French authorities have unveiled ambitious plans to initiate tenders for the installation of 240 megawatts (MW) of solar power capacity along the country's highways, aiming to harness renewable energy potential in transportation infrastructure.
The Regional Highways Division (DIR) is set to launch the first calls for expressions of interest between April and May 2024, identifying approximately 140 car parking areas and 100 highway interchanges as prime locations for solar deployments.
Kévin Guichard, project director of government agency Fin Infra, highlighted the substantial impact of the proposed projects, estimating that they would contribute to around 240MW of total solarizable power. This represents “more than 7.5% of projects connected to the French electricity network in 2023,” Guichard stated in an interview with PV Magazine France.
The initiative aligns with legislation enacted by French President Emmanuel Macron in 2022, mandating the installation of solar panels on all large car parks. Car parks with between 80 and 400 parking spaces are required to integrate solar capacity by March 2028, while those with over 400 spaces have until 2026 to comply.
The tender process will unfold in two phases: initially, responses to expressions of interest will be evaluated to shortlist three to five potential candidates. Subsequently, selected candidates will have the opportunity to participate in competitive bidding during the second phase of the tender.
Upon selection, the winning company will secure a public domain occupation agreement for 33 years, involving payment of fixed and variable fees to public landowners based on electricity sales turnover. Prior to commencement, the winning bidder will have a three-year window to conduct development studies and finalize commissioning.
