On 26 March 2025, the Commission de Régulation de l’Energie, which is the French Energy Regulation Council, published the tender specifications for ground-mounted photovoltaic power plants. These specifications applied to the bidding period which ran from 2 June to 13 June 2025. To respond, photovoltaic developers had to submit the ECS score calculated using the PPE2 V1 methodology for the photovoltaic modules they wished to install.
CRE Tenders: How Do They Work ?
The Commission de Régulation de l’Energie (CRE) regularly publishes invitations to tender for photovoltaic installations in France. These tenders differ in terms of the nature and location of the photovoltaic plants, and the cumulative power demand. Developers generally have a two-week window to submit an application. Winning a call for tenders entitles you to a guaranteed preferential feed-in tariff for the energy you produce. CRE calls for tenders only concern installations of more than 500kWp installed.
Why is the ECS certificate important in your application process?
To respond to public calls for tenders and open window mechanisms, developers must include the ECS score of the photovoltaic modules they plan to use in their application. The ECS score counts towards the overall score of the application and is therefore a key factor in winning the tender. Different calculation methodologies are used to determine the ECS score: it varies according to the period and the tender for which the developer is applying.
Each bidding phase has its own specific rules.
4 main methodologies are considered in the calls for tender published by the CRE:
- CRE3 calculation methodology
- CRE4 calculation methodology
- PPE2 V1 calculation methodology
- PPE2 V2 calculation methodology
A different methodology for each period
For each period of the CRE calls for tenders, only one methodology shall be applied to calculate the ECS score. The methodologies to be used are summarised below.
Contact a member of the PINK Strategy team to find out the calculation methodology to be applied to your call for tenders.
