The development of renewable energy is facing a new challenge in France. Enedis and the electricity transmission network operator RTE have announced that nearly 10% of the country no longer has sufficient infrastructure capacity to connect new wind or solar power projects. In the most constrained areas, connection times can now exceed five years.
To improve the visibility of project developers, Enedis has published a national map identifying areas where the electricity grid is saturated. Among the affected areas are the southern part of the Centre-Val de Loire region, Lot-et-Garonne, and the Vosges. These difficulties are mainly due to the need to reinforce or build new substations, which are essential for transmitting the electricity produced to consumption areas.
A grid under pressure in the face of the solar energy boom
The rapid growth of photovoltaics, particularly on farms, is increasing pressure on the distribution network. Enedis connected 6,6 gigawatts (GW) of new renewable capacity in 2025, compared to 5,5 GW in 2024 and 4,2 GW in 2023. Of the 6,6 GW connected last year, 5,8 GW came from solar power, compared to 0,8 GW from wind power. By the end of 2025, the grid operator had more than 1,27 million renewable electricity producers connected to its network.
According to Enedis, nearly two-thirds of this growth is in rural areas where local consumption remains limited, complicating the transmission of the electricity produced. Lot-et-Garonne illustrates this trend, with its connected renewable energy capacity more than tripling in six years.
To support this acceleration, Enedis plans to build around one hundred new substations by 2030, nearly two-thirds of which will be dedicated to connecting renewable energy projects. For its part, the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) has approved a €4,24 billion investment program for RTE in 2026, aimed in particular at modernizing infrastructure, strengthening the grid, and facilitating the connection of future solar, onshore wind, and offshore wind farms. Despite these challenges, Enedis emphasizes that approximately 90% of French territory still has sufficient capacity to accommodate new renewable energy projects.
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