Photovoltaic panels can be settled:

• On buildings (especially on the roof)
• On the ground
• On shade boards (for example in the context ofobligation to settle on parking areas).

It is essential to consult its town hall at all stages of the project, in particular to know the potential city planning constraints (linked to the local urban plan or nearby with sites listed or classified 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 recognized environmental guarantor (EGR) or architect

It is also possible to consult the renewable energy mapping portal to visualize the solar potential at the location of the proposed site:

Renewable Energy Mapping Portal

One photovoltaic installation shall consist of the following:

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

The installation can be supplemented by batteries to store and return surplus electricity produced and by other structures installed at the time of connection of the installation to the grid by Enedis.

A photovoltaic installation project must be carried out with different actors. These include:

• The owner of the site or roof
• THEoperator, which manages the installation during its lifetime on the technical (production monitoring, coordination of maintenance, etc.), financial and administrative (insurance, guarantee, purchase contract, etc.).
• THEinstaller, which carries out the installation. In a simple project, he also carries out the design, administrative procedures and it is advisable that he carries out maintenance.
• The insurance : the company producing the electricity must have a insurance against civil liability for the electricity generation activity.
• The maintainer, which carries out the maintenance operations of the installation, at the operator’s request. This may be the company that carried out the installation.

Larger projects may need to involve other actors: design offices, financial partners, etc.

Find out more about the selection of suitable partners for your photovoltaic project

Photovoltaic Resource Center (photovoltaique.info)

Pour en savoir plus

At this stage of the project, it may be interesting to find out about the existing public aid on the platform Ecological transition of companies :

Existing aid available to companies to finance a photovoltaic project

Ecological transition of Companies

Pour en savoir plus

Planning authorization

The project must comply with all rules relating to land use, location, destination, nature, architecture, dimensions, sanitation of buildings and the development of their surroundings.

The type of authorization request which must be submitted differs according to the type of project:

• The projects ofshade boxes photovoltaic or solar panels on the ground may be the subject of different types of city planning authorization applications (absence of formalities, advance declaration of work (RFP) or building permit). One dedicated sheet 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 declaration of work (RFP). For new buildings, the application is attached to the building permit.

In the classified sites or pending classification, the remarkable heritage sites and to surroundings of historical monuments, the request for city planning authorization may be deferred.

It is important to consult his town hall for more information and to file the application for city planning authorization:

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

• Either by dematerialized means according to the arrangements made by the municipality of the project (it is necessary to inquire on the site of the town hall or on the spot)
• Either by letter RAR: titleContent
• Either by 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:

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

It is possible to contact the Directorate in charge of the environment at the prefecture to find out more:

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

Connecting to the network is generally recommended because it allows sale of electricity produced by the installation that is not directly consumed by the producer. In the absence of a connection, the surplus is lost (unless the operator has a storage solution). This sale also makes it possible to amortize the investments related to the photovoltaic installation.

The connection request requires the preparation of a file including the following documents:

• Cadastral Plan
• Ground plane
• Planning authorization
• Power balance of the photovoltaic installation (evaluation 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.) can be indicated to Enedis.