Exceptional measures to accelerate the deployment of renewable energies in France
On 30 August 2022, the French Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) published an adapted version of all the specifications for the "CRE 4" and "PPE 2" calls for tenders. This is an exceptional measure linked to the energy crisis which aims to accelerate the commissioning of the 6 GW of renewable production projects awarded in the framework of these calls for tenders, which are currently in difficulty.
The modifications concern 17 tender specifications for different renewable energy sources: photovoltaic, wind, hydroelectric and self-consumption, in mainland France and in non-interconnected areas. The objective of these modifications is to allow producers to face the increase in costs and rates, in particular by selling their production on the electricity market for higher remuneration, before their contract for difference takes effect.
It also provides for an extension of the deadlines for completion of the installations and the possibility of increasing the capacity up to 40% more than the initial capacity indicated in the call for tenders.
For wind power, for example, it is planned that for "For installations that are commissioned between 1 September 2022 and 31 December 2024 inclusive, the completion limit is extended by eighteen (18) months."
More than 6.1 GW of renewable energy capacity is concerned by this measure, mainly wind (3.4 GW) and photovoltaic (2.7 GW). From 1 September, the producers concerned will be able to ask the minister in charge of energy to apply these modifications.
