. Earth Science News .
An Examination Of The French Photovoltaic Market

With its promotion scheme especially favoring BIPV applications, the French state paved the way for its strategy to establish photovoltaics as a natural component of every building. This entails specific requirements regarding the products that are suitable for the market.
by Staff Writers
Dublin, Ireland (SPX) Apr 28, 2008
Despite being among the top ten worldwide photovoltaic markets with a current annual market growth of more than 100 percent, little information has been available on the French photovoltaic market in the past. As a result, insecurity was tangible among existing and potential market participants concerning their market coverage strategy. This particularly applies in view of the special niche conception for photovoltaics, which was chosen by the French Government.

With a special bonus for building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) applications and a tax credit scheme favoring small-sized private systems, only certain product types sell well in the French metropolitan market. Likewise, uncertainty prevails on the potential and structure of the market in the overseas departments, also counting as a part of the French state.

The report by EuPD Research, which is edited in collaboration with the solar association ENERPLAN, is the first study to deliver extensive primary information on the French photovoltaic market. In May 2007, EuPD Research surveyed one third of all French companies that are active in the photovoltaic market. With it, EuPD Research collected previously unavailable primary information regarding the structure and potential of the market.

In extensive expert talks, the results were verified and completed, making an all-embracing picture of the PV market in France possible. This includes the following aspects:

Product Requirements
With its promotion scheme especially favoring BIPV applications, the French state paved the way for its strategy to establish photovoltaics as a natural component of every building. This entails specific requirements regarding the products that are suitable for the market.

The study provides information on the presently most frequently sold BIPV products. Moreover, it highlights the product developments and research activities by the French market participants in particular.

Prices and Price Development
The high price level constitutes one reason why international companies become active in the French PV market. The study denotes the current average system prices according to market participants. Furthermore, it displays their expectations concerning the future price development.

At the same time, the report evaluates the profitability of systems in view of these prices against the background of all promotion schemes that are available at federal and regional level.

Market Segments
The study also offers an overview of the currently sold system sizes. In particular, the potential of large-scale plants in the south of France as well as in the overseas territories is analyzed. In addition, the existing customer groups of French market players are presented.

Evaluation of Market Potential
The report contains a comprehensive analysis of the potential of photovoltaics in France, also in comparison to solar thermal. At the same time, the most important problems hindering the market growth are identified. In this regard, information concerning activities, for example by the solar association ENERPLAN, to resolve these hindrances is delivered. Last but not least, a market forecast concerning the newly installed capacity up to 2010 is given.

Company Profiles
In cooperation with the solar association ENERPLAN, French PV companies were given the opportunity to present themselves in the report with the help of a company profile. These profiles deliver information concerning their business activities in the field of photovoltaics as well as important contact information to get in touch with them easily.

Community
Email This Article
Comment On This Article

Related Links
All About Solar Energy at SolarDaily.com



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


SolarWorld Introduces Solar PV Kits For Oregon At The Northwest Solar Expo
Hillsboro OR (SPX) Apr 24, 2008
SolarWorld is presenting specially designed Sunkits for Oregon homeowners during this weekend's Northwest Solar Expo at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland. Widely used throughout Europe and California, SolarWorld's Sunkit product is a factory-designed solar PV system that electrical contractors can install as an appliance. The Sunkit designs have been optimized for Oregon's unique incentive and regulatory requirements.







  • Big Tokyo quake would cause human gridlock: study
  • Disasters In Small Communities: Researchers Discuss How To Help
  • Floods, cyclones, devastate southern Africa: UN
  • Raytheon Develops Advanced Concrete Breaking Technology For Urban Search And Rescue

  • Response to climate security threats 'slow and inadequate': report
  • ALOS Will Provide Advanced Data To Help Latin America Better Adapt To Climate Threats
  • UN official says climate change pact on troubled path
  • Analysis: EU bashes Bush's climate plan

  • India to blast satellite into space
  • NASA selects Landsat spacecraft contractor
  • Mars Technology On Board A Balloon To Study The Earth's Atmosphere
  • Northrop Grumman Submits Proposal For GOES-R To NASA

  • Australia denies telling China to back off on investments
  • Celebrate Geothermal Energy As Mother Earth's Energy On Earth Day 2008
  • Direct Fuels To Produce Biodiesel At North Texas Facility
  • EU biodiesel lobby urges anti-dumping probe into US exports

  • International Health Experts To Enlist The Public In War On African Malaria
  • Analysis: Indonesian-U.S. bird flu sharing
  • Flu Tracked To Viral Reservoir In Tropics
  • China rejects human-to-human bird flu report

  • Beetles may doom Canada's carbon reduction target: study
  • Biodiversity loss will lead to sick world: experts
  • The Present Is The Key To The Past
  • Shanghai begins anti-mosquito drive ahead of Games: report

  • Researchers Look To Make Environmentally Friendly Plastics
  • Europe Spends Nearly Twice As Much As US On Nanotech Risk Research
  • Australian state to ban plastic bags
  • Bikini Corals Recover From Atomic Blast

  • 'Sims' creator lets people play god in new computer game
  • Are Humans Hardwired For Fairness
  • Unconscious Decisions In The Brain
  • Scientists Find A Fingerprint Of Evolution Across The Human Genome

  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2007 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement