Solar panels in France: a steeple chase

[RobertArthur]

After the French photovoltaic crisis in 2009 things have calmed down a bit. Not too many forum questions about solar panels the last few years, a lot of red tape here in France, not very inviting. Price level is also not helpful: easily two to three times more expensive than in Germany and other EU countries. Too many scandals and too many Wild West (East, North and South) French cowboys active on this lucrative market. Loan sharks still active, we do everything for you, a turnkey project. And at the end of the day you pay 20 years, or more, an enormous amount of money for a very unattractive financing scheme and sometimes an unfinished, not working solar system.

The French "Scientific and Technical Center for Building" (CSTB) is a treasure room: a wide range of studies and publications. From constructional engineering subjects to insulation and safety issues, certification etc. A few years ago they published together with the Eyrolles publishing company a practical guide: "Installations photovoltaïques en toiture et façade." As an appetizer they published these nine pages. It's a mix of the inevitable complex French regulations and "how-to" installation instructions. Other sources of information are books as "L'Officiel de l'Électricité" by Promotelec and "L'Installation Électrique" by the Eyrolles publishing company. The website of Photovoltaïque answers almost all your questions you always wanted to ask but were afraid to ask.

ENEDIS has also information about its procedures and the French consumer organisation "Que Choisir" is not impressed by the promises of the so called "autoconsommation". One positive aspect: simplified procedures, an inspection by the Consuel is not necessary. Good question: what about Mr. Taxman? No more subsidies as from the first of January 2014 already.

[Char]

On the outskirts of our nearest big town there's an entire field full of solar panels - I'll try and take a photo next time I'm down there.

It looks really strange, I suppose the farmer can make more money from the electricity produced than from crops. I wonder if they'll still be able to graze animals in the field, sheep would probably be able to get underneath the panels.

[Doug]

Now thats always been my question why?oh why? Don't they put the solar panele up a bit higher so that sheep,cattle can graze beneath them. Have see huge ones in Western Australia where they have done it.

[elsie]

I don't know how it works now with autoconsummation but I installed more than 3kW of panels and have to declare the income as an auto-entrepreneur/micro-entrepreneur.
There also used to be limits on the quantity of panels to limit you to not be significantly more than your annual electricity usage.

[RobertArthur]

@ Elsie, the 3 kWc treshold for the autoconsommation is still there:

“Les revenus provenant d’une installation photovoltaïque dont la puissance est inférieure ou égale à 3 kWc sont exonérés d’impôts sur le revenu et de prélèvements sociaux (à condition que ces revenus ne soient pas affectés à une activité professionnelle). Pour les installations de puissance supérieure, les produits de la vente de l’électricité sont à déclarer en bénéfices industriels et commerciaux non professionnels."

Here more information about the French taxes and solar panels.

[Spardo]

Now thats always been my question why?oh why? Don't they put the solar panele up a bit higher so that sheep,cattle can graze beneath them. Have see huge ones in Western Australia where they have done it.

But wouldn't the panels inhibit the growth of the grass?

I would have thought a much better way to go would be to give a much bigger financial incentive for everybody to fit roof panels. And that includes commercial premises too.

[Wilbro]

Near the football stadium in Bordeaux there is a large car park covered with a roof of solar panels. Good idea!

[Char]

Near the football stadium in Bordeaux there is a large car park covered with a roof of solar panels. Good idea!

Now that is a good idea Wilbro - I hope it catches on.

[Spardo]

Near the football stadium in Bordeaux there is a large car park covered with a roof of solar panels. Good idea!

Now that is a good idea Wilbro - I hope it catches on.

It has, or it caught on there, at Maisons Blanches a routier on the N10 where, from the south, you turn off to Melle and Niort, has had the entire lorry park covered. Some years ago now and I was a bit worried when I saw it under construction that it was going to replace a good stopover place. So not only a money earner/planet saver, but also good shade for the lorries (some drivers have to sleep in the daytime) and shelter from rain (a long walk to the resto in a rainstorm).

[Doug]

Now thats always been my question why?oh why? Don't they put the solar panele up a bit higher so that sheep,cattle can graze beneath them. Have see huge ones in Western Australia where they have done it.

But wouldn't the panels inhibit the growth of the grass?

I would have thought a much better way to go would be to give a much bigger financial incentive for everybody to fit roof panels. And that includes commercial premises too.

Take a good look at them, they are high enough now to let light in with them being two meters up it is much better.