France Bi-facial Solar Market Overview, 2031

Market Insights on France Bi-facial Solar Market

• France's bifacial solar market has established itself as a cornerstone of the nation's renewable energy strategy, with the Ministry of Ecological Transition reporting that cumulative photovoltaic capacity reached 31.3 GW by December 31, 2025, representing an addition of 6.1 GW of new connected capacity during the year a substantial increase from 5.2 GW added in 2024.
• According to the research report, "France Bi-facial Solar Market Overview, 2031," published by Bonafide Research, the France Bi-facial Solar market is expected to reach a market size of USD 1.24 Billion by 2031. Solar electricity production reached 37.0 TWh in 2025, marking a 46% increase compared to 2024 and representing, excluding self-consumption, 7.3% of French electricity consumption. The technology's evolution has been propelled by the third edition of the Multiannual Energy Program (PPE3), which set photovoltaic targets of 48 GW AC by 2030 and 55–80 GW AC by 2035. Bifacial modules now appear in approximately 45% of ground-mounted arrays, improving yields by 10-15% through rear-side light capture.
• The French government's supportive policies, combined with a structured tender mechanism administered by the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE), have created a robust pipeline, with the CRE having processed 11 tender periods in 2025, retaining 818 applications for a total capacity of 5.05 GW representing 89% of the volume called.
• The regions of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Occitanie, and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes collectively account for 45% of newly connected capacity and 52% of total installed capacity nationwide. The market's evolution reflects a deliberate national strategy that integrates technological innovation with agricultural land use optimization, positioning bifacial technology as central to France's energy transition.

Competitive Landscape of France Bi-facial Solar Market

• Trina Solar has supplied approximately 45,000 units of its DUOMAX Twin bifacial double-glass modules with low carbon footprint to EDF Renewables for two projects totaling 16 MWp in Aramon (5 MWp) and Saint Pargoire (11 MWp), developed under the specific conditions of the CRE4.1 and CRE4.2 tenders. These represent the first projects in France to utilize low-carbon bifacial double-glass modules, featuring monocrystalline PERC cells that deliver additional energy gain of up to 25% depending on albedo and mounting configuration.
• EDF Renewables has also launched the Vitisolar agrivoltaic demonstrator, featuring orientable bifacial photovoltaic panels designed by Ampex (ArcelorMittal Exosun) covering a 2,000 m² plot of Merlot vines, with research partnerships including INRAE, the Institute of Vine and Wine Sciences at the University of Bordeaux, and the Gironde Chamber of Agriculture. Photosol emerged as a leading winner in the latest CRE Neutral Tender, with 36 projects designated as laureates totaling 507.7 MWc. The entry barriers include stringent carbon footprint requirements, with ground-mounted projects required to meet a minimum CO₂ footprint of 200 kg CO₂ equivalent per kilowatt and a maximum of 550 kg CO₂ equivalent per kilowatt.
• Consumer adoption patterns reveal clear segmentation, with bifacial technology overwhelmingly preferred in ground-mounted utility-scale projects and increasingly specified for commercial rooftop systems exceeding 500 kW, where fixed-tilt configurations with bifacial modules and multi-MPPT string inverters are awarded 20-year feed-in premium contracts. The value chain is characterized by strong integration between module suppliers, developers, and research institutions, with 1,306,533 installations connected by September 2025 and a project pipeline of 36.9 GW awaiting connection.

France Market Dynamics

Driver: Structured Tender Mechanisms and Capacity Expansion
France's bifacial solar market benefits from a highly structured and predictable tender framework administered by the CRE, which has created a stable investment environment for utility-scale projects. The eighth ground-mounted PV tender awarded 971 MW to 165 projects in September 2025, with another 925-MW tender planned before year-end, sustaining momentum behind utility-scale PV as the grid prepares for higher renewable shares. Winning bids typically combine bifacial modules on single-axis trackers with DC/AC ratios optimized for annual yield, an approach that reduces curtailment risk and fits within interconnection constraints. The steady tender cadence and clear rules help compress financing costs, which ultimately flow through to consumer prices.

Challenge: Administrative Complexity and Connection Delays
France's bifacial solar market confronts significant challenges related to grid connection delays and administrative complexity, with 36.9 GW of projects in the connection queue representing substantial capacity awaiting grid access. The rate of project abandonment before commissioning remains significant, depending notably on the volumes supported by the state in future years. While the CRE processed 11 tender periods in 2025, the administrative burden associated with permitting and connection procedures continues to affect project timelines. The reduction of photovoltaic targets in the PPE3 from 75–100 GW to 65–90 GW reflects a more measured approach to deployment that acknowledges these infrastructure constraints.



Trend: Low-Carbon Bifacial Modules and Carbon Footprint Differentiation
France's bifacial solar market is witnessing a strategic shift toward low-carbon modules, driven by regulatory requirements that increasingly prioritize embodied carbon in tender evaluations. Trina Solar's supply of 16 MWp of low-carbon bifacial double-glass modules to EDF Renewables marks the first projects in France to utilize this technology. The DUOMAX Twin modules feature monocrystalline PERC cells with an additional energy gain of up to 25% depending on albedo and mounting, and their 1,500V system voltage enables longer strings that further reduce balance-of-system costs. The double-glass technology has been awarded 26 patents. This trend aligns with France's broader decarbonization objectives, as solar electricity production reached 37.0 TWh in 2025, a 46% increase year-over-year.

Segment Analysis

France Bi-facial Solar Market by Type
• Dual-glass bifacial modules have become the predominant product architecture in France's utility-scale market, with Trina Solar's DUOMAX Twin modules featuring monocrystalline PERC cells and delivering additional energy gain of up to 25% depending on albedo and mounting. The double-glass structure, constructed from high-quality solar glass and encapsulation material, resists harsh environmental conditions, protects solar cells from moisture, and prevents performance loss from potential-induced degradation. The 1,500V system voltage enables longer strings, further reducing balance-of-system costs. EDF Renewables' two projects in Aramon and Saint Pargoire, totaling 16 MWp, represent the first French projects utilizing low-carbon bifacial double-glass modules. The technology's compatibility with major tracker systems makes it the default choice for ground-mounted utility developments.
• Glass-backsheet bifacial modules are increasingly specified for building-mounted applications where weight constraints are a consideration, with rooftop and car-park canopy tenders specifically identifying bifacial glass-glass modules where weight allows. Car-park canopy projects utilize steel or aluminum structures with bifacial glass-glass modules and elevated tilt, awarded 20-year feed-in premium contracts. The segment benefits from France's distributed generation momentum, with the 11th building PV tender awarding 300.9 MW to 129 projects. Commercial and industrial rooftop systems between 500 kW and 8 MW increasingly adopt fixed-tilt configurations with bifacial modules and multi-MPPT string inverters.

France Bi-facial Solar Market by Cell Technology
• Passivated Emitter and Rear Contact technology remains widely deployed across France's bifacial market, with Trina Solar's DUOMAX Twin modules utilizing monocrystalline PERC cells that deliver additional energy gain of up to 25% depending on albedo and mounting. The technology's mature manufacturing processes and established supply chains enable rapid deployment across utility-scale and distributed generation applications. PERC bifacial cells benefit from proven reliability and predictable performance characteristics, making them attractive for project developers seeking bankable technology. The technology's established position continues to support France's ambitious renewable energy targets, with cumulative photovoltaic capacity reaching 31.3 GW by December 2025.
• Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact technology has emerged as a next-generation architecture gaining traction in France's bifacial market, with modules achieving conversion efficiencies exceeding 24% and bifacial gains surpassing 85%. The technology's advanced passivated contact structure reduces recombination losses and improves temperature coefficient performance across France's diverse climate conditions. Industry projections indicate n-type modules including TOPCon are expected to reach 50% to 60% market share by 2030 and 70% to 80% by 2035. The technology's superior performance characteristics make it particularly suitable for utility-scale power plants and large commercial installations, with French tender mechanisms increasingly favoring advanced cell technologies that deliver higher energy yields.
• Heterojunction technology is establishing a growing presence in France's bifacial market, with modules featuring double-sided microcrystalline technology achieving conversion efficiencies of 23.7%. HJT's superior temperature coefficient and bifaciality characteristics make it attractive for France's diverse climate conditions. The technology's open patent system provides expansion opportunities in the French market, where TOPCon and back-contact technologies face potential intellectual property considerations. French research institutions and manufacturers continue to explore HJT's potential, with the technology's ability to deliver high performance in low-irradiance conditions aligning well with France's solar resource profile.
• Emerging cell technologies, including perovskite and tandem architectures, are demonstrating potential in France's research landscape. The National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRAE) and EDF R&D are collaborating on innovative projects including Vitisolar, where research teams are studying panel control algorithms and exploring electrification of agricultural uses. French research institutions continue to advance next-generation photovoltaic technologies, with the potential for future commercialization as manufacturing scales and costs decline. The structured tender framework provides a pathway for emerging technologies to achieve commercial deployment as they demonstrate bankable performance and reliability.

France Bi-facial Solar Market by End-User
• The utility-scale segment represents the dominant end-user market for bifacial solar technology in France, with ground-mounted tenders awarding 971 MW to 165 projects in the eighth round. Winning bids typically combine bifacial modules on single-axis trackers with DC/AC ratios optimized for annual yield. Co-located storage, while not a formal requirement, is increasingly considered to shift mid-day generation into evening peaks and capture ancillary services. The ground-mounted tender pipeline includes another 925 MW scheduled before year-end 2025. EDF Renewables' projects in Aramon (5 MWp) and Saint Pargoire (11 MWp) demonstrate the segment's commitment to bifacial technology, with low-carbon double-glass modules delivering additional energy gain of up to 25%. The segment's growth is further supported by the CRE having processed 11 tender periods in 2025, retaining 818 applications for 5.05 GW.
• The commercial and industrial segment represents a rapidly growing application for bifacial technology in France, with the 11th building PV tender awarding 300.9 MW to 129 projects. Rooftop systems between 500 kW and 8 MW increasingly adopt fixed-tilt configurations with bifacial modules and multi-MPPT string inverters. Car-park canopies utilize steel or aluminum structures with bifacial glass-glass modules and elevated tilt. The distributed generation segment added 1,442 MW in Q1 2025, a 34.8% year-over-year increase. Self-consumption installations, where electricity is entirely or partially consumed on-site, represent 60% of installations and 15% of installed capacity. The segment's growth is driven by improving project economics, with tender prices declining and competition intensifying.
• The residential segment represents an emerging but limited application for bifacial technology in France, as typical sloped rooftop installations provide modest bifacial gain compared to ground-mounted systems. Installations below 9 kW represent 87% of newly connected units and 15% of new capacity. Self-consumption is particularly prevalent in the residential segment, with 334 GWh of photovoltaic electricity self-consumed in Q1 2025, representing 6.2% of photovoltaic production. Total self-consumption installations represent 17% of the metropolitan park. The residential segment's growth is supported by France's broader push to accelerate renewables buildout amid energy-security and decarbonization goals, though bifacial technology adoption in this segment remains limited compared to utility-scale and commercial applications.


Considered in this report
• Historic Year: 2020
• Base year: 2025
• Estimated year: 2026
• Forecast year: 2031

Aspects covered in this report
• Bi-facial Solar Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Type
• Dual-Glass Bifacial Solar
• Glass-Backsheet Bifacial Solar

By Cell Technology
• PERC
• TOPCon
• HJT
• Others

By End-User
• Utility-Scale
• Commercial & Industrial
• Residential