Bi-weekly Bulletin No. 21: CRE and connections to networks of photovoltaic electricity for 1 year.Requests for connections in photovoltaic power systems are still too many for three quarters, despite a significant fall in tariffs. CRE has found during its quarterly calculation of the parameters that determine most of the redemption price of photovoltaic electricity. Since March 2011, these tariffs are in effect self-adjusting downward, depending on the volume of connection requests found. Current levels remain relatively high.
Technical and institutional context
In 2009, the multiannual investment program for power generation had set a target of 5,400 megawatts - the equivalent of about four nuclear units - in 2020 for photovoltaics.To this end, a support system with feed-in tariffs guaranteed for 20 years had been established. Depending on the case, feed-in tariffs at the time were between 280 € / MWh for power ground and 580 € / MWh for solar panels on houses, well above market prices (around from 55 € / MWh). End of 2010, 6,400 MW of photovoltaic projects were awaiting connection to the electricity networks, a level that exceeded the objectives of the multiannual investment program for 2020.
Bulletin No. 2 CRE indicated as such as expenses relating to the support of the photovoltaic sector until 2020, and the resulting device prior to the reform of March 2011, will likely be higher than € 2 billion per year, more than 0.1% of GDP each year, accounting for 26 € TTC on the average bill for a home.In March 2011, the government introduced a new device in tariffs which provides, for most photovoltaic systems, feed-in tariffs self-adjusting downward based on the volume of connection requests found: more the connection requests increases, the decrease in tariffs. (Cf. the CRE of March 3, 2011). (*)
Now, managers of public electricity networks transmit quarterly to the CRE stock of connection requests made by the operators of photovoltaic systems. This data enables the CRE to determine certain parameters used in the calculation of the downward adjustment of tariffs. The government stopped approving these settings.
Recent Trends
The deliberation of 19 April 2012 the CRE can take stock of developments in photovoltaic connections to networks since the implementation of new support in March 2011:
The level of feed-in tariffs has been significantly lowered since 1 year but there is still relatively high. Rates are now including, as appropriate, between € 193.4 / MWh (for systems with simplified integration to the frame) and € 370.6 / MWh (for small installations of building integrated housing).Despite the decline in tariffs, the connection requests have not slowed over the last three quarters. This trend may partly reflect the influence of a fall in the cost of photovoltaic cells in 2011, which was even faster than that of tariffs.In total, applications filed between March 2011 and March 2012 represent a total combined capacity of 642 MWp, three times more than originally planned annual target (200 MWp).(*) For larger projects (ground or on building capacity of over 100 kWp), the new device in March 2011 favored form of tenders, which helps control strictly the evolution of the power installed.
