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Reform of the 2026 remuneration supplement: what are the impacts for renewable energy producers?
As of May 1, 2026, a major regulatory change will change the way in which the Remuneration supplement (CR) in France. This reform is in line with recent changes in the electricity markets, in particular those detailed in our analysis of evolutions of October 1, 2025.
It intervenes in a context of profound transformation of the electrical system, marked by the rise in power of renewable energies. The objective is clear: to adapt remuneration mechanisms and the rules for managing installations to a market that has become at once more dynamic, more volatile and more restrictive.
For producers, the impacts are concrete: evolution of calculation methods, new rules in the event of negative prices and strengthening the management of installations.
Why this reform of the wage supplement in 2026 ?
The rapid development of solar and wind power has profoundly changed the balance of the electrical system.
Unlike traditional means of production, renewable energies are dependent on weather conditions. This variability leads to situations of imbalance between supply and demand, especially during periods of high production.
These imbalances can generate tensions on the network, or even episodes of negative prices on the electricity markets. In this context, a Order dated April 16, 2026, taken pursuant to article 184 of the 2026 Finance Act, has been published. It aims to better align production with the needs of the electrical system and to limit its effects.
Objectives of the reform of the wage supplement
The reform has three main objectives:
- Strengthen the stability of the electrical network by limiting sudden variations in production.
- Improve the integration of renewable energies into the system, by adapting the rules to their variable nature.
- Make producers' remuneration more accurate and more representative of real market conditions.
What changes for producers on May 1, 2026?
1. Transition to the 15 minute time step
The main change concerns the calculation of Remuneration supplement.
Since October 1, 2025, the electricity market has already been operating with a time interval of 15 minutes.
The reform of May 1, 2026 does not change this framework, but adapts the methods of calculating and paying the remuneration supplement to this new granularity.
In concrete terms, this means that the rules become fully consistent with a finer and more responsive market, where every quarter of an hour counts in the valorization of the electricity produced.
2. Setting up a division into groups
The installations will now be divided into two distinct groups (A and B).
This mechanism aims to organize and schedule the shutdowns and restarts of installations during periods of tension on the network.
By preventing all production units from reacting simultaneously, this distribution makes it possible to limit sudden variations in production and to secure the operation of the electrical system.
How do you know what group a producer is in?
Membership in a group (A or B) is determined from the postal code of the production plant (the one appearing on your registration certificate in the National Business Register, associated with the site's SIRET).
The method is simple:
- identify the postal code of the production site (example: 31400)
- add up all the numbers (3 + 1 + 4 + 0 + 0 = 8)
- if the result is even, the installation belongs to group A
- If the result is odd, it belongs to group B
This method of calculation allows automatic distribution, stable over time and easily verifiable by producers.
Which producers are affected by the reform?
The reform applies to all installations benefiting from a contract in additional remuneration.
This concerns in particular renewable energy producers from renewable sources such as photovoltaic, wind, hydraulic and biomass.
The reform of the wage supplement, opportunities or constraints?
The reform allows:
- Better valorization of the electricity produced. The transition to a shorter period of time makes remuneration more faithful to market conditions.
- New optimization possibilities. In some cases, it may be more appropriate to adapt your production, or even to reduce it, to maximize your income.
- A more strategic approach to production, where performance is based as much on management as on the volume produced.
In return, the reform introduces:
- Greater income volatility, linked to increased sensitivity to price changes.
- Greater regulatory complexity, with new rules to master.
- Stronger management constraints, in particular in connection with their belonging to a group.
Concrete example
Take the case of a 10 MW wind power producer during an episode of negative market prices.
Over a period of 30 minutes, the electricity price drops to -€20/MWh.
Scenario 1: Strategy not optimized
The producer stops production completely for the duration.
Result:
- loss of valuable production
- remuneration limited to the associated bonus
Scenario 2: Optimized strategy
Thanks to a good understanding of the rules:
- the producer finely adapts his production
- It takes advantage of the new conditions for payment of the bonus
- He adjusts his stop according to his group (A or B)
Result:
- partial maintenance of production
- optimization of the premium received
- improving overall income
- compliance with regulations
On this type of sequence, the difference can reach several hundred euros in just 30 minutes.
Over the course of a year, with the multiplication of negative price episodes, this can represent several thousand euros in revenue difference for the same installation.
Faced with this regulatory evolution, supporting producers is becoming a central issue.
At Bohr Energie, this reform was anticipated and integrated into operational tools and processes.
The management systems are already adapted to the 15-minute time step, allowing precise monitoring and reliable invoicing. The expertise of the teams also makes it possible to optimize the management of periods of negative prices and to adapt production strategies.
Beyond tools, we play a key role in managing installations and coordinating with network requirements. The objective is to guarantee optimal performance while ensuring regulatory compliance.
For producers, this means comprehensive support, which allows them to adapt to these developments without operational complexity.
In this context, support from specialized players appears to be an essential lever for transforming this regulatory evolution into a competitive advantage.
Do you need support in the face of the reform of the wage supplement?
Are you a producer and want to anticipate the impacts of the reform of May 1, 2026 on your business?
Our teams support you at every stage:
- personalized analysis of your situation
- optimizing your production strategy
- comprehensive management of regulatory changes