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France plans a temporary exemption allowing solar-plus-storage installations to have up to 25 MW of installed capacity, compared with the current 17 MW limit. Projects would still be capped at 17 MW of grid exports, and the measure is planned by the end of 2026 as part of a broader electricity-flexibility package.
France plans to temporarily raise the installed-capacity limit for solar-plus-storage projects from 17 MW to 25 MW, while keeping their electricity exports to the grid capped at 17 MW. The government says the exemption is planned by the end of 2026 and is part of a wider package to increase electricity flexibility and support electrification.
The measure would let a project combine more solar generation and battery capacity behind a connection than the current limit allows, without raising the maximum power it can export to the grid. The reported plan applies to photovoltaic installations paired with battery energy storage systems. It is described as a temporary exemption; the published account does not give its duration or explain the application process.
France’s government presented the measure as one part of a broader effort to manage electricity demand and make better use of available power. The package also includes plans affecting heating, hot water and electric-vehicle charging. The government says better control of those household uses could reduce associated expenses by 35%, though the report does not specify the calculation method behind that estimate.
Other planned measures include making heat-pump subsidies conditional on controllability from 2027 and working with industry to make smart charging the default for newly installed EV charging infrastructure. The government estimates annual savings of €150 to €200 for households affected by the heat-pump condition and €70 to €100 for households with equipped smart chargers. Those figures are government estimates, not reported results from the proposed measures.
More Capacity Behind the Same Grid Limit
The proposed distinction between installed capacity and export capacity is central to the exemption. A project could install up to 25 MW of equipment while remaining subject to the existing 17 MW ceiling on power sent to the grid. That could give developers room to pair solar generation with storage without increasing the project’s permitted export level.
For the electricity system, the policy sits alongside measures intended to shift demand toward periods when renewable generation is available. Batteries can store electricity for later use or export, while controllable heating and EV charging can alter when customers draw power. The government’s package links these approaches under an effort to improve flexibility, but the source does not quantify how much additional storage, grid capacity or renewable output the exemption would produce.
The measure may matter to developers planning projects that have been constrained by the current installed-capacity limit. However, the export cap remains in place, so the proposed increase does not itself authorize a larger grid connection or a higher maximum export. Its practical effect will depend on the detailed rules and how grid operators apply them.
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Part of France’s Flexibility Package
The plan follows an initial phase of measures presented in April. Maud Bregeon, France’s minister delegate for energy, announced the new package, which brings together measures for homes, businesses, electricity suppliers and energy projects. The government says Linky smart meters, which already support some uses such as domestic hot-water production, have other capabilities that remain underused.
The package also includes plans for EDF Obligation d’Achat to test forward electricity products reflecting solar PV generation profiles. The stated aim is to encourage suppliers to offer tariffs that move consumption toward midday solar hours. The initiative follows measures announced by France’s Energy Regulatory Commission, according to the report; details of the products and their launch schedule are not provided.
Companies and industry groups have also announced flexibility targets. Gimelec says it aims to mobilize 6 GW of flexibility in commercial and service buildings and help install control systems in half of existing building stock. EDF aims to enable control of energy-intensive equipment used by five million customers by 2030. These are company and industry commitments, not completed deployments.
“Projects may install up to 25 MW of capacity while limiting exports to 17 MW.”
— French government, as reported by Energy Storage
Rules and Project Effects Still Pending
The government has confirmed the plan, but the report does not provide the legal text, a precise start date, or the length of the temporary exemption. It also does not explain whether the 25 MW limit applies to a combined project rating, how storage and PV capacity will be counted, or what conditions developers must meet to qualify.
The 17 MW export cap is stated, but the source does not detail how compliance would be measured or enforced, or whether project-specific grid-connection agreements would change. It is also unclear how many projects could use the exemption and whether the measure will lead to faster connections or additional installed capacity. Government savings estimates and corporate deployment goals remain projections and commitments, rather than verified outcomes.
Implementation Details Due by Year-End
The government’s stated timetable is to put the exemption in place by the end of 2026. The next key development will be the publication of rules defining eligibility, capacity accounting, export monitoring and the exemption’s duration. Those details will show how the policy works for developers and grid operators in practice.
Further steps in the wider package are scheduled over a longer period. The proposed heat-pump subsidy condition is planned from 2027, while several company commitments run to 2030. The government and industry are also expected to develop the smart-charging and electricity-product initiatives. The report does not give specific dates for those elements or say when the solar-related forward products will be tested.
Key Questions
What is France proposing for solar-plus-storage projects?
France plans a temporary exemption allowing qualifying solar-plus-storage installations to reach 25 MW of installed capacity, up from the current 17 MW limit.
Will projects be allowed to export 25 MW to the grid?
No. Under the announced plan, grid exports would remain capped at 17 MW, even when installed capacity reaches 25 MW.
When is the exemption expected to take effect?
The government plans to introduce it by the end of 2026. The report does not give an exact start date or the duration of the temporary measure.
What details have not yet been published?
The report does not specify eligibility requirements, how PV and battery capacity will be counted, how the export cap will be monitored, or how long the exemption will last.
Source: rss
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