Solar mandate: France transforms parking lots into power hubs
France has implemented regulations requiring the installation of photovoltaic panels on large parking lots. The new law, which has come into effect, applies to both existing and newly constructed parking lots.
A decree introduced by the French government requires large parking lots, with an area exceeding 1,486 square metres, to be equipped with photovoltaic installations, known as carports. The new regulations in France cover both new and existing parking lots. Managers of those with a capacity of 80-400 cars have five years (until 2028) to comply with the requirements, while owners of parking lots with more than 400 cars have only three years (until 2026).
Those who fail to install the panels within the designated time will have to pay fines amounting to €50 per parking space for each month of delay. The fine is a minimum €5,000 per day for smaller parking lots, and for larger ones, it will start at €20,000 daily (more than €600,000 monthly), which will certainly be a significant burden on the budget.
An important requirement is also that at least half of the parking lot's area must be covered with solar panels. Exemptions are made for parking lots intended for trucks weighing more than 8 tonnes and those located in historical city centres. The new regulations have their advantages - the solar panel canopies will provide shade for vehicles, protecting them from overheating on hot days.
France aims to increase solar energy capacity tenfold
The introduction of regulations governing the possession of photovoltaics in parking lots aligns with President Emmanuel Macron's plan to increase solar energy production in the country tenfold. The French government estimates that the new regulations will allow for the generation of up to 11 GW of additional renewable power, equivalent to the power of about 10 nuclear reactors.
A Mickey Mouse-shaped solar farm
The use of carports is also a strategy adopted by giants such as Bentley Motors and Disneyland Paris. Bentley completed a project in 2019 in the United Kingdom for 1,378 parking spaces with 10,000 panels generating 2.7 MW, which is expected to cover 24 percent of the company's energy needs and reduce CO2 emissions.
Disneyland Paris will complete another solar power plant this year on a huge parking lot for over 11,000 vehicles, which will be covered with 82,000 photovoltaic panels, producing 36 GWh of energy annually, equivalent to the consumption of a city with 17,400 inhabitants.
An interesting fact is that the Walt Disney Company can already boast of a Mickey Mouse-shaped solar farm in Epcot, Florida, United States. The entire investment consists of 48,000 solar panels spread over 9 hectares. From a bird's-eye view, the installation resembles Mickey Mouse.
