general public. The campaign, set to begin on April 2, seeks to strengthen CARBON’s financing structure and involve citizens in an industrial project seen as pivotal for European energy sovereignty.
The collected funds will be allocated directly to a capital increase for CARBON and will support two specific industrial objectives. The first involves ongoing technical studies for the planned gigafactory in Fos-sur-Mer, expected to become operational by the end of 2027. The second concerns the commissioning of the « CARBON ONE » assembly plant, located in the Aix-Marseille metropolitan area. This facility, with an annual capacity of 1 mn solar panels, equivalent to 500 megawatts-peak (MWp), is scheduled to come online by mid-2026 and is projected to create 200 direct jobs.
A new financing model for industrial development
This initiative draws on models commonly used in the solar sector for energy production projects, but its application to an industrial facility is unprecedented. Enerfip, the leading investment platform dedicated to the energy transition in France and Europe, will manage the fundraising process and aims to build a network of individual investors around this industrial initiative.
An informational webinar is scheduled for 6:30pm on March 26 to explain the terms of the operation to potential investors. The registration link is available on the dedicated project page on Enerfip’s website.
Coordinated financial support from the solar sector
In addition to citizen investment, the project has secured collective financial backing from eleven independent power producers (IPPs) and two specialised consulting firms. These entities will invest a total of €2 mn to support CARBON’s industrial development. The participating companies, including CVE Group, IEL, Tenergie, Synapsun and Technique Solaire, collectively operate nearly 4 gigawatts-peak (GWp) of installed capacity and plan an additional 1.3 GWp by 2025.
This coordinated support reflects a shared commitment within the solar industry to build a competitive industrial base in France and Europe amid growing concerns over technological dependence. The citizen fundraising campaign provides an additional financial lever to complement private sector commitments, reinforcing the push for reindustrialisation in France’s photovoltaic sector.
