Solar PV is one of the fastest growing renewable energy sources in France and is set to dominate the energy market as the volume of projects accelerates across the country.
The French Government announced a new 10-measure plan designed to support the installation of more than 3GW per year, and is targeting 18-20GW of installed solar PV capacity by 2023, from 11.7GW in 2020.
In the longer term, the country’s Multi-Year Energy Program (PPE) plans to deliver between up to 44.5 GW of solar power by 2028 and more than 100GW by 2050.
France announces 10 measures to support PV deployment: France has announced a new 10-measure plan to facilitate solar deployment, featuring new and existing provisions. It is designed to support the installation of more than… https://t.co/zXwIprAVmp #solarenergy #solarpv #solar pic.twitter.com/RH5TLxy9Ka
— pv magazine (@pvmagazine) November 4, 2021
“With an unprecedented 85% reduction in the levelised costs of electricity in new solar PV utility-scale projects since 2010, solar energy is becoming the staple cost effective option for organisations leading the way on the road towards a net zero future. There has never been a better time to be a part of the movement” says Claudia Cataldo, our French solar market specialist.
Taylor Hopkinson is working with one of the companies leading the charge. Our client has an ambitious target to develop 1GW before the end of 2026 and is looking to fill several key roles across all major French regions. Aiming to grow its operational team to around 30, these strategically important roles include regional business development managers, project developers and land prospectors covering full commercial development remits, from new site identification to co-development and outright M&A.
This is an excellent opportunity for experienced solar professionals who are looking to develop and grow within a fast-moving industry with exponential growth and boundless potential.
Read on to find out more about the roles and how to apply.
New solar job opportunities in France
Regional PV Manager
The Regional PV Manager will lead a specialist team, composed of a land prospector and project manager, to implement the national strategy established by the country manager at regional level. This experienced individual will coordinate with mapping and design office engineers, manage the local project pipeline, provide technical assistance to their team specialists, cultivate a network of influence among political actors and land owners, establish external opportunities through business intelligence, implement a budget strategy, team recruitment and development, Maintain positive brand image through PR events & communication strategies, liaise with construction teams and report to stakeholders about each project.
PV Project Manager
The PV Project Manager will work under the Regional PV Manager, aiding in the implementation of their national solar strategy at a regional level. Harnessing their deep knowledge of regional issues and their ability to work independently, the successful candidate will conduct research on land prospected within the region, provide technical support to their team, communicate with local authorities and officials, organise and obtain the required paperwork to launch construction projects and the study of any compensatory measures required for a project.
Land Prospector
The Land Prospector specialists are responsible for the origination of projects, using their knowledge of regional landowners and their strength in negotiation to secure terrain capable of hosting utility scale solar projects. They accomplish the first steps into developing solar projects and will be covering an entire French region, frequently travelling to meet farmland owners. They are also in charge of the local lobbying effort, attempting to gain support from local figures of authority. They will be frequently working in partnership with a project developer on the more sensitive matters. We are open to all profiles with real estate experience or contract negotiation experience or experience in agronomy. Ideally someone of a deeper knowledge of solar site acquisition and the major French institutions.
Senior Grid Connection Manager
The Senior Grid Connection Manager would be a specialist of connecting solar plants to the national grid, with an in-depth understanding of the utility companies such as RTE and ENEDIS. Within the company he would be the point of reference for all things grid and HV. He would study possible connection issues during the conceptualisation phase, supervise the physical connection and or construction of connection points as well as to propose solutions to operate and maintain said stations. We are looking for a senior candidate with experience working on the national grid on a large scope of missions. Ideally a candidate who has worked for a major utility provider or a major developer solely focused on obtaining connection permits. The role will cover the whole of France and will be pivotal to generating regulated energy.
If you’re looking to build a solar team or find your next role in this exciting market, we’re ideally placed to help.
Contact Claudia Cataldo for a confidential chat to discuss your requirements.
