France Initiates New Rescue Plan to Save Domestic Solar Market

According to Reuters, Energy Minister Delphine Batho has announced few measures, which will bring investments worth $2.6 billion, while a visit to a solar Module Production Facility in France.

The Solar Market in France had tough two years, which saw a dip in workforce by about 15,000 people, from 32,500 in 2010 to about 18,000 in 2012.

The Key Rescue Plans include:

- To increase Production target by more than Double to reach 1,000 MW/Year.

- To add a bonus of up to 10 percent on FIT's for small solar farms using panels made in Europe. 

"Many jobs were lost because of the (former) government's yoyo policies. But we will fight... to develop the ecological competitiveness of France," Batho told reporters. Jean-Louis Bal, the head of France's main renewable energy sector lobby SER, said "the measures would allow the sector to survive in the short-term but did not offer long-term visibility for the industry".

France is Slowly Ramping up Solar Installations:

Though France is well below the 23 percent RPS (Renewable Portfolio Standard) target set by former President Nicolas Sarkozy for 2020, the market will experience an uptick thanks to the New Policy announcement. France currently utilizes only 13 percent of energy consumption by Renewable Energy.