France Implements New Renewable Tariffs for Solar, Wind and Biogas

[jpak]

http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/home

The French Minister for Industry, Finance, and Economics has issued new tariffs for solar, wind, biogas and geothermal energy. The new tariffs are the result of the regularly scheduled review of the French program that pays for electricity generated by renewable sources of energy.

Politicians didn't forget to include French farmers. Tariffs for biogas were more than doubled to Euro 10.3/kWh for plants less than 150 kW. As in solar photovoltaics, this tariff places France in league with Germany.

France has lagged behind other European countries, notably Germany, in developing renewable energy. Previous French tariffs for solar energy were especially noncompetitive with those in Germany and Spain.

The French program of Advanced Renewable Tariffs differentiates the price paid per kilowatt-hour by technology, by location or size of the installation, and the number of years the generator has been in service.

<more>