What needs are driving French households and businesses to choose photovoltaics today?
“Self-consumption has become the dominant model: it accounts for more than half of installations and reaches up to 60%, according to the most recent sources.”
“Three main needs are encouraging households and businesses to choose photovoltaics today: reducing electricity bills and protecting themselves from price volatility, gaining greater energy independence and resilience, and contributing to the green transition by producing local, low-carbon electricity.”
“This variety is reflected across three segments.”
“The first is the residential segment, which includes small-scale systems: from systems made up of just a few modules, including «plug & play» kits and balcony or rooftop installations, to projects ranging from 3 to 9 kWp. This segment accounts for 15% of the market.”
“The second segment is commercial and industrial (C&I) installations, with capacities ranging from 36 kWp to several hundred kWp. These installations are mainly intended for collective self-consumption and account for 35% of the market.”
“Finally, large-scale plants include ground-mounted projects with a capacity exceeding 1 MW, known as ‘utility-scale’ projects. Developed in particular through CRE tenders, they account for a significant share of installed capacity and 50% of the market.”
What criteria do French customers and installers mainly consider when choosing modules?
“For end customers, the main criteria are value for money and overall profitability, module efficiency and power output, warranties, technology, as well as product origin, carbon footprint, and access to incentives.”
“Installers, on the other hand, place particular importance on technical quality and certifications, the strength and actual enforceability of the manufacturer’s warranties, as well as product availability, purchase price, and margins. The manufacturer’s reputation, the quality of after-sales service, access to incentives, and regulatory compliance are also among their key selection criteria.”
Which segments of the French market offer the strongest growth prospects for photovoltaics in the coming months?
“Collective self-consumption offers particularly favorable prospects. Subject to fewer constraints and independent of government support, it is based on commercial relationships between private parties, enabling a faster and more secure return on investment.”
“Financing can sometimes be more difficult to obtain, but this segment has significant growth potential.”
