PRESS RELEASE
Grenoble, 24 February 2026
The Photovoltaic Solar Energy Industry Day brings together the main French and European players to map out the future of a sovereign, competitive and sustainable industry.
At a time when more than 90 % of solar panels are still imported from Asia, the Photovoltaic Solar Industry Day brings together the main French and European players to map out the future of a sovereign, competitive and sustainable industry. Co-organised and run by the CEA, INES-Technologies, Capenergies, Tenerrdis, HoloSolis and Carbon, this second event will highlight producers and gigafactory projects, advances in R&D, and regulatory and industrial challenges, with the aim of positioning France as a leader in solar energy in Europe.
An issue of industrial sovereignty
Photovoltaic solar energy is enjoying unprecedented growth in Europe and around the world. Yet dependence on Asian imports raises major questions about industrial sovereignty and the resilience of value chains. This day, which follows on from a successful first edition in 2024, aims to :
- Take stock of manufacturers' projects in France and Europe.
- Identify public policy and regulatory levers to support the industry.
- Present technological innovations and current R&D programmes.
- Tackling the challenges of recycling and eco-design of solar panels.
A rich programme and top-notch speakers
The day will begin with an introductory lecture by Gaëtan Masson (Becquerel Institute) on the European context, followed by sequences dedicated to French producers (Voltec, Heliup), gigafactory projects (Carbon, HoloSolis, 3SUN), and the creation of an industrial ecosystem (Mondragon Assembly, ECM Technologies, Ecolab).
Two round tables led by Capenergies and Tenerrdis will address :
- Regulatory and market issues, with representatives from the DGE, SER and Enerplan.
- The integration of French solar panels into markets, with players such as Engie, CNR, CVE and Certisolis.
The day will close with a look at advances in R&D (ADEME, CEA & IPVF) and solutions for eco-design and recycling (SOREN, Rosi).
The event is supported by the Agence de l'environnement et de la maîtrise de l'énergie (ADEME), the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes and Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur regions and the Pôle Universitaire d'Innovation Grenoble Alpes.
Quotes
For David DUCA, Head of CEA's Solar Technologies Department : " We are proud to be hosting the second Photovoltaic Solar Day in Grenoble, in collaboration with our partners Capenergies, Tenerrdis, Carbon and HoloSolis. This event is of vital importance in highlighting the crucial role of an innovation ecosystem in meeting the challenges of «PV Made in France». For 20 years, the CEA and its teams at the INES site in Savoie have dedicated themselves to the sector, offering cutting-edge research platforms and world-renowned expertise, successfully transferring technology to European industry and driving innovative projects within ambitious start-ups.»
For Agnès ARNAUD, Director of INES-Technologies : «For more than ten years, the Institut pour la Transition Energétique INES-Technologie (formerly INES.2S) has been supporting the development of photovoltaic technologies through to the integration of these renewable energies into the grid. Building on the success of the first event in 2024, we are convinced that this opportunity for industry players to exchange ideas is an essential lever for the industrial momentum we want to promote. The discussions will undoubtedly be fuelled by current events, particularly the PPE3 and the issues surrounding Made in Europe.»
For Nicolas CHANDELLIER, CEO of Carbon : « At a pivotal moment for the European industry and for all the players in this strategic segment, Carbon is delighted at the growing importance of this industry day, which we actively helped to create last year. At a time when Made in Europe is gradually taking shape, with France spearheading its implementation, it is essential to ensure that all the players are aligned so that together we can accelerate the development of a sovereign industry, destined to transform the photovoltaic landscape of the future. "
For Bertrand Lecacheux, CEO of HoloSolis :
" The second edition of the national «PV solar industry day» shows that this topic has become essential. Just a few weeks after the government published the first PPE with reindustrialisation objectives, players from across the PV value chain will be meeting to work together on the rebirth of the photovoltaic industry. "
Sylvain BRÉMOND, Deputy Managing Director of the Capenergies competitiveness cluster: «After the first National Solar PV Industry Day held in October 2024 in Martigues, at the instigation of CAPENERGIES, I am delighted that we have been able to organise a second event in Grenoble on 5 March 2026. At a time when the issues of industrial sovereignty are at the heart of national and European discussions, it is particularly important that all the players in the solar PV industrial sector, both existing manufacturers in different segments of the value chain and developers of gigafactory projects, should be able to get together to exchange ideas, consolidate their visions and collaborations, and all work together towards the ambition of re-birthing the French and European sector against a backdrop of strong international growth in solar energy».»
For Yohann CROIZAT, Managing Director of the Tenerrdis competitiveness cluster : " Photovoltaics is today a technological solution that has a legitimate place in France's new energy mix, with accelerated deployment planned under the new EPP. It's also a technology that offers a wealth of innovations, which can only be deployed if there is a robust industrial base in France and Europe. A day like the one organised in Grenoble on 5 March at the CEA, one of Europe's most innovative players in the solar sector, resonates perfectly with the role of our 90-strong competitiveness cluster in photovoltaics, through the structuring of a dynamic and comprehensive ecosystem covering the entire value chain. "
About the organisers
Le CEA Liten, a research centre specialising in renewable energies and energy transition, develops innovative technologies for solar energy, energy efficiency and smart electricity grids. For more information, visit https://www.liten.cea.fr/
L'Institute for Energy Transition INES-Technologies brings together the skills of industry and public research, right through to training, in a spirit of close collaboration between all the players in the photovoltaic sector. For more information, click here: https://www.ines-solaire.org/
Carbon is a French company with a project to set up a gigafactory to manufacture photovoltaic wafers, cells and modules on the Fos-sur-Mer site. For further information, visit https://carbon-solar.com/
HoloSolis is a French company with a project to set up a gigafactory to manufacture photovoltaic cells and modules on the Sarreguemines site in Hambach in Moselle. For further information, click here: https://HoloSolis.com/
Capenergies is a competitiveness cluster working for the benefit of low-carbon energy sectors and its members based in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Corsica, Guadeloupe and the Principality of Monaco. Created in 2005, the cluster brings together a dynamic network of nearly 520 members, supporting the growth of businesses and the development of local projects. For more information, visit https://www.capenergies.fr/
Tenerrdis is the competitiveness cluster dedicated to renewable energies in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. It brings together industrial, academic and institutional players to accelerate the energy transition. For more information, visit https://www.tenerrdis.fr/
Practical information
Date: Thursday 5 March 2026, from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm.
Venue: Minatec, 3 Parvis Louis Néel, 38000 Grenoble.
rates :
- 15 excluding VAT for Tenerrdis and CapEnergies members.
- Free for local authorities.
- 30 excluding VAT for other players.
Entries: Entries close on 4 March 2026.
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