France to target at the very least 100GW of deployed solar by 2050, Macron says

• France will certainly intend to have greater than 100GW of mounted solar PV capacity by 2050, President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday as part of a brand-new power approach that will see the country double down on developing new nuclear plants.

The intended renewable expansion, which additionally consists of a target of having 40GW of offshore wind power by 2050, will see France increase its solar capacity almost eightfold after the country reached a total of 13.2 GW deployed since last year.

While the ramp-up will certainly require solar release to accelerate, the nation is already bidding to get to around 40GW installed by 2028. And also Macron's new target pales in contrast with Germany's recently introduced goal of having 200GW of solar by 2030.

Nevertheless, French renewables trade organizations have invited the news. Jean-Louis Bal, president of Syndicat des Énergies Renouvelables, said that Macron's statement represents a "clear political signal" that is very important provided France's renewable resource industry has actually been impacted by false information campaigns in current months.

During his speech in the eastern community of Belfort yesterday, Macron revealed what he called "the renaissance of the French nuclear", with strategies to build at least 6 brand-new atomic power plants that will certainly be constructed and also operated by state-controlled utility EDF.

The initial brand-new reactor would come online by 2035, while research studies for a further eight will additionally be released, the president said. Nuclear energy currently gives around 70% of France's electricity.

France's Climate Action Network, a climate campaign group, denounced the nuclear expansion plans, flagging issues concerning the price. "The top priority should be to make up lost ground on renewable resources, where France is Europe's bad pupil," the group said in a declaration.

Recent developments in France's solar field have seen investment financial institution Macquarie obtain a 90% interest in independent power manufacturer Apex Energies Group, while Hanwha Solutions has gotten the RES Group's French renewables development and also building and construction service.