Meeting Regulatory Obligations
French regulations: constraint or opportunity?
In recent years, a regulatory framework has been established in France to encourage the development of renewable energy across the country, aiming to increase the share of green energy in France’s energy mix. Enacted on March 10, 2023, the law on Accelerating the Production of Renewable Energies (known as the APER law or ‘Renewable Energy Law’) is the latest major regulation aimed at massively deploying renewable energy across France in the coming years. The measures in this law should enable France to achieve its objectives in renewable energy production and consumption, while also catching up on its energy transition goals (the 23% target was not met in 2020).
A body of texts thus governs the development of solar projects by more precisely defining areas suitable for producing green electricity, without affecting other activities already present in these areas. More than a constraint, French regulations provide a real framework for the expansion of photovoltaic solar energy.
Regulatory framework for buildings
The regulatory context governing the development of photovoltaic solar energy on building rooftops dates back to 2019 with the Energy and Climate Law, which was gradually refined with the 2021 ‘Climate and Resilience’ Law and, most recently, the APER law and its various implementing decrees from late 2023.
Thus, constructions, extensions, renovations, or installations of all commercial, industrial, or artisanal buildings and public buildings larger than 500 m², as well as office buildings larger than 1,000 m², are required to solarize at least:
- 30% of the roof area starting January 1, 2024.
- 40% of the roof area starting July 1, 2026.
- 50% of the roof area starting July 1, 2027.
Regulatory framework for parking lots
Parking lots are ideal sites for hosting solar projects. In addition to producing green electricity, photovoltaic canopies provide additional comfort to users. Their development is thus encouraged by the APER law of March 10, 2023, and the Green Industry Law of the same year.
These texts require existing parking areas larger than 1,500 m² to solarize 50% of their surface. For lots smaller than 10,000 m², compliance is expected by July 1, 2028, with a penalty of up to 20,000 euros per year for non-compliance. For lots larger than 10,000 m², compliance is expected by July 1, 2026, a deadline that can be extended if the photovoltaic panels are sourced from Europe. For building permits issued starting January 1, 2024, new parking lots larger than 500 m² must either green or solarize 50% of their surface.
Additionally, solarizing parking canopies can help achieve other objectives set by the 2019 Mobility Orientation Law (LOM) and its 2021 implementing decree, which specify that non-residential buildings and new condominium buildings with parking lots of more than twenty spaces must have at least one charging point for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles by January 1, 2025.
Installing photovoltaic canopies will therefore produce local electricity to facilitate charging these stations, thereby securing your energy expenses. These regulations are thus a real opportunity to exploit the solar potential of parking lots and enhance these parking areas.
Regulatory framework for ground and floating solar farms
The 2023 APER law provides for the creation of Acceleration Zones favorable to the development of photovoltaic parks in each municipality, whether the projects involve ground structures, water surfaces, buildings, or canopies. This allows for the identification of areas where administrative procedures for obtaining building permits will be facilitated, and exclusion zones where photovoltaic projects will not be possible. This clarification of spaces avoids competition over available land and simplifies project development by focusing solely on favorable areas.
The law also provides for the establishment of new stakeholders, including prefectural referents and Regional Energy Committees, to facilitate the monitoring and implementation of projects.
Our photovoltaic solutions
to meet regulatory obligations
Whether on the ground, on water, on rooftops, or in parking lots, the development of photovoltaic solar energy is encouraged by various regulatory frameworks. Rather than an obligation, we prefer to speak of an opportunity for the stakeholders targeted by these legal texts, and we support them in developing a personalized project.
Expert insight
We closely monitor changes in the legal framework, both for the part related to the obligations of installing solar energy production units and for the development of photovoltaic projects we undertake. Mastery of the legal framework and all administrative steps of a project is one of Urbasolar’s strengths. This gives us the assurance that each project integrates perfectly into its natural and socio-economic environment. This is an essential aspect for the sustainability of renewable energy development in France.
Audrey Solard-Soto
Legal Land Manager, Urbasolar
References
Capacity:
2.5MWc
University Hospital Center (30)
The University Hospital Center of Nîmes installed photovoltaic canopies on its parking lot of over 13,000 m².
Annual production: 3.5 GWh, equivalent to the annual consumption of 1,600 people.
Capacity:
4.6MWc
Logistics Platform (30)
With a total area of 58,000 m², the Mitra campus is Auchan’s new regional hub for southern France. The solar panels installed on rooftops and parking canopies produce green electricity that contributes to renewable energy production.
Annual production: 6.0 GWh, equivalent to the annual consumption of 2,800 people.
Capacity:
13.2MWc
Ancienne carrière de sable et de gravier (47)
The ground and floating solar farm located in Aiguillon enables the municipality to meet its objectives for sustainable development and energy transition.
Annual production: 20.5 GWh, equivalent to the consumption of 9,700 people.
Photovoltaic rooftop plant on the Concerto logistics platform in Montbartier.
