Recently, French authorities plan to launch a tender to provide a total of 240MW of solar power generation capacity along the country's highways. According to the arrangements of the French Regional Highways Department, the first call for expressions of interest will be held between April and May 2024. After screening, 140 parking lots and 100 highway interchanges were identified as potential areas for solar deployment.



Fin Infra’s project director Kévin Guichard revealed that the total power generation capacity of these potential projects is expected to reach approximately 240MW, which accounts for “more than 7.5% of projects connected to the French grid in 2023”.

The push to integrate roads, parking lots and solar energy is not new in France. As early as 2022, French President Emmanuel Macron approved relevant legislation requiring that all large parking lots must install solar panels. Now, deadlines for the initiative are looming, with French car parks with 80 to 400 spaces having to set up solar capacity by March 2028, and those with more than 400 spaces by 2026 Solar installation.



The tender will be conducted in two phases. In the first phase, three to five potential candidates will be shortlisted through responses to expressions of interest. The most technically and economically viable candidates will have the opportunity to advance to the second phase of the competitive bidding process. This move is aimed at ensuring the smooth implementation of the project and maximizing the potential of solar power generation to contribute to the development of renewable energy in France. Editor/Zhao E