France is planning to launch a series of tenders for the development of 3,000MW of solar power projects.

The projects will contribute to the country’s goal of increasing total installed solar capacity to between 18.2 GW and 20.2 GW by 2023.

As part of this effort, French Ministry of the Environment, Energy and the Sea intends to invite bids for new capacity through six tenders of 500MW each, between 2017 and 2020.

The bidders will be selected based on criteria including production price per KWh, carbon impacts and their ability to enhance degraded sites, the ministry said.

Selected bidders will benefit from the country’s new subsidy mechanism for solar power which was introduced in May 2016.

As per the new subsidy mechanism, the winners will receive a premium on top of the market price for the generated electricity. This will guarantee a level of revenue to cover the investment, reported Reuters.

France intends to increase its installed solar capacity from current 6.7GW to increase 10.2GW in 2018.

The new subsidy format is also expected to ensure the stability and visibility required for manufacturers for the transition to large-scale production of solar power, reported SeeNews Renewables.

In 2015, France and India have launched the International Solar Alliance (ISA) initiative at the at the UN climate change summit in Paris to boost solar energy in developing countries.


Image: France intends to have installed solar capacity between 18.2GW and 20.2GW by 2023. Photo: courtesy of franky242/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net.