Photovoltaic panels can be settled:

• On buildings (notably on the roof)
• On the ground
• On shadows (for example as part of theobligation to settle on parking areas).

You must consult your town hall at all stages of the project, including identifying potential city planning constraints (linked to the local town plan or close to registered or classified sites for example).

To know where to place the photovoltaic panels, it may be useful to have a solar photovoltaic study by a specialist company as a professional labeled “Recognized Guarantor of the Environment” (RGE):

Search for a company with the quality "Recognized Guarantor of the Environment"

The Renewable Energy Mapping Portal is also available to view the solar potential at the location of the proposed establishment:

Renewable Energy Mapping Portal

One photovoltaic plant is composed of the following:

• Photovoltaic modules (panels)
• Wiring (cables, connectors)
• Photovoltaic inverters (allow the efficient and safe conversion of the electricity produced to the electricity grid).

The installation may be completed by batteries for storing and returning the surplus electricity produced and by other structures laid when the installation is connected to the grid by Enedis.

A photovoltaic installation project is to be carried out with different actors. A distinction is made between:

• The proprietor site or roof
• L'operator, which manages the installation during its lifetime on the technical (production monitoring, maintenance coordination, etc.), financial and administrative (insurance, guarantee, purchase contract, etc.) aspects.
• L'installer, which performs the installation. In a simple project, he also carries out the design, the administrative procedures and it is advisable that he carries out the maintenance.
• The insurance : the company producing the electricity must have a liability insurance for electricity production.
• The maintainer, which carries out the maintenance operations of the installation, at the operator's command. This may be the company that carried out the installation.

Larger projects may require the involvement of other actors: consultancies, financial partners, etc.

Learn more about selecting partners for his photovoltaic project

PV Resource Center (photovoltaique.info)

Pour en savoir plus

Planning Authorization

The 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.

The type of application which needs to be filed differs depending on the type of project:

• Projects for theumbriers photovoltaics or solar panels on the ground may be the subject of different types of applications for city planning authorization (absence of formalities, Advance Work Statement (AD) or building permit). One dedicated form specifies the type of application to be filed depending on the proposed installation.
• In the case of installations on roofs of existing buildings, it is generally necessary to deposit a Advance Work Statement (AD). For new buildings, the application is attached to the building permit.

In the classified sites or pending filing, the remarkable heritage sites and to historic landmarks, the application for city planning authorization may differ.

It is important to consult his town hall for more information and to apply for a city planning authorization:

Depending on the location of the application, the file must be filed:

• Or by dematerialized means according to the arrangements made by the municipality of the project (you have to find out on the site of the town hall or on the spot)
• Either by letter RAR: titleContent
• Be in your own hand.

Other requests

Depending on the type of project, and in particular if it is a ground-based photovoltaic installation, it may be necessary to make other requests:

• Clearance Authorization, if the land on which the photovoltaic panels are to be settled had a destination forest worker
• Derogation for protected species, where the installation affects protected species (fauna and flora) or their habitat.

It is possible to contact the environment directorate at the prefecture for more information:

Photovoltaic panels can be connected to the public electricity distribution network or else only supply the building directly (self-consumption).

Connection to the network is generally recommended because it allows sale of electricity produced by the installation which is not directly consumed by the producer. If there is no connection, the surplus is lost (unless the operator has a storage solution). This sale also allows for the amortization of investments related to the photovoltaic installation.

The request for connection requires the preparation of a file including, in particular, the following documents:

• Cadastral map
• Ground plane
• City planning Authorization
• Power balance of the photovoltaic installation (assessment of the amount of electrical energy produced by the installation over a given period).

Request connection to the public electricity distribution network

At the time of the connection request, the decision to sell the electricity produced by the installation to the electricity distributors (EDF, etc.) may be indicated to Enedis.

Below the threshold of 500 kWc (peak power), on electricity distributor is obliged to buy back the electricity produced by the installation at a tariff fixed by a tariff order.

More details on these rates are available at the following links:

• For power installations less than or equal to 100 kWc
• For power greater than 100 and less than 500 kWc.