Under the final PPE3, France targets 48 GW of cumulative solar PV by 2030 and 55 GW to 80 GW by 2035, down from earlier proposals
The 2035 onshore wind target is reduced to 35–40 GW from a previously proposed 45 GW, with priority given to repowering existing sites
It centers on extending and optimizing 57 existing reactors, targeting 380 TWh of nuclear generation by 2030, and building 6 new EPR reactors by 2038
Industry group SER says streamlined solar PV tenders are key to avoiding a slowdown in the solar sector
France has released its energy strategy for 2026-2035 under the 3rd Multiannual Energy Programme, or Programmation pluriannuelle de l’énergie (PPE3). The government says it targets a balanced energy mix combining nuclear and renewable energies, which has led to adjustments to solar and wind energy targets in the final version.
PPE3 brings down the country’s cumulative installed solar PV target to 48 GW by 2030, expanded to between 55 GW and 80 GW by 2035. This is lower than the 65 GW to 90 GW level proposed for 2035 in the final draft, which was itself lowered from the initially proposed 75 GW to 90 GW (see France Lowers 2035 Solar PV Target To 90 GW In Final Draft Of PPE3).
Achieving 48 GW by 2030 would require France to install 3.6 GW annually. However, the market is worth much more: the country installed over 5 GW in 2024 and has already installed 4.5 GW in 9M 2025. France’s solar PV fleet had already reached 29.7 GW at the end of Q3 2025 (see France Installed 4.5 GW Solar PV Capacity In 9M 2025).
Onshore wind energy also takes a back seat in the country’s final energy roadmap. As against the previously proposed 45 GW aggregate target by 2035, PPE3 sets a revised capacity target of 35 GW to 40 GW, up from 31 GW by 2030. In 2025, France’s onshore wind capacity totaled around 24 GW. Priority would be accorded to repowering existing facilities under the new plan.
French renewable energy industry body Syndicat des énergies renouvelables (SER) believes the 48 GW target will avoid the solar sector coming to a standstill, provided the administration can quickly relaunch calls for tenders across all market segments. “Simplified tendering processes for buildings and ground-mounted solar installations will help facilitate the implementation of gigafactory projects for solar component production,” stated SER.
France will also initially target 15 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2035. The country’s hydropower capacity will be expanded by 11% with a 2.8 GW increase in dam capacity, including an additional 640 MW on existing concessions.
PPE3, however, belongs to nuclear energy, as the government is pursuing its revival by extending the lifespans of 57 existing reactors and optimizing the fleet, targeting 380 TWh of production by 2030. In addition, it targets 6 new European Pressurized Reactors (EPR) coming online by 2038 with an option for 8 additional reactors.
State-owned EDF, which operates 57 nuclear reactors across 19 power plants with an installed capacity of 62.9 GW, has welcomed the final energy roadmap. The group issued a statement saying the established guidelines provide necessary visibility to guarantee the security of the electricity supply.
Overall, PPE3 aims to increase the country’s decarbonized electricity production to between 650 TWh and 693 TWh in 2035, up from 458 TWh in 2023. Solar PV will provide 59 TWh from 48 GW and 67 TWh to 98 TWh to the total by 2035.
It will simultaneously reduce fossil fuel consumption to around 330 TWh in 2035, from 900 TWh in 2023. Decarbonized electricity will account for 60% of the nation’s electricity consumption by 2030 and 70% in 2035.
The government estimates PPE3’s implementation to generate over 120,000 additional jobs by the end of this decade, particularly in the nuclear, solar PV, and offshore wind sectors. It will also reduce the country’s fossil fuel imports, currently valued at nearly €60 billion annually.
The administration added that the plan will be up for review in 2027 to ensure continuous adaptation of the trajectory to the country’s real needs.
The complete text of PPE3 is available on the Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Industrial, Energy and Digital Sovereignty’s website, in French.