- France plans to raise the installed-capacity limit for solar-plus-storage projects from 17MW to 25MW by the end of 2026, while capping grid exports at 17MW.
- Energy companies have announced major flexibility targets, including 1GW from Neoen and 1.5GW from NW, as France seeks to improve renewable energy integration and reduce electricity costs.
France plans to allow solar photovoltaic (PV) installations paired with battery energy storage systems (BESS) to reach 25 megawatts (MW) of installed capacity, up from the current 17MW limit, provided they restrict electricity exports to the grid to 17MW. The government expects to introduce the temporary exemption by the end of 2026 as part of a broader strategy to expand electricity flexibility and accelerate electrification.
Maud Bregeon, France’s minister delegate for energy, announced the measure alongside initiatives designed to shift electricity consumption toward periods when renewable power is more readily available. The policy aims to improve the integration of solar generation, support grid management and help households and businesses reduce energy costs.
Solar-Plus-Storage to Improve Grid Flexibility
The proposed exemption would enable developers to install additional solar and battery capacity without increasing the maximum power exported to the grid beyond 17MW. Battery storage can absorb surplus solar electricity and release it when demand rises or generation falls, helping align renewable output with consumption patterns.
France also plans to test new forward electricity products through EDF Obligation d’Achat that reflect solar PV generation profiles. The initiative aims to encourage suppliers to offer tariffs that shift electricity consumption toward midday, when solar generation can make electricity cheaper.
Smart Controls to Reduce Energy Costs
The government is expanding measures to manage electricity demand in homes and businesses. It estimates that better control of residential heating, hot water and electric vehicle charging could reduce associated household expenses by 35%.
From 2027, France plans to make heat pump subsidies conditional on equipment being controllable, potentially saving affected households €150 to €200 annually. Smart electric vehicle charging could deliver additional savings of €70 to €100 per year by shifting charging to off-peak periods.
The government also wants to expand the use of Linky smart meters to control residential equipment and strengthen flexibility requirements for industrial energy-metering systems.
Energy Companies Set Major Flexibility Targets
Several companies and industry groups have committed to expanding electricity flexibility by 2030.
Gimelec, which represents digital and electrical equipment companies, plans to mobilise 6 gigawatts (GW) of flexibility in commercial and service-sector buildings and support the installation of control systems across 50% of existing building stock.
EDF aims to enable large-scale control of energy-intensive equipment used by five million customers by 2030, covering heating, hot water, heat pumps and electric mobility through its EDF & Moi application.
Independent power producer Neoen plans to deploy 1GW of flexibility capacity by 2030, while energy storage company NW intends to invest €1 billion to add 1.5GW to its electricity flexibility platform. NW also plans to open the platform to industrial and residential consumers seeking to monetise flexible electricity consumption.
Octopus Energy France has committed to controlling 1.5 million devices by 2030, representing 5GW to 6GW of flexible capacity. The company also plans to return €100 million in savings to households, deploy 15,000 controllable heat pumps and invest €150 million in a heat pump factory, subject to sufficient demand.
France Links Electrification With Renewable Energy Integration
France’s measures combine renewable energy deployment, battery storage, smart metering and demand management to make electricity consumption more responsive to supply conditions. The planned solar-plus-storage exemption could give developers greater scope to install generation and storage capacity while maintaining the existing grid-export limit.
The commitments from energy companies could further expand the ability of buildings, households and industrial consumers to adjust electricity use in response to supply and price signals. Together, the initiatives seek to improve grid flexibility, support solar power integration and reduce energy costs.