The French off-grid electrification program - an eight-year experience report

The French rural electrification program has brought electricity so far to more than 5000 isolated households and users in mainland France and the 4 French overseas departments. Throughout the last decade, the big majority of the remote sites have been equipped with standalone PV generators with financial aid and technical as well as institutional support from the French Environment and Energy Agency ADEME and Electricite de France as well as various other sources. We draw a review of the program, pointing out its particularities and accompanying measures that have helped to improve constantly the provided service.