France's CRE Proposes Redesign of Solar Tender to Enhance Co-Location of Batteries
The French energy regulator CRE aims to stimulate battery co-location with solar projects through a new contract-for-difference (CfD) framework. This redesign seeks to address declining solar capture rates and increasing negative-price hours, which currently hinder profitability for solar producers.
The French energy regulator (CRE) is revamping its contract-for-difference scheme for solar assets starting from 2027 to promote co-located batteries. The proposed changes allow photovoltaic (PV) plants to charge batteries during negative-price hours, which previously required production halts.
AI-curated by TheiaThe new framework redefines energy flow from 'non-production' to 'non-injection' while introducing a metering scheme to track energy flows, enabling compensation for battery charging. Additionally, the CRE plans to index the CfD to the positive baseload capture price, transferring financial risks to developers.
This shift encourages low-price hour management through battery co-location, potentially reducing uncompensated negative-price exposure. Furthermore, the CRE's consultation response deadline is April 30, 2026, with the first hybrid tender expected in late 2026 or early 2027.
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