Installation of a domestic or agricultural wind turbine
Verified 14 May 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
A wind turbine (or wind generator) is a mechanical device for converting wind energy into electricity. A domestic or agricultural wind turbine is called small wind turbine. You want to settle a small wind turbine? You want to know where it is possible to implement it, what authorizations to obtain and how to finance it? We explain the process to follow.
The general building rules apply to the installation of a wind turbine less than 50 m except as specifically provided in the MORE: titleContent.
They are tailored to the needs of individuals, farmers, companies and public buildings.
Step-by-step approach
To know where to place your wind turbine, it can be useful to have a wind study carried out by a specialized company.
You can also consult the mapping of areas favorable to wind energy development with the regional prefecture.
You must respect a distance in relation to the separative boundary from the neighborhood. This distance must be equal to the half the height of the wind turbine, with minimum of 3 meters.
Example :
A wind turbine 30 meters high, including blades, shall be 15 meters away from the parcel boundary of the land on which it is settled.
The installation of a domestic wind turbine may be prohibited in the following areas:
- Protected areas (national parks and nature reserves)
- Military areas
- Areas bounded by the local city planning plan (PLU)
- Protected areas that surround (within a 500-meter radius) buildings or sites classified or listed as historic monuments
It is necessary to contact the City Hall for any further information.
Who shall I contact
City planning Authorization
The city planning authorization to be applied for differs depending on the height from your domestic wind turbine.
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Wind turbine less than 12 meters
The height of the mast of a wind turbine corresponds to the distance between the ground and the top of the nacelle.
A wind turbine of less than 12 meters (mast + nacelle) can be installed without prior authorization or building permit.
Your project must comply with all rules relating to land use, location, destination, nature, architecture, dimensions, the improvement of buildings and the development of their surroundings.
You should check with your local council.
Who shall I contact
The owner of a domestic wind turbine who does not comply with city planning regulations is liable to a fine of at least €1,200.
However, in classified or pending sites, remarkable heritage sites and around historical monuments, you must file a Advance Work Statement (AD).
Depending on whether you are in Paris or another municipality, you must file your application:
- By dematerialized according to the arrangements made by your municipality (inquire on the site of the town hall or on the spot)
- By letter RAR: titleContent
- In your own hand
General case
Your prior declaration of work can be made via the Internet or on a form.
Via the Internet
You should ask your city council or its website for information on how to send your file to it via the internet.
Support for your city planning authorization request
When you send your request by hand or by post, the City Hall will issue you a receipt.
When you submit your application electronically, the receipt shall consist of the electronic acknowledgement of receipt.
The receipt contains the registration number of your file and the information allowing you to know the date from which the work can start.
He states that, within 1 month of the filing of the file, the City Hall can notify a different time frame to start your work. She also has 1 month to notify you if your file is incomplete.
Form
Your request for an advance work declaration can also be made on the following form:
In Paris
You must submit your file to the BASU: titleContent by dematerialized means only:
Office Accueil et Service à l'Usager (BASU) de Paris: one-stop-shop
Wind turbine from 12 meters
The height of the mast of a wind turbine corresponds to the distance between the ground and the top of the nacelle.
The installation of a wind turbine between 12 and 50 meters is subject to the delivery of a building permit.
Your project must comply with the rules concerning land use, location, destination, nature, architecture, dimensions, the improvement of buildings and the development of their surroundings.
You should check with your local council.
Who shall I contact
The owner of a domestic wind turbine who does not comply with city planning regulations is liable to a fine of at least €1,200.
You must submit an application for a building permit in 4 copies to the City Hall.
Depending on whether you are in Paris or another municipality, you must file your application:
- By dematerialized according to the arrangements made by your municipality (inquire on the site of the town hall or on the spot)
- By letter RAR: titleContent
- In your own hand
General case
Your application for a building permit can be made on the Internet or on a form.
Via the Internet
You should ask your city council or its website for information on how to send your file to it via the internet.
Support for your city planning authorization request
When you send your request by hand or by post, the City Hall will issue you a receipt.
When you submit your application electronically, the receipt shall consist of the electronic acknowledgement of receipt.
The receipt contains the registration number of your file and the information allowing you to know the date from which the work can start.
He states that, within 1 month of the filing of the file, the City Hall can notify a different time frame to start your work. She also has 1 month to notify you if your file is incomplete.
Form
Your application for a building permit can also be made on the following form:
Application for a building permit (other than for a detached house or its annexes)
In Paris
You must submit your file to the BASU: titleContent by dematerialized means only:
Office Accueil et Service à l'Usager (BASU) de Paris: one-stop-shop
Please note
Underground pipes, lines or cables intended to connect the wind turbine to the delivery station are exempt from formality.
Declaration or authorization for classified installations
A wind turbine of more than 12 meters in height (mast + nacelle) is considered as a classified installation for the protection of the environment (PCI). It is subject to specific regulations (heading No 2980 of the PCI nomenclature).
For the installation of a wind turbine with a height between 12 meters and 50 meters, the approach varies according to the total power settled:
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Power less than 20 megawatts
You must report for PCI.
Your approach can be done on the Internet:
On-line declaration of a classified installation for the protection of the environment (ICPE)
You can also use the following form:
Initial declaration of an installation classified ICPE (Cerfa n°15271)
Your request must be addressed to the department prefecture.
20 megawatts or more
You need to get a environmental authorization under PCI.
Your request can be made on the Internet:
Apply for an environmental permit
Your request can also be made on a form:
Application for environmental authorization (cerfa n°15964)
Your request should be addressed to the prefecture of department.
FYI
Environmental authorization is a single authorization procedure. It includes the following:
- Authorization to operate a PCI
- Authorization to operate an electricity generating plant
- Clearance Authorization
- Derogation for protected species
It does not require building permits.
Declaration to operate a power generating facility
If the site power is greater than 50 megawatts, entry into service requires a declaration of operation of a power-generating facility.
Your return must include the following information and documents:
- Surname, first name and domicile for a natural person
- Name or business name, legal form, address of the registered office and capacity of the signatory for a legal person
- Note specifying the technical, economic and financial capabilities of the applicant
- Main characteristics of the production plant: production capacity, primary energies, production techniques used, energy yields, operating times (base, semi-base and peak), amount of greenhouse gases emitted by the plant
- Location of the production facility
- Note on the energy efficiency of the installation compared to the best available techniques at an economically acceptable cost
- Intended destination(s) of the electricity produced (e.g. producer's own needs, purchase obligation scheme)
Your statement should be sent to the Office of Electricity Systems and Energy Regulation.
Who shall I contact
Office of Electricity Systems and Energy Regulation
Directorate-General for Energy and Climate
Ministry of Environment, Energy and Sea
Sequoia Tower
95055 La Défense Cedex
Connection request
Domestic wind turbines can be connected to the public electricity distribution network (purchase of the energy produced) or directly supply the building (self-consumption).
To electrify a building not connected to the public grid, the owner of the wind turbine must apply to Enedis for connection to the public electricity distribution network:
Request connection to the public electricity distribution network
Clearance Authorization
If the land on which the wind turbine is to be settled had a destination forestry, you must obtain a clearance to clear land from the Departmental Directorate of Territories (DDT) or the Directorate of Food, Agriculture and Forestry (DAAF) overseas.
Your request can be made on the Internet:
Your request can also be made using the following form:
Derogation for protected species
When the installation of a wind turbine damages protected species (fauna and flora) or their habitat, you must obtain a derogation protected species to the prefecture of department.
This derogation may be granted where three conditions are met:
- No satisfactory alternative solution
- Do not impair the maintenance, in a favorable conservation status, of populations of the species concerned in their natural habitat
- A project which, by its nature and having regard to economic and social interests, satisfies an overriding reason relating to the overriding public interest
Your request can be made using the following forms:
If you settle a domestic wind turbine on a building completed more than 2 years ago, you will benefit from a VAT rate of 10 % for the purchase of the equipment and its installation.
There are financial aid the purchase of a wind turbine, issued in particular by local authorities and theAnah: titleContent.
Once settled, a domestic wind turbine of at least 12 meters shall be subject to mandatory roadworthiness testing.
This technical inspection must be carried out by approved bodies. They issue you an initial certificate of compliance.
Who shall I contact
In the case of amendments relating to:
- settled power,
- or the conditions governing the eligibility of the installation for the support scheme requested, and on which that support and its value depend, if necessary,
- or the counting device,
you must send a request for inspection to a recognized organization. It issues you a new certificate of conformity.
In addition to the checks carried out by the recognized organizations, a wind turbine which is the subject of a purchase or additional remuneration contract may be subject throughout its life to spot checks.
There are two support schemes for renewable electricity: the purchase obligation and the remuneration supplement. They are not cumulative. They allow you to cover the costs of your installation while ensuring normal profitability of your project.
Obligation to purchase
At your request, you can benefit from the purchase obligation, without conditions of location or power limit. Every kilowatt hour injected into the public network is purchased by a purchaser obliged to pay a pre-determined purchase rate.
This is implemented by EDF and local companies if your production facility is connected to the public distribution networks.
The additional cost incurred by these obligated purchasers is passed on to the final customers in proportion to their electricity consumption.
Remuneration supplement
With the compensation supplement, you market your energy directly. A premium compensates for the difference between the income from this sale and a reference level of remuneration set according to the type of installation.
This premium is paid by EDF.
Implementation rules
City planning Permissions
Connection to the public electricity grid
Declaration to operate a power generating facility
Clearance Authorization
Clearance Authorization
Derogation for protected species
Purchase obligation scheme
Compensation top-up scheme
Spot checks and checks in the event of changes
Technical inspection
Online service
Online service
Ministry of the Environment
Ecological Transition Agency (Ademe)
National Housing Agency (Anah)
Ministry of the Environment
Ministry of the Environment
Ministry of the Environment
Ministry of the Environment