Lightsource bp sets up in France, targeting 1GW solar pipeline by 2026

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
The company plans to participate in tenders and sign PPAs with companies in France. Image: Lightsource bp.

Solar developer Lightsource bp is setting up operations in France as it looks to reach a 1GW pipeline of large-scale PV projects in the country by 2026.

With an offering spanning the full lifecycle of solar projects – site selection, financing, permitting, long-term management and sale of electricity – Lightsource bp France intends to participate in public tenders and sign power purchase agreements (PPAs) with companies.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

The business will invest in projects at various stages of development, with some developed from scratch and others alongside partners, according to Raphaël Colas, who has been appointed as Lightsource bp’s country head for France.

Previously responsible for EPC sales and business development at ENGIE Solar, Colas will lead Lightsource bp France from its headquarters in Aix-en-Provence, in the south of the country.

With France committing to having at least 100GW of solar by 2050, now is the right time for Lightsource bp to enter the country, said Kareen Boutonnat, the company’s CEO for Europe and APAC.

“Our ambition, with this move, is to take advantage of our experience acquired elsewhere in the world, at a key moment for France,” she added.

The expansion means London-headquartered Lightsource bp now has operations in 18 countries as the company bolsters its development efforts to reach its goal of bringing 25GW of solar PV to financial close by the end of 2025. It has developed 5.4GW of solar to date.

While Western Europe, the US, Brazil and Australia are expected to play significant roles in contributing to that target, the company is also looking to grow in Asian markets such as Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore and Korea, CEO Nick Boyle told PV Tech earlier this year.

After France reached 13.2GW of installed solar in 2021, PV trade association Enerplan recently called for the country to triple its solar fleet by 2025 as it recommended that auction volumes be increased and project permitting procedures be shortened.

Read Next

June 27, 2025
Statkraft has signed PPAs with Better Energy to purchase energy from two solar power plants in Poland with a total capacity of 64GWh.
June 27, 2025
Solar developer Lightsource bp has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with a subsidiary of Taiwanese energy firm HD Renewable Energy (HDRE).
June 25, 2025
The French National Assembly has rejected a proposal to implement a moratorium on utility-scale solar and wind projects.
June 24, 2025
Independent power producer (IPP) Enery Development has formed a 50-50 joint venture (JV) with Romanian oil and gas producer OMV Petrom to build a 400MW solar PV plant in Bulgaria.
June 23, 2025
Q Energy and Velto Renewables have inaugurated Europe’s largest floating solar power plant in the Haute-Marne region of France.
June 23, 2025
The volume of power purchase agreements signed in May has registered a low of 280MW, according to Swiss consultancy Pexapark.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 2, 2025
Mexico City, Mexico
Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 22, 2025
Bilbao, Spain
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK