FRENCH TO SHINE

Why does a baby seem to grow so fast?

Because it has so much growing to do.

Same with the French solar energy capacity. At present it has 24.5 megawatts of grid-connected solar energy. For a progressive nation with lots of sunshine, this is little short of an embarrassment.

Note: Calculations of French installed solar capacity vary from 13 megawatts to 80 megawatts, depending on who does the counting. The inaccuracy just adds to the embarassment.

France gets 80% of its power from nuclear energy. The nuclear energy industry calls a lot of the shots in the country and the nuclear industry is nowhere in the world famous for its friendliness to New Energy.

Frankly, it must be admitted, the feeling is largely mutual. But nevermind that.

While Germany has the most installed solar energy capacity in the world and Spain and Italy have burgeoning solar energy industries, France is a laggard. But the Sarkozy government seems to have seen the light.

A bold 50-point New Energy program was just unveiled that seems to signal a real change.

To begin with, France will introduce a feed-in tariff (FiT) like the ones that drive the German, Spanish and Italian industries. The government’s new commitment to solar may be indicated by the fact that the FiT is stronger than Germany’s and will not be subject to revision until 2012.

Among the 50 steps to translate an ideal into megawatts and francs is a provision to make sure a solar power plant is installed in every region of the country. This could be important in 2 ways: (1) It will raise awareness and help develop public sentiment in favor of solar energy in every corner of France, and (2) it will bring some of the federal incentive money to every province, giving every local politician (and a wide range of citizens) a sip of the sweet wine of profit to be cultivated from the sun.

There can be little doubt the driving force behind France’s newfound enthusiasm for New Energy is the European Union (EU) “triple 20.” Leaders set a triple-pronged target for the Union as a whole, a target to be reached by 2020.

To meet the 1st prong of the target, cutting its greenhouse gas emissions (GhGs) 20%, France could simply build more nuclear. To meet the 2nd prong, increasing efficiency by 20%, France needs no New Energy. But to meet the 3rd prong, obtaining 20% of its power from New Energy sources, France needs to look at solar and wind and geothermal. It is unlikely even the brilliant minds in the nuclear energy industry can figure a way around it.

Flippancy aside, these new initiatives really could represent a new awareness. The awareness is also reflected in the Sarkozy government’s strong position against the multi-billion euro “clean” coal subsidy being considered by the European Parliament. France has called for cutting the subsidy by 2/3.

But opposing “clean” coal is good for nuclear, too.

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France plans to ramp up solar energy by 2020
November 17, 2008 (Reuters via Thomson Financial News/Forbes)
and
France unveils plan for solar power development
Jiang Yuxia, November 17, 2008 (Xinhua via China View)
and
France sets plan to double green share of electricity market
November 17, 2008 (AFP)
and
Higher Solar Feed-in Tariffs Part of Aggressive New French PV Program
Paul Gipe, November 17, 2008 (Wind-Works)

WHO
France (Jean-Louis Borloo, Environment and Energy Minister)

WHAT
France introduced a 50-point plan to develop New Energy, pledged to multiply its solar energy capacity by 400, up its wind capacity 10 times and its geothermal capacity 6 times in 12 years as part of its intention to double the percent of its power it obtains from New Energy sources.

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WHEN
- In 2005, France obtained 10.3% of its power from New Energy sources.
- In 2006, France had an installed solar capacity of 6 megawatts.
- The government expects to launch its tender by the end of 2008
- 2012: FiT subject to revision.
- France aims to get 23% of its power from New Energy sources by 2020, when they expect solar energy to reach price parity with traditional power generation sources.
- 2020 solar capacity goal: 5,400 megawatts (400 times the present capacity).

WHERE
The French government’s goal is to have 1 solar power plant in each region of France by 2011.
France has the 4th biggest solar energy installed capacity in Europe after Germany, Spain and Italy.

WHY
- French Environment and Energy Minister Jean-Louis Borloo presented 50 separate measures covering all forms of New Energy.
- Total combined solar energy capacity of power plants planned throughout France by 2011 is ~ 300 megawatts.
- Size of each solar power plant will vary with local geography and insolation.
- Wind goal: Increase installed capacity 10 times, from 2,500 megawatts in 2007 to 25,000 megawatts in 2020.
- A "Renewable Heat Fund" will support production of heat and hot water from geothermal, biogas, solar thermal collectors and other New Energy sources.
- There will be a special FiT for commercial buildings (€0.45/kWh, $0.57 USD/kWh) to incentivize the installation of photovoltaic (PV) systems on large rooftops. This FiT will not limit the size of systems eligible.
- There will be no change to the base tariff of €0.30/kWh ($0.38 USD/kWh) for ground-mounted projects and France continue the €0.55/kWh ($0.70 USD/kWh) tariff for building integrated systems.
- Borloo suggested that France may also apply a feed-in tariff to concentrating solar power stations
- Another of the 50 points is to create an internet registration process with Electricité de France for solar projects up to 450 kiloswatts.
- Small solar PV systems (less than 3 kilowatts) exempted from taxes and fees.
- Tariffs for wind power unchanged but siting requirements will be different.
- According to Xinhua, the overall growth means an annual growth rate of 130%.
- According to Ademe, the French energy agency, the projected French growth could generate 24 billion euro ($30 billion) annual market in 2012 and 120,000 jobs.
- Besides the solar power plant installations, the French government intends to up geothermal capacity 6 times over by installing heat pumps in 2 million houses.
- Nuclear accounts for ~ 80% France's electricity, the highest percent of any country in the world.

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QUOTES
- Statement, Environment and Energy Ministry 'France's ambition is to play a leading role in the technological revolution which is about to happen in solar power…'
- Jean-Louis Borloo, French Environment and Energy Minister: "Solar is the big one…In terms of industrial collapse and lower industrial costs, it's the one that we have the most extensive capacity…France aims to play a leading role in the technological revolution which is about to happen in solar power…"