The French government Monday announced a series of "emergency measures" designed to boost solar projects and add 1,000 megawatts of power production capacities this year.

Following the Fukushima disaster in Japan in 2011, the government is seeking to lower the share of nuclear in France 's energy mix to 50% from around 80% currently and to boost renewable sources capacities. The announcement comes after the French solar industry suffered heavily over the past two years due to intense competition from Chinese solar panel makers and the decrease of subsidies for solar production.

The environment and energy ministry said in a statement that the measures--tender offers, specific regulations, new carbon emission standards--should generate more than 2 billion euros ($2.6 billion) of investments at a cost to the public of EUR90 million to EUR170 million a year, representing around EUR1 to EUR2 per household on average.

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