Alpes Maritimes, A regrettable delay in solar development and now a clear desire for it

1839: Antoine Becquerel (1788-1878) and his son Edmond^[1] (1820-1891) demonstrated with an experiment the appearance of an electric current between two immersed electrodes in the presence of a light source. The photovoltaic panel was not yet born, but the photoelectric principles on which it would be based had just been demonstrated. A sufficiently energetic incident photon dislodges an electron from an atom, creating a "hole" and a free electron in the photosensitive material, and thus the conditions for the appearance of an electric current. The reality is a little more complex, and it would take two centuries and a lot of brainpower to develop and industrialise today's multilayer silicon-based panels.

1958. The first photoelectric cells produced one watt to power the instruments of the American satellite Vanguard 1, a sphere weighing 1.5 kg and measuring 16.5 cm in diameter.

2023. A 1.7 m2 panel, with an efficiency of 20%, exposed to sunshine equivalent to 1,300 kWh/year/m2 (average in France) produces an electrical output of 260 kWh/year/m2. "To meet the consumption of a family of 4, excluding heating, 20 m2 of these panels will produce 5 MWh per year^[2] explains Paul de Preville^[3]. Are these raw figures enough to clarify the situation of solar energy as a renewable energy source in France? Of course not. But they do show that the technology is available, mature and well mastered.

An overview of electricity production and usage in France

In 2022, France produced 445 TWh of electricity, a figure that is down slightly on the figure for ... 1995! At 19 TWh, solar-generated electricity accounts for just 4% of the French energy mix, alongside the nuclear behemoth at 63%, hydropower at 11%, thermal power at 11% and wind power at 9%. Only bioenergy comes in at the bottom with 2%. National consumption also fell to 452 TWh. This compares with 482 TWh in 2016.

Let's stop this litany of figures there. It has to be said that the price of energy has started to rise again since 2020, and that experts believe that this increase will be structural and lasting at least for the next decade. The numerous climate warnings are forcing the world to act to abandon fossil fuels and turn resolutely towards renewable energy sources, including solar. The objective formalised at European and French level is "Carbon Neutral by 2050". What role can solar energy play in getting us on the right track and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, even though it is still a dwarf in a land of giants?

The South-East, an average performer that has only recently awoken

According to France Méteo, the south-east enjoys an average of 2,700 hours of sunshine per year, ranking us among the top two regions in France. The bottom ones (Haute Normandie, Central Brittany) shiver with 1,400 hours a year. We have the resource, and yet frankly the solar power installed in PACA (2021 figure) does not reflect the degree of sunshine, with a small 1650 MW to compare with Nouvelle Aquitaine and its 3250 MW, or Occitania with its 2,600 MW. “Our region has adopted the slogan “Gardons une COP d’avance”. We are struggling to respect it when it comes to solar. In the Alpes Maritimes, photovoltaics represents only 16% of the RE mix, even covering just 9% of our total consumption, while the region has 15%.” stresses Frédéric Olive of ENEDIS^[4] Is solar power in our region simply not adapted for it or just late?

A dynamic clearly started three years ago, driven by the significant increase in electricity bills. Pain in the wallet challenges us to change at least as much as virtuous ecology and sober behaviour: let us remain humble and remain lucid. “Over the past 10 years, the price of solar panels has been divided by 10, their yields improved by 10 to 20%, and their lifespan extended by 15 to 30 years.” comments Paul de Preville. Combined with a multiplication of governmental, but also regional and departmental aid, creating a small jungle in which it has become complex to find one’s way, photovoltaics in our department, unlike wind turbines, are on the rise.

Solar is a common resource, self-consumption has become the norm

The production model is also evolving. Originally, a private owner of his roof, equipped himself and sold all of his production to an operator, hoping to amortize his investment in the best case over 10 years, more likely over 15. “The regulations were relaxed and the model of self-consumption appeared (with resale of an inevitable surplus at a rate guaranteed over 20 years, 13 cents per kW/h by EDF-OA, EDF Obligation d'Achat).” notes Paul de Preville. Self-consumption has many advantages, for individuals, businesses, and even neighbourhoods. The return on investment is around 7 years. By favouring the short circuit, it delays the moment when the transport infrastructures will be saturated by local production, reduces the bills and limits transport over long distances where the losses remain significant. In the case of the tertiary sector, which consumes most of its energy during the day, storage batteries are not necessary.

Last but not least. “It is now permitted, based on the capacities of Linky meters, to create virtual communities of producers for collective self-consumption within a 2 km perimeter” enthuses Frédéric Olive. Individuals, traders, companies, institutions, pool an initial investment, produce and consume among themselves, and finally resell. The medieval principle of the fountain shared in the centre of the village has returned to the forefront with solar resource. The craze is palpable. The sun, like other objects, being a common good, its local exploitation now seems obvious. It is seductive because it’s more virtuous for the planet and significantly reduces bills. “Community photovoltaic projects in neighbourhoods and shade areas in car parks and municipal buildings have been booming since 2020. Local elected officials as well as business leaders, even use them to substantiate arguments of attractiveness, recruitment, loyalty, and happily mention these initiatives in their ‘pitch’” summarises Frédéric Olive.

Don’t fall in the solar trap too quickly

However, let us not err on the side of optimism. There is a downside to every up. The solar sector is slowed down by a lack of skills and qualified personnel, especially among installers who are struggling to obtain the RGE certification (Recognized Guarantor of the Environment), the necessary certification for their customers to get public support. More than 80% of photovoltaic cells are built in China, compared to 1.3% in Europe, putting us de facto in a situation of dependence on Asia. France produced photovoltaic cells worth 850 MW of power in 2021, while at the same time we install them for a capacity of 3,000 to 3,500 MW.

The mass of regulations sometimes puts a brake on things, not without reason. The Bâtiments of France have their input too when it comes to heritage and historical land, as do firefighters as part of the Risk Prevention Plan. The RE2020 regulation (Environmental Regulation) also imposes its share of constraints to build more sober and less carbon. Finally, the APER law of March 10, 2023, on the acceleration of renewable energy production, encourages all actors to move to multiply by ten the production of solar electricity by 2050, that is to say to reach 100 GW.

Solar is now classed as having high potential

Some prophets of doom wave the red flag of «rare earths» used in the composition of photovoltaic cells. Be careful not to confuse “rare or critical materials” with “rare earths”. Only rare materials, that is to say those that may pose supply difficulties, enter into the composition of monocrystalline silicon photovoltaic modules. Moreover, their 95% recyclability is more than honourable. According to ADEME (sourced from the IPCC), a photovoltaic system on a roof without a battery, emits between 32 and 46 gCO2eq/kWh^[5] (75% of this quantity during manufacturing), compared with 469 for nuclear, 840 for oil and 1001 for coal!

Faced with the challenges of energy transition and decarbonisation, it would be criminal, when we call ourselves the Côte d'Azur, not to value the generous sunshine we enjoy, this gift of heaven that has forged our tourism, attracted so many artists, contributed to the advent of a technopole. The traffic lights for the solar sector are turning green one by one.

If we don’t, then who in France will? 2050 is only 26 years away.

^[1] Father of Henri Becquerel (1852-1908), shared the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903 with Marie and Pierre Curie, discoverer of radioactivity in 1896.

^[2]   All the figures given in this article come from the study «Photovoltaic Solar in France: reality, potential and challenges» prepared by the CNRS and the Federation of Photovoltaic Research – second edition of the study, dated 14 Sept 2023, freely available on www.solairephotovoltaïque.fr

^[3] Sophia Mag interviewed Paul de Preville, a young co-founder of the startup Ensol that has just raised 3 million euros – see www.goensol.com

^[4] Sophia Mag interviewed Frédéric Olive d'Enedis, Deputy Domain Development Innovation and Digital, Referent Electric Mobility and Smart Grid, Enedis Côte d'Azur

^[5] Les facteurs d’émission associés aux sources d’énergie correspondent pour l'essentiel à des émissions de CO₂. Ils s’expriment en général en grammes d’équivalent CO₂ par kilowattheure (gCO2eq/kWh)