11th National Photovoltaic Conference
Tuesday, 9 June 2026 – Palais des Congrès, Strasbourg
The Solar Sector in Full Transformation !
Flexibilize, valorize, industrialize
Moderator : Dorothée Kristy, journalist
International conflicts are casting a stark light on our energy vulnerability : fossil fuel price volatility, supply‑chain tensions and pressure on certain raw materials. The response is clear : accelerate the electrification of end uses and decarbonize the highest‑emitting sectors as a priority.
In this context, the European Union has established a coherent strategic framework — RED III for accelerating renewable deployment, the Industrial Accelerator Act and the NZIA to give Europe industrial capacity and public procurement frameworks more favorable to net‑zero technologies.
In 2026, solar photovoltaics is shifting to a new dimension : after the uncertainties of 2025, the sector has begun a transition from quantity to value. The challenge is no longer only to install capacity, but to build a system : grid integration, scaling up storage, system‑performance‑oriented auction design, and optimizing capture rates to generate better and at the right moment. In parallel, value‑creation models are diversifying (self‑consumption, long‑term contracts/PPA), while France is seeking to consolidate a competitive and sovereign photovoltaic industrial chain aligned with European ambition, sustainability requirements and compliance.
Solar energy is thus emerging as the structural substitute for fossil‑based energy sources : competitive, scalable, predictable, controllable, industrializable, and central to a decentralized, flexible, low‑carbon power system.
PROGRAM
OPENING SESSION
9:30 – 10:30 : Opening remarks
Invited speakers :
- Jules NYSSEN, President of SER
- Catherine TRAUTMANN, Mayor of Strasbourg
- François WERNER, Vice‑President of the Grand Est Regional Council in charge of Ecological and Energy Transition
- Maud BREGEON, Minister Delegate for Energy
- Dan JORGENSEN, European Commissioner for Energy and Housing
10:35 – 10:55 : Keynote #1
Local benefits of solar energy — presentation of the SER / Colombus Consulting study on employment and taxation
Invited speaker : A representative of Colombus Consulting
Sequence 1
Flexibility, grid integration and valorization of the new solar sector
11:00 – 12:00 : Roundtable #1
Solar energy, an indispensable resource in an electrifying economy
Electrification of end uses is a central lever for energy sovereignty and European economic competitiveness, amid growing geopolitical tensions over fossil fuels and critical resources. France must become an "electro‑state", but electrification and solar energy are deeply intertwined : solar can be deployed far more massively and rapidly than any other electricity‑generation source, enabling this electrification. Yet without electrification, continued solar capacity growth could lead to overproduction.
As RTE has already allocated 30 GW of grid access rights for major electrification projects (data centers, industrial sites…), this roundtable aims to take stock of the electrification momentum underway and the new solar valorization models — less dependent on public support — that will emerge from it.
Invited speakers :
- Thibaud MATHIEU, Head of Energy Operations, ArcelorMittal France
- Victor OWEN, Director, Green Giraffe France
- Peter REITZ, CEO, European Energy Exchange (EEX)
- Raphael SCHELLENBERGER, Member of Parliament (Haut‑Rhin), lead of the Industrial Electrification Mission
- Thomas VEYRENC, Managing Director Economy, Strategy and Finance, RTE
12:00 – 13:00 : Roundtable #2
Flexibility, hybridization, storage
The massive development of solar now requires evolving models to produce, consume and curtail at the right moment. This roundtable will highlight new economic, technical and technological models enabling increased controllability of photovoltaics. What barriers must be lifted to deploy large‑scale storage in France ? Which innovations and battery models will prevail tomorrow ? Solar participation in balancing markets and mechanisms to fully integrate flexibility into the power system will be central to the discussion.
Expected speakers :
- Cyril GRIGNON, President, ANODE
- Vianney DE L’ESTANG, President, SER Solar Commission
- Sebastien JUMEL, Director of Strategy, Innovation & Digital, Enedis
- Jeff KNOEPFLI, CEO & Co‑founder, SURVOLTAGE
- Laurent KUENY, Director of Energy, DGEC
- Nicolas SUR, Deputy CEO, Tryba Energy
13:00 – 14:30 : Lunch
14:30 – 15:15 : Joint session
“Controllable solar vs new nuclear : economic and strategic stakes”
As electrification becomes a strategic imperative, nuclear and controllable solar emerge as two potential pillars of a reliable, competitive and sovereign power mix. But how do these sectors truly complement each other ? What are their respective costs, investment needs, industrial strengths and contributions to system value ?
Invited speakers :
- Valérie FAUDON, General Delegate, SFEN
- Alain GRANDJEAN, Economist and entrepreneur
- Jules NYSSEN, President of SER
Sequence 2 – Agrivoltaics
15:15 – 16:00 : Roundtable #3
Agrivoltaics : between opportunities and barriers — an essential progress update
Agrivoltaics represents one of the most promising opportunities in the energy transition : generating electricity while strengthening the resilience and performance of agricultural systems. But between national ambitions, expectations of the agricultural sector and on‑the‑ground realities, where does the sector actually stand ? What concrete progress has been made ? What challenges persist ? What barriers still hinder the deployment of useful, accepted projects ?
Experience‑sharing format
First projects developed : practical assessment of benefits for agriculture.
Invited speakers :
- Developer (sponsor) + agricultural partner
- Developer (sponsor) + agricultural partner
- Amaury de SAINT‑QUENTIN, Prefect of the Grand Est region, Prefect of the Eastern Defence and Security Zone, Prefect of Bas‑Rhin
- Sebastien WINDSOR, President, Chambers of Agriculture of France
Sequence 3 – Rethinking the European PV Industry
16:00 – 16:20 : Joint session
Critical materials, circularity, sovereignty : the other solar revolution
Solar PV has become one of the key technologies of the energy transition, but its spectacular rise relies on a largely invisible reality : the availability of materials and critical metals in every panel, inverter and cable. Silicon, silver, copper, aluminium, rare earth elements for some technologies — all of these resources, and the tensions and prices affecting them, shape the sector’s trajectory.
Speakers (joint session) :
- Nicolas DEFRENNE, CEO, SOREN (PV recycling organization)
- Damien GOETZ, Researcher in Geosciences & Professor responsible for the Soil & Sub‑surface program, Mines Paris‑Tech
16:20 – 18:00 : Roundtable #3
A strategic reindustrialization : what Europe decides and what France chooses
In the wake of the Net‑Zero Industry Act, the Industrial Act Agenda (IAA) and Europe’s new investment instruments, reindustrialization is becoming a core axis of EU economic and climate strategy. “Made in Europe,” technological sovereignty, carbon‑content requirements and securing value chains are becoming essential priorities given continued strong dependence on Asia.
How can financing and volume commitments be directed toward European factories, from existing industries to gigafactories ? What regulatory and commercial levers can make this reindustrialization effective and competitive ? What does Europe decide, what does France choose, and with which industrial tools ?
Opening message :
Stéphane SEJOURNE, Executive Vice‑President for Prosperity & Industrial Strategy (video message)
Invited speakers :
- Walburga HEMETSBERGER, CEO, SolarPower Europe
- Christophe GRUDLER, Member of the European Parliament, IAA rapporteur
- Nicolas CHANDELLIER, CEO, Carbon
- Bertrand LECACHEUX, CEO, Holosolis
- Lucas WEISSS, Head of the Industrial solar working group, SER
- Theo BERNHARDT, Member of Parliament, Bas‑Rhin
Conclusion
18:00 – 18:10 : Closing remarks
Jules NYSSEN, President of SER
REGISTRATION - EARLY BIRD PROMO UNTIL APRIL 30, 2026 INCLUSIVE
One day pass
Early bird prices are valid until April 30, 2026 inclusive. After this date, prices will be €200 excluding VAT (€240 including VAT) for SER members and partners and €300 excluding VAT (€360 including VAT) for non-member participants.
Included : lunch, B2B meetings - All payment types
For any question regarding the registration platform or if a translation is needed, please contact contact@ser-evenements.com.
Visitor : download the general conditions of sale CGV (pdf).
Any cancellation must be made in writing (fax, mail or email : contact@ser-evenements.com), at least 14 days before the start of the Conference.
After this period and in accordance with article L 121-21-8 of the Consumer Code, a fixed amount of 100% of the registration fees would remain due.
An official photographer and video team acting on behalf of the 11th Annual Conference on PV Solar Energy will take photographs and videos of this event. By participating in this conference, you authorize the organizer to use the images, which may present participants and speakers, on any communication and promotion medium for the event and without time limit.