Recent data released by Enedis, France’s electricity distribution network operator, shows that the country’s grid added 4.2 gigawatts (GW) of new solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity in the first nine months of 2025. This continues the steady growth in the solar power sector, providing sustained momentum for France’s energy transition.
Quarterly data indicates a gradual increase in PV installations. In the first quarter of 2025, 1,407 megawatts (MW) of new capacity was added, followed by 1,358 MW in the second quarter, and a further rise to 1,507 MW in the third quarter, showing a clear upward trend between quarters. Notably, among the newly grid-connected solar power facilities in the first three quarters, 82 MW of projects were equipped with energy storage systems, marking the initial adoption of combined solar and storage models in France.
As the main electricity distribution network operator in France, Enedis’s statistics cover grid connections within its managed scope, providing key references for monitoring the restructuring of France’s renewable energy sector.
Industry analysis points out that solar power generation is intermittent, and large-scale grid integration can pose challenges to stable grid operation. Solar projects equipped with energy storage systems can effectively mitigate generation fluctuations, store surplus electricity, and significantly enhance the grid’s ability to absorb renewable energy. Although such combined solar and storage projects currently account for less than 2% of new installations, their share is expected to grow in the future as energy storage technology matures and costs decline.
The French Ministry of Energy Transition has previously stated its goal to achieve 100 GW of cumulative solar PV capacity by 2030. The 4.2 GW added in the first three quarters lays the foundation for reaching this target, while the initial exploration of combined solar and storage models provides a feasible pathway for the high-quality development of the PV industry going forward.
