French legislation on photovoltaic installations: the complete guide

Solar panels are becoming increasingly popular for generating clean electricity and reducing energy bills. However, in France, installing photovoltaic systems is subject to specific regulations. This informative article provides an overview of the legislation governing the various categories of photovoltaic installations – from small-scale self-consumption by private individuals to industrial solar power stations – and details the regulatory procedures, technical thresholds, tax obligations and other formalities (planning permission, CONSUEL, Enedis connection, sales contracts, etc.) you need to be aware of. Aimed at both the general public and installers, this guide clearly explains the legal obligations at each stage, with practical examples and useful links to official resources.

Categories of photovoltaic installations

In France, the regulatory framework varies depending on the type of solar installation. The main categories are: self-consumption without feed-in (you consume all your production; nothing is fed into the grid), self-consumption with feed-in (you feed the surplus back into the grid and sell it in part or in full), off-grid standalone systems, and so-called ‘industrial’ high-power systems. Each has specific constraints, which we detail below.

Self-consumption without feed-in (zero grid feed-in)

This is where all the solar electricity generated is consumed on-site, without feeding any surplus back into the public grid. Technically, either a device is used to limit the output or store the surplus, or the system is sized to be smaller than the instantaneous demand. This option is suitable for those who simply wish to reduce their electricity bill without engaging in resale.

Administrative procedures: Even without feeding into the grid, you must comply with planning regulations. For panels on your roof, a prior declaration of works (DP) at the town hall is generally required. In non-protected areas, there is an exception for very small ground-mounted installations: if the power does not exceed 3 kWp and the panels are no taller than 1.80 m, no authorisation is required*. However, in a protected area (heritage site, vicinity of a historic monument, etc.), a DP is required regardless of size*. For projects integrated into a new build, remember to include the panels in the building’s planning permission application.

As for the network operator (Enedis), a self-consumption without feed-in agreement (CACSI) must be drawn up to formalise that your installation will not feed any electricity into the grid (Self-consumption without feed-in agreement for an installation ...). This agreement (a simple form) must be completed via the Enedis portal before commissioning. It commits the self-generator to preventing the feed-in of any surplus, generally by means of a configured inverter or a management device*. In practice, Enedis installs a Linky meter capable of distinguishing between consumption and feed-in, but in this ‘zero feed-in’ mode, the meter should never record any energy fed into the grid.

Consuel and compliance: Good news – small installations for full self-consumption may be exempt from the Consuel certificate under certain conditions. A Consuel inspection is not mandatory if the installation does not exceed 3 kVA of output power (inverter power) and there is no storage battery *◘. Below this threshold, and without feed-in, the connection is deemed not to require a routine Consuel inspection. However, above 3 kVA or if your system includes storage (battery), the electrical installation must be certified by Consuel *◘. In practice, some agencies may request additional supporting documents depending on the connection diagram; refer to the CACSI/Enedis form and local Consuel guidelines. In practical terms: a 2 kW solar kit without feed-in on a house may avoid the need for Consuel certification, whilst a 6 kW installation will require a certificate. If required, use the blue Consuel form for a generation installation without storage, or the purple form if there are batteries *◘ (see the section below on Consuel forms). Note that for installations under 3 kW without feed-in, a simple CACSI declaration to Enedis is sufficient and Consuel certification is not required *◘.

Technical thresholds to be observed: An important point is the maximum power fed into a single phase of the grid. In France, above 6 kVA per phase, the connection must be three-phase (Three-phase solar panels: Is it possible? (Guide 2025)). This means that if your installation exceeds ~6 kW of single-phase inverter power, Enedis will require you to switch to three-phase (or to limit the inverter to 6 kW). However, for self-consumption without feed-in, it is rare to install a capacity significantly higher than 6 kW on a single-phase domestic property, as any surplus would be lost. In practice, the 6 kVA limit often corresponds to your meter’s contracted capacity. You cannot feed in more than your contracted capacity: if you only have a 6 kVA (single-phase) contract and your solar generation momentarily exceeds 6 kW, the connection circuit breaker will trip*. You must therefore size your system carefully or increase your contract capacity/switch to a three-phase connection if necessary.

Tax obligations and financial assistance: If you do not sell any electricity, you have no income to declare to the tax authorities. You simply consume your own energy, which is not taxable. Since¹ October 2025, the supply and installation of photovoltaic systems ≤ 9 kWp may benefit from a single reduced VAT rate of 5.5% if the criteria set out in the decree of 8 September 2025 are met (carbon footprint of the modules ≤ 530_kgCO2e/kWp, maximum metal content: silver < 14 mg/W, lead < 0.1%, cadmium < 0.01%, and the presence of an EMS enabling the control/synchronisation of usage) **. If these criteria are not met, the previous rules apply: 10% (work carried out by a professional in a property over two years old) for ≤ 3 kWp and 20% above that *. Note that without resale, the question of tax exemption does not arise, and it is not possible for a private individual to reclaim VAT on the purchase of the equipment in this case (VAT reclaim requires engaging in a sales activity subject to VAT; see below).

From 1 October 2025, the supply and installation of photovoltaic panels with a capacity of 9 kWp or less will benefit from a single reduced rate of 5.5%, replacing the previous rates of 10% and 20%.
⚠️ Please note: the application of this reduced rate will be subject to specific environmental and technical conditions, which must be confirmed by a forthcoming ministerial decree.

Practical example – total self-consumption 3 kWp: Mr Durand has 8 panels (3 kWp) installed on his roof, solely for self-consumption. He submits a prior declaration to the town hall (mandatory for installing panels on a roof) and signs a CACSI agreement with Enedis confirming zero feed-in*. His installer configures the inverter so that no surplus is fed into the grid. As the installation is 3 kW, a Consuel certificate is not required in his case *◘. If the installation meets the criteria of the decree of 08/09/2025 (compliant modules + EMS), Mr Durand benefits from a VAT rate of 5.5% on supply and installation. Otherwise, he will remain under the previous regime (10% ≤ 3 kWp). He has no further steps to take after commissioning: all the solar energy powers his home directly, and his Linky meter should never show any feed-in. In months where his production exceeds his instantaneous consumption, the surplus energy is simply lost (his inverter automatically reduces the power output). But most of the time, Mr Durand uses it all, and he sees his electricity bill go down.

Self-consumption with feed-in (sale of surplus or total sale)

Here, your system feeds all or part of its output onto the public grid. There are two distinct scenarios: surplus sales (you prioritise self-consumption and sell only the surplus) and total sales (all output is fed into the grid and sold; you do not consume any of it directly). The legal framework for these two scenarios is similar, with a few minor differences, as in both cases you become a grid-connected electricity producer.

Connection procedures and contracts: Unlike zero-injection, you will here need to arrange a connection with feed-in through Enedis. The first step is to submit an online application for a generation connection – preferably via Enedis’s online connection account *•. Enedis will process your application and ask you to sign a connection, access and operation agreement, often referred to as a CRAE*. This contract with Enedis authorises you to feed up to a specified power level* into the grid. Once the installation is complete, you will need to obtain the Consuel certificate (certificate of electrical compliance) and send it to Enedis*. Enedis will then commission the connection, usually by programming or activating your Linky meter in generation mode. The Linky smart meter is calibrated to measure separately the energy drawn from the grid and the energy fed into it *○.

At the same time, to monetise the electricity fed into the grid, you will need to sign a purchase agreement. In most cases for small installations, the Obligation to Purchase (OA) mechanism is used with EDF OA, an EDF subsidiary responsible for purchasing solar generation at a regulated tariff ****. This OA contract sets a guaranteed purchase tariff for 20 years*○, defined by ministerial decree. Tariffs and bonus amounts are updated quarterly. Following the adjustments published in March 2025, as a guide for new installations: for surplus sales, the regulated tariff is around €40/MWh (~€0.04/kWh) and the self-consumption bonus for capacities ≤ 9 kWp is approximately €80/kWp (paid over 5 years) *○. For full-scale sales, the rates depend on the capacity (≤ 3, ≤ 9, ≤ 36 kWp, etc.) and are updated by ministerial decree; it is recommended to consult Photovoltaique.info for the current rates. (The previous figures cited as examples for early 2025, ~€0.10/kWh and ~€390/kWp, are no longer applicable to new applications.)

Upon commissioning, you will therefore have three key documents: the approved Consuel certificate, the CRAE agreement signed with Enedis, and the sales contract signed with EDF OA (or another approved buyer) **. Enedis will inform the buyer of the commissioning so that the feed-in tariff contract can commence **. Note that it is not compulsory to sell to EDF OA: there are other energy buyers (Enercoop, TotalEnergies, etc.), but EDF OA is the most common under the regulated tariff.

Planning and location: The planning regulations for installing panels are the same as those discussed previously. For rooftop installations, a prior declaration is required in most cases *. For ground-mounted installations intended for resale, small-scale systems present a special case: recent tariff decrees stipulate that the sale of surplus energy must relate to installations on buildings (rooftops) and not on the ground. Indeed, the sale of surplus energy is only eligible for rooftop installations **. A ground-mounted installation of a few kilowatts will not be eligible for the OA contract for the surplus. However, the sale of all surplus energy from a ground-mounted installation is possible from 9 kWp ** (below this threshold, the sale of all surplus energy from ground-mounted installations is not permitted under the regulated framework). Thus, a private individual wishing to install 6 kW of panels at the bottom of their garden without consuming the electricity themselves would not be able to sell under the standard OA framework, unless they went through a specific tender process (unlikely on this scale). In practice, small-scale installations for sale are almost always on rooftops or building structures. For large roofs (>250 m²) or car park canopies, the simplified planning permission (DP) framework applies regardless of capacity, except in protected areas (see the ‘Industrial’ section below).

Consuel and compliance: Any installation with feed-in requires a mandatory Consuel certificate before Enedis *○ connects the system to the grid. As previously indicated, the blue form (generation without storage) or purple form (with storage) should be used. If the installation is a hybrid system (generation + modified domestic consumption), the installer may need to complete two certificates (a yellow one for the consumption part, and a blue/purple one for the generation part) *○. The Consuel certificate verifies that the inverter complies with standards, that the connection to the distribution board complies with standard NF C15-100, and that the protective devices (disconnectors, surge arresters, etc.) are compliant. This certificate of compliance is essential for the network operator to authorise commissioning *○. Enedis will refuse to commission the generation meter without the signed Consuel certificate.

Technical thresholds: Here too, the 6 kVA per phase threshold is decisive. For inverters exceeding 6 kW, a three-phase connection is required **. This means that to install, for example, 9 kWp for surplus energy sales on a single-phase 6 kVA property, you will either need to upgrade the meter to a 9 kVA three-phase meter or limit the inverter to a maximum of 6 kW fed into the grid **. Many residential installations are limited to 6 kW to remain on a single-phase supply. Furthermore, you must not exceed the power rating of your supply contract for feed-in: you cannot feed in more than the circuit breaker can handle **. If you have a 9 kVA (45 A) contract and a 9 kW inverter, this is fine; but if you have only 6 kVA contracted, a 9 kW inverter would trip the circuit breaker in the event of maximum output. In short, the sizing of the installation, the connection capacity and the single-phase/three-phase configuration must all be considered together.

Other thresholds apply under the regulations: 36 kVA is the maximum power for a system to remain within Enedis’s standard low-voltage category. Above this (between 36 and 250 kVA, then >250 kVA), connection procedures are more complex (often involving connection to the medium-voltage grid). However, for domestic or small commercial installations, the capacity generally remains ≤36 kVA. Furthermore, it is important to be aware of the power brackets for feed-in tariffs: ≤3 kWp, ≤9 kWp, ≤36 kWp, ≤100 kWp, ≤500 kWp, etc., with each bracket having a specific feed-in tariff or conditions (for example, above 100 kWp, a tender process applies instead of a standard tariff). Example: up to 9 kWp on a building, you benefit from the regulated tariff without a tender*☺; between 100 and 500 kWp on a building, a tariff is still available (decree of 6 October 2021) but at a lower rate *☺; above 500 kWp, there is no longer an automatic feed-in tariff; you must apply via a tender process (CRE).

Tax obligations: As soon as energy is resold, even partially, there are tax implications. Fortunately, small-scale generation is exempt from income tax under certain conditions. Article 35 ter of the CGI exempts income from the sale of photovoltaic electricity if: the installed capacity is ≤ 3 kWp, connected to no more than 2 delivery points, and the activity is not carried out on a commercial basis (BIC – Scope and territoriality - Exemptions - sale by individuals of photovoltaic energy | bofip.impots.gouv.fr). In practice, this covers most private individuals with solar installations up to 3 kWp. Thus, if you sell the surplus from your 3 kWp installation, the income from EDF OA is exempt from tax *○. Please note, this exemption does not exempt you from declaring the income: you must still state the amount on your annual tax return (form 2042 C Pro), even if it is for a line with €0 taxable income **. However, as soon as the system exceeds 3 kWp, the resale income is taxable as industrial and commercial profits (BIC) *○. The simplest option for an individual is the micro-BIC scheme (annual revenue < €77,700) with a flat-rate allowance of 71% on electricity sales revenue. In practical terms, if you receive €500 from EDF OA sales, you will only be taxed on 29% of this amount under the micro-BIC scheme, at your marginal tax rate. Here too, you must complete form 2042 C Pro to declare this income.

As for VAT, the principle is as mentioned above: a rate of 5.5% applies for systems ≤ 9 kWp under certain conditions (decree of 08/09/2025) **; otherwise, 10% applies up to 3 kWp (if installed by a professional in a property over two years old) **, 20% above that (Service-Public News: 5.5% VAT and conditions). However, a private individual with a feed-in tariff contract may opt for micro-enterprise status in order to reclaim VAT on their investment. To do so, they must meet several criteria: installation > 3 kWp, connected to the grid and with a surplus sales contract (no VAT recoverable if no actual sales are made, for example with a virtual battery) **, and the panels must be installed on a building (roof-mounted) **. If these conditions are met, the individual producer can register (for example as a micro-enterprise not subject to the basic exemption) so that the installation is treated as a business activity: they will then charge VAT on the electricity sold to EDF OA (EDF OA is accustomed to this and will pay the amount excluding VAT plus VAT), and will be able to reclaim the VAT paid on the initial installation *. In return, they lose the benefit of the reduced 10% rate on purchase (they will pay 20% and then reclaim it). This approach makes sense for slightly larger installations (e.g. 6 or 9 kWp) in order to reclaim several thousand euros in initial VAT. A word of advice: seek professional guidance or check impots.gouv.fr before choosing this option.

Finally, it is worth noting that solar panels are exempt from property tax when installed on the roof of a building, for both private individuals and businesses**. In other words, adding panels to your home does not increase the taxable assessed rental value. However, for a business, ground-mounted panels may be included in the property tax base (as is the case with ground-mounted power stations) **.

Practical examples – self-consumption with surplus feed-in:

• Sale of surplus (detached house): Mrs Dupont installs 6 kWp of panels on her roof. She consumes the electricity herself during the day and the surplus is fed into the grid. She has submitted a planning application to the town hall and signed a CRAE agreement with Enedis to feed in 6 kW*. Her installer (RGE-certified) has obtained the Consuel certificate (blue form) and Enedis has commissioned the smart meter. Mrs Dupont has signed a contract with EDF OA, which buys back every surplus kWh at the current regulated tariff (updated quarterly). Since 2025, the self-consumption bonus for ≤ 9 kWp has been around €80/kWp, paid over 5 years. As her installation exceeds 3 kWp, the income she receives (a few hundred euros a year) is taxable. However, she has opted for the micro-BIC scheme: for example, for €500 of annual income, only €145 would be added to her taxable income after a 71% allowance. She reports this income on her 2042 C Pro tax return every spring. On the technical side, her 6 kW system operates on single-phase power as this is the acceptable limit; if she were to consider expanding to 9 kW, she would need to switch to three-phase power.

• Total sale (farmer or business): SCEA du Soleil is installing 36 kWp of panels on the roof of its barn to generate additional income. Here, the entire output is fed into the grid: the farm does not use this electricity directly. The manager submitted an Enedis connection application (36 kVA three-phase), obtained Consuel certification and signed an OA contract at the current tariff for ≤ 36 kWp on a building *☺. The 36 kWp will generate approximately 40,000 kWh per year. This income is taxed as part of the farm’s agricultural profit (or, optionally, as separate business income). As the SCEA is subject to VAT, it reclaimed the VAT on the significant initial investment. Administratively, a prior declaration to the local council was sufficient (existing building, non-protected area). The chosen installer was RGE QualiPV, a requirement for benefiting from the regulated feed-in tariff and securing grants*○.

Off-grid systems

We are referring here to systems not connected to the public grid, for example a detached house in a remote location, a mountain cabin with panels and batteries, or simply a system that a user decides to keep off-grid. No energy is exchanged with the grid, neither drawn from nor fed into it – the site is electrically independent.

Regulatory procedures: The main advantage of an off-grid installation isthat there is no connection procedure to manage with Enedis, nor, of course, a power purchase agreement. However, this does not exempt you from local planning regulations: installing panels on the roof of an existing building always requires prior notification to the local council (except for very small ground-mounted installations as seen previously)*. If the site is in a listed area, the requirements of the Bâtiments de France architect also apply. However, from Enedis’s perspective, no agreement is required as there is no connection. Some owners still inform Enedis as a precaution if they retain a meter for other uses, but this is not officially required.

Consuel and safety: For a 100% off-grid installation, a Consuel inspection is not mandatory (Consuel is legally required to authorise a connection to the public grid *♦). However, it is strongly recommended that the installation be carried out by a qualified electrician who will ensure compliance with NF C15-100, particularly to prevent the risk of fire or electrocution. If, in the long term, you plan to connect this installation to the grid, it will then need to be certified by Consuel at that time. It should be noted that if an off-grid system is combined with a backup supply from the grid (mixed use), the situation becomes complicated: technically, any feed-back into the grid must be strictly avoided (anti-islanding provision). If in doubt, it is best to declare this type of hybrid installation and install an approved source inverter. To summarise, for a purely off-grid site, no Consuel certification or Enedis approval is required, but the self-generator bears full responsibility for the safety of their installation.

Tax aspects: These installations do not generate any income, so no tax or VAT is payable. The investment is subject to 20% VAT if you purchase the equipment yourself. If it is a main residence that is more than two years old and you use a professional, you may be eligible for 10% VAT up to 3 kWp (this point remains to be confirmed as the text mentions ‘connected to the grid’ for the reduced VAT rate**, which would, in principle, exclude off-grid systems). In the absence of resale, the 10% VAT rate is sometimes refused for purely off-grid systems, so you should check with the installer and the tax authorities. As for grants such as the self-consumption bonus, these do not apply here as there is no surplus contract.

Example – isolated chalet: An off-grid mountain refuge is fitted with 10 kWp of panels and high-capacity batteries. The owner has submitted a planning application to the local council (site not protected, >3 kWp so planning permission required). No agreement has been signed with Enedis, as the installation is not connected to the public grid. The system supplies the chalet entirely independently. Consuel was not formally consulted, but the installer followed the applicable standards. As the refuge generates no revenue from selling surplus energy, there are no tax implications (apart from VAT on the purchase of the equipment). This scenario remains rare and mainly concerns sites far from the grid, but it shows that safety requirements (electrical standards) remain generally applicable even off-grid.

Industrial and high-power installations

This category includes high-power photovoltaic power stations: large solar rooftops on warehouses or commercial buildings, ground-mounted solar farms, large-scale car park canopies, etc. These projects, often exceeding 100 kWp or even reaching MW scale, are generally undertaken by companies, local authorities or professional operators. The legislation here combines the aspects discussed previously (connection, OA contract or tenders, taxation of a commercial activity) with additional obligations due to the size of the project.

Planning and impact assessments: Large-scale installations must comply with current planning regulations and, where applicable, environmental regulations. For ground-mounted plants, the procedure depends on the capacity and height. According to the Planning Code, a ground-mounted plant with a capacity of ≥ 3 MW requires a planning permission *. Below 3 MW, a prior declaration is generally sufficient (barring local exceptions) *. Of course, as the areas involved are substantial, a prior declaration application includes a mass study, landscape integration assessment, etc., and the local council may require a planning permission even for a lower capacity if the footprint is considerable. In protected areas, any installation of ≥ 3 kWp requires a planning permission *, which means that even a 100 kWp solar farm within the boundaries of a listed building will need to obtain planning permission with the approval of the ABF.

From an environmental perspective, following a 2022 decree, photovoltaic projects benefit from a higher threshold for impact assessments. Today, a ground-mounted installation ≤ 300 kWp is exempt from a preliminary environmental assessment *♣. Between 300 kWp and 1 MWp, an environmental impact assessment may be required on a case-by-case basis (decision of the environmental authority) *♣. Above 1 MWp (1000 kWp), a full and systematic impact assessment is mandatory (along with a public inquiry)*♣. These thresholds apply only to ground-mounted installations: rooftop or shade-structure-mounted plants are exempt from environmental assessment regardless of their capacity *♣, which greatly facilitates projects on large buildings. In summary, a 5 MW solar farm will require a planning permission and a detailed impact assessment, whereas a 5 MW rooftop installation on a warehouse requires ‘only’ a prior declaration (and no formal impact assessment, apart from the building’s structural assessment, of course).

Grid connection: Industrial installations often exceed the capacity of the standard low-voltage grid. Enedis generally requires a medium-voltage (MV) connection for connection capacities exceeding 250 kVA. This involves installing a step-up transformer (often a prefabricated substation) to feed into the 20 kV grid. The project owner must finance the delivery substation and any necessary grid extension works (medium-voltage line to the site). Connection lead times are longer than for a small installation: several months of studies and works must be allowed for. Enedis issues a specific Connection Proposal with a budget and a schedule, valid for a few months *•. The contract signed with Enedis will be a Grid Access and Operation Contract (often still referred to as a CRAE) covering protection, maintenance, etc. For large projects, an agreement to be linked to a Balance Responsible Party is also required if the electricity is not sold under the OA scheme (for example, if sold directly on the market) *•. However, most power stations up to 500 kWp still use the OA (total sale) framework with EDF OA, which exempts them from managing the grid balance themselves*•.

Consuel and safety: Unsurprisingly, all such installations must obtain Consuel certification prior to commissioning, just like any other generation installation *♦. The documentation required for Consuel is more extensive: single-line diagrams, calculation notes, etc., via the SC 144 technical file to be attached to the blue/purple certificates (Technical Files - CONSUEL). The installer must be competent and certified for this type of work. Safety standards (NF C15-100 and NF C13-100 for high-voltage systems) are strict. For example, decoupling protection devices (such as ‘59-minute’ surge protection relays, etc.) are required, which must be verified during the Consuel inspection and by Enedis during site acceptance testing. Enedis will also check, during commissioning, that the decoupling and protection devices for the installation are functioning correctly*•.

Power purchase agreement: For capacities ≤ 500 kWp on buildings, the producer may still opt for the EDF OA contract with a regulated tariff (in accordance with the decree of 6 October 2021) (What are the photovoltaic regulations for 100 to 500 kWp?). For example, a 200 kWp plant on a factory roof can sell at ~€0.10/kWh over 20 years without going through a tender process. However, large-scale ground-mounted plants do not fall within this framework: typically, >500 kWp ground-mounted = obligation to participate in national tenders (CRE) to secure a tariff, or to sell directly on the market via a private power purchase agreement (PPA) if subsidies are waived. Tenders introduce further obligations (specifications, financial guarantees, etc.) which are beyond the scope of this article. For intermediate capacities (e.g. 1 MW on-rooftop), one often finds oneself straddling two worlds, and the project developer will choose either to split the project into 500 kW units to take advantage of the open window, or to compete in the CRE for the entire project. It should be noted that since 2023, OA purchase contracts (and grants) require the installer who carried out the installation to be RGE-certified (Reconnu Garant de l’Environnement) ****. For large power stations, this is generally a given as reputable installers are qualified, but it has become a formal requirement for receiving grants.

Requirements for professionals and qualifications: High-power installations must be carried out by qualified companies. In France, the RGE QualiPV label is essential for installers wishing to enable their customers to benefit from feed-in tariffs and public grants (QualiPV | Qualit'EnR). There are several levels of QualiPV qualification: for example, QualiPV 36 (for installations up to 36 kVA) and QualiPV 500 (up to 500 kVA) (QualiPV | Qualit'EnR). A company installing a 300 kWp system must hold QualiPV 500 certification to be recognised as RGE for that project. This guarantees their competence in both the electrical aspects and building integration where necessary. Furthermore, professionals must comply with best practice and standards (NF C15-100, UTE C 15-712-1 guide for photovoltaics, etc.). At industrial sites, additional constraints may apply: for example, in premises open to the public, compliance with fire safety regulations must be verified (fire-rated materials, emergency shut-off devices accessible to firefighters, etc.). Similarly, in ABF zones (listed buildings or conservation areas), a professional must propose visual integration solutions (such as solar tiles or a discreet rooftop installation) to obtain approval from the Architects of Buildings of France.

Example – 100 kWp ground-mounted solar farm: Let’s imagine a 100 kWp project (around 250 panels) on agricultural land. The operator submits a preliminary declaration to the local council (capacity <3 MW, height <1.80 m, so a preliminary declaration is sufficient) *. As the land is not in a protected area, the council approves the project. In terms of the environment, 100 kWp = ~0.5 ha of ground area: since 2022, no regulatory impact assessment is required as it is ≤ 300 kWp *♣. The developer commissions a soil survey and a solar yield study, then signs a connection agreement with Enedis for a 100 kVA 400 V three-phase substation. Here, 100 kWp is still connected to the local low-voltage grid at 400 V three-phase (Enedis will verify that the local transformer can handle the feed-in). The installation is ground-mounted (fixed structures) and fully fenced. Once work is complete, Consuel inspects and certifies the installation (blue form, generation without storage). Enedis installs a meter and connects the solar farm to the grid. The project developer has opted for a full-sale OA contract at ~€0.10/kWh (100 kWp tariff for building-mounted systems; however, as a ground-mounted project, this may only be eligible for a lower tariff or a tender process – but let us assume it falls into the <500 kWp category under the 2021 decree). For 20 years, the output (~110,000 kWh/year) will be sold, generating an income of around €11,000 per year. The farmer declares this income as business income (BIC) or within their agricultural profit and loss account. They have reclaimed VAT on the significant initial investment. This project required the involvement of a QualiPV-certified installer, qualified for ground-mounted installation and connection. During operation, the producer must carry out maintenance (electrical checks, cleaning, etc.) and remains responsible to Enedis for compliance with connection conditions (feeding into the grid within agreed limits, maintaining active protection systems).

Example – large industrial roof, 1 MWp: A logistics company covers 1 hectare of warehouse roof with 1 MWp of panels. The installer handles the prior declaration to the local council (existing roof, sufficient building permit). No impact assessment required (roof-mounted installation exempt from environmental assessment)*♣. Enedis plans a connection to the 20 kV medium-voltage grid, with a dedicated delivery substation on-site. Consuel certification is obtained following a rigorous inspection. The company has the choice between selling via the feed-in tariff (but >500 kWp is normally ineligible, unless a multi-installation exemption applies) or via a CRE tender. Let us assume it has won a tender: it will sign a sales contract with EDF OA but at the tariff proposed in the tender (approximately €0.06–0.08/kWh according to current offers). Here too, 20 years of secure income. The electricity fed into the grid (via the 20 kV line) supplies thousands of nearby households. The project, managed by RGE-certified professionals, complies with standards and involved an ABF inspection as the warehouse is within sight of a listed building (panels were ultimately installed set back to limit visibility). This type of power plant must also be declared to the warehouse’s insurer, as the value and risks change (weight on the roof, electrical risk).

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*(Is planning permission required to install panels ...)

** (Decree of 8 September 2025 (VAT 5.5% ≤ 9 kWp: criteria))
*◘(Consuel certification for solar panels? The 2025 guide - Sunethic)
*○(Installing solar panels: you’re entitled to financial assistance! | Ministry of the Economy)
*♦Consuel electrical: the electrical compliance certificate
*•(Enedis Residential | Connection for Photovoltaic Electricity Generation)
*♣ (Changes to criteria for the environmental assessment of solar projects – pv magazine France)
*☺(Photovoltaic feed-in tariffs: rates for 2025 - Hello Watt)