The adoption of the new Multiannual Energy Planning (PPE) has become an urgent matter for solar industry players in France. Enerplan, the union that represents industry professionals, is demanding that the government expedite its publication after 15 months of debates that, they claim, are generating uncertainty and increasing opportunity costs.
Daniel Bour, president of Enerplan, warns that “the lack of visibility is holding back investment and hindering the implementation of strategic projects at a crucial moment for the country’s energy transition.”
During the parliamentary debates held on April 28 and May 6, the French Prime Minister stressed the urgency of rapidly electrifying energy demand to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. He also established the four principles that should guide the future electricity mix: decarbonization, abundance, competitiveness, and sovereignty.
Enerplan emphasizes that solar energy already fully meets these criteria. In terms of availability, they highlight that solar energy is abundant and easily deployable throughout the country. According to their calculations, to achieve the EPP objectives, it would be enough to occupy only 0.0036% of French territory per year, equivalent to 20 hectares per department per year. Furthermore, 50% of the areas used correspond to degraded land, unproductive for other purposes.
In terms of sovereignty, solar electricity does not require fuel imports, which directly contributes to the country’s energy independence. Added to this is the government’s push for gigafactory projects for solar panel manufacturing, which will strengthen domestic production. Every 1% reduction in fossil fuel imports could represent a saving of €1.35 billion, and the EPP solar strategy would allow for annual savings of up to €4 billion, the union points out.
The competitiveness of solar energy is also a central argument. Investment costs have fallen significantly, while the efficiency of photovoltaic panels has increased by 55% between 2015 and 2025. Despite this, Enerplan warns that grid connection costs, the tax burden, and the complexity of administrative procedures remain significant barriers to faster deployment.
“The delay in adopting the PEP jeopardizes not only our climate commitments, but also the competitiveness of our industry at the European level,” Bour warns. He adds: “We need to accelerate the implementation of storage and flexibility systems, and boost national industry by opening gigafactories that guarantee technological sovereignty.”
Industry insiders assert that the lack of a clear roadmap is delaying crucial investments in both generation and storage, at a time when the energy transition must accelerate to meet decarbonization goals.
Therefore, Enerplan calls on the authorities to immediately adopt the PEP, allowing sector players to move forward unhindered and actively contribute to France’s energy security, in a global context marked by volatile energy markets and growing international competition in clean technologies.
