Photovoltaic Call for Expressions of Interest (EOI)

What is a call for expressions of interest? (EOI)

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In France, EOIs are sometimes also referred to as CEIs (Calls for Expressions of Interest).

EOIs generally occur before public tenders. They are published by public (and private) buyers who need advice on drafting future tenders. Essentially, EOIs are a preliminary step allowing public procurement actors to gauge the market and identify interested companies for pre-selection. Companies wishing to participate in a project will express their interest by responding to the EOI.

The definition is as follows: "An EOI is an unofficial procedure not provided for by the public procurement code, allowing a public entity to solicit private initiative to promote projects of interest, even if the need is not fully defined." (Regional Audit Chamber of Corsica)

In the photovoltaic sector, an EOI often involves a community soliciting interest from renewable energy developers and selecting the most satisfactory proposal for the installation of photovoltaic systems (for public interest) and granting the right to occupy public land for the project.

These EOIs for Public Domain Occupation represent major business opportunities, as they ultimately allow a public buyer to select a partner for the construction, operation, and maintenance of photovoltaic installations (carports, rooftops, ground stations, etc.).

Many municipalities and communities, under the energy transition law, are implementing actions to develop renewable energy production by private operators on public land. Thus, published EOIs involve granting temporary occupation permits (AOT) for the rental of public land of the city, municipality, or community. Companies expressing interest must propose a project covering the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the photovoltaic production plant and also ensure its financing.

Before examining recent regulatory evolutions, it is important to note that the strategic importance of EOIs has significantly increased over the past few years.

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The Growing Role of CEIs Under the APER Law and Renewable Energy Acceleration Zones

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Since 2023–2024, the use of Calls for Expressions of Interest (CEIs) has accelerated significantly, driven by the APER law, the creation of Renewable Energy Acceleration Zones (ZAEnR), and the growing need for local authorities to secure renewable energy projects quickly. For many municipalities, a CEI has now become the most flexible method to assess the potential of a public site (parking lots, schools, business areas, brownfields, municipal buildings) and to compare proposals from developers before launching a more formal procurement procedure.

This preliminary step also allows authorities to assess:

• the technical feasibility of the proposed installations (solar carports, rooftop PV, agrivoltaics, ground-mounted plants),
• the economic relevance of the business models,
• the developer’s capacity to finance and operate the project,
• and the environmental compliance with new regulatory requirements.

To better understand how to identify early-stage projects that may later give rise to a CEI, you can read our dedicated article: How to identify renewable energy projects in France.

If you would like to explore how Renewable Energy Acceleration Zones (ZAEnR) shape the development of future solar projects, we also invite you to consult our article on this topic.

Finally, to place CEIs within the broader context of France’s rapidly evolving renewable energy strategy, you can discover our article examining how local authorities are accelerating the deployment of renewable energy across their territories.

Conclusion

Overall, EOIs have become a key mechanism for structuring photovoltaic projects in France, helping local authorities accelerate renewable energy deployment while offering developers early access to high-potential opportunities.

Deepbloo helps you find your calls for expressions of interest and tenders in just a few clicks, and alerts you daily to offers that match your business. Find out more about our offers.

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Read the article on Solar shade call for expressions of interest

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