The hope that came with French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s announcement at the beginning of the month to apply a bonus to the existing feed-in tariff has been shattered. The Directorate General for Energy and Climate (DGEC) has announced that due to substantial legal and technical difficulties a timetable for the implementation of this bonus scheme has been postponed.

　　The French government had previously said PV power plants would be eligible to receive an additional 10% bonus a minimum of 60% of the installations modules were produced in Europe. A legislation was expected before the presidential elections next month.

　　Mueth Thierry, president of Enerplan said, “The French solar industry suffers again from the inconsistency of the government. It takes the decision to move forward, then finding it too complicated it cancels it altogether. The announcement of a bonus for photovoltaic systems made in Europe was going in the right direction, even if the text proposed by the administration required for amendments. Customers will now need to be told to expect further reduced tariffs from April 1."