French distribution system operator Enedis has published data on new solar PV grid connections in its service area for the third quarter of 2026. According to its open data, 1,271 MW of new PV capacity was connected to the grid between July and September, including 103 MW of installations paired with energy storage. The latter figure compares with 134 MW in the same period of 2025.

Combined with the 1,418 MW connected in the first quarter and 1,494 MW in the second quarter, cumulative additions reached 4,185 MW in the first nine months of 2026, down 3.5% from 4,336 MW in the corresponding period of 2025. For comparison, a record 5.77 GW of solar capacity was connected to the Enedis grid in 2024.

The number of new installations fell more sharply, declining from 148,257 in the first nine months of 2025 to 94,790 in the same period of 2026, a drop of 36.1%.

Although the year-on-year difference in newly connected capacity was limited to 151 MW, a closer look at the data reveals significant shifts across market segments, particularly in small-scale solar, amid changes to France’s regulatory framework.

Solar installations below 36 kW decline by 31.7%

The contraction was most pronounced in the residential and small commercial segments. Newly connected capacity from installations below 36 kW fell from 729 MW in the first nine months of 2025 to 498 MW in the corresponding period of 2026, a decline of 31.7%.

The figures reflect a slowdown that solar installers have reported for several months. Following the announcement of a reduced 5.5% value-added tax (VAT) rate and subsequent cuts to feed-in tariffs, some installers reported a 30% to 50% decline in residential sales between March 2025 and March 2026.

Meanwhile, battery storage adoption continued to gain ground in the small-scale segment. The capacity of PV installations below 36 kW paired with storage rose from 33 MW in the first nine months of 2025 to 88 MW in the same period of 2026.

By contrast, the segment serving businesses and public-sector entities proved more resilient. Newly connected capacity increased by 340 MW, from 1,783 MW in the first nine months of 2025 to 2,123 MW in the corresponding period of 2026, an increase of 19.1%.

The growth reflects continued investment in solar PV among commercial and public-sector customers seeking to reduce their exposure to electricity price volatility. Regulatory requirements for solar installations on rooftops and parking lots are also supporting demand.

Enedis operates the electricity distribution network across approximately 95% of mainland France, with the remaining 5% served by local distribution companies.