French solar group SunLib has secured €25m in growth capital from Épopée Gestion as the two groups form a strategic partnership to accelerate the roll-out of subscription-based photovoltaic installations across France.
The funding is intended to support SunLib’s expansion in the emerging market for solar self-consumption subscriptions, a model designed to remove the upfront cost and administrative complexity that have slowed adoption of rooftop solar. The company aims to equip 100,000 customers by 2030, targeting households, businesses and local authorities.
Rather than purchasing solar panels outright, SunLib customers pay a monthly subscription covering installation, maintenance and performance guarantees. The approach avoids large capital outlays or additional borrowing, while allowing subscribers to generate and consume renewable electricity, reduce energy bills and cut carbon emissions.
SunLib, which operates nationwide, works through a network of more than 300 independent, locally based installers certified under France’s RGE and QualiPV standards. The company says this partnership-led model combines local expertise with scale, helping to anchor the energy transition within regional economies.
The investment comes as France faces a significant gap in household solar adoption. Only around 2.5 per cent of French homes are equipped with photovoltaic systems, compared with roughly 15 per cent in Germany. Public support for solar power, however, is high, with 86 per cent of respondents in a recent survey by Ifop expressing approval for its development.
SunLib’s rapid growth has increased its financing needs, as the company retains ownership of installed equipment. The capital provided by Épopée Gestion will fund thousands of new installations from 2026 onwards, while supporting demand for local installation services.
For Épopée Gestion, which invests through its infrastructure and climate-focused funds, the partnership reflects a strategy of backing decentralised, low-carbon solutions with measurable local impact. The firm says SunLib’s model aligns with a 1.6°C climate trajectory and meets stringent environmental sustainability criteria.
Arnaud Langlois, SunLib’s president and co-founder, said subscription-based solar offered a route to mass adoption without reliance on state subsidies. Emmanuel Walliser, head of infrastructure at Épopée Gestion, described SunLib as “democratising access to affordable, local and carbon-free electricity”, adding that the two companies were already exploring additional services to complement the core solar offering.
Together, the partners argue, the model could help turn solar self-consumption into a mainstream feature of France’s energy system.
