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Getting electricity with solar panels (photovoltaic panels)
Verified 01 October 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Do you want to settle solar panels (photovoltaic panels) on your roof to produce electricity from the sun? The electricity obtained can be consumed in full for your personal use, or partially resold if you have a surplus. The technical and administrative obligations to be met will depend in particular on this choice. We're taking stock of the regulations.
What applies to you ?
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Warning
Solar panels should not be confused with solar thermal installations which transform light into heat to heat his home.
An advisor can help you define and evaluate your project costs and benefits.
Who shall I contact
Specialized advisors in home renovation works (France Rénov')
Allows to be accompanied free of charge in its renovation work by advisors of France Rénov'.
By phone
0 808 800 700
Open Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm. You must have your last tax notice.
Free service + cost of a call
You want to use all the electricity produced
These are the following equipment:
- Solar panels. They capture solar energy and turn it into electricity. They can be attached to your original roof (non-integrated equipment) or integrated as a replacement for the original roof (built-in equipment). In some geographical areas with very high sunshine, they can also be settled on a facade or in a garden.
- One or more inverters. The inverter is a small housing fixed on a wall as close as possible to the solar panels. It converts the direct current obtained into alternating current identical to that of the public electricity network and usable at home.
- Batteries if you want to be able to store the electricity obtained for your consumption
- Device for clamping, because your equipment must be sized so that the electricity obtained does not exceed your needs.
Yes. You have to make a prior declaration of works to your town hall.
If you are building a house, the installation of solar panels must be included on your application for building permit.
Warning
Before making your declaration or application for a building permit, it is recommended to contact your town hall. They can inform you about any local restrictions regarding the installation of solar panels or specific aesthetic requirements such as the color of the roof.
It is recommended to use a recognized environmental guarantor (EGR).
For the list of RGE professionals, you can use an official directory:
Search for a recognized environmental guarantor (EGR) or architect
Before signing a quote with a professional, it is advisable to evaluate the profitability of the project using a simulator:
Evaluate your quote for the installation of solar panels (photovoltaics)
Purchase and installation
The price of equipment (solar panels, inverter, ...) and their installation is variable. It depends on the following:
- Materials used
- Installation method (integrated or simply installed solar panels)
- Choice of the professional who will settle your solar panels.
Since 1er October 2025, you benefit from the value added tax (VAT) at 5.5% (against 10% before that date) if the following conditions are met:
- The power of the installation is less than or equal to 9 peak kilowatts (kWp). This corresponds to about 25 solar panels.
- The panels have a low carbon footprint (less than 530 kgCO2eq/kWc)
- Heavy metal content is zero or low: silver (less than 14 mg/W), lead (less than 0.1%) and cadmium (less than 0.01%)
- The installation incorporates an energy management system (EMS) that synchronizes consumption with solar production (heating, hot water, charging station, ...).
If the conditions are not met, then you are subject to the VAT rate at 10%.
Operation
Once the solar panels are settled, you have the obligation to take out civil liability insurance for your installation. For this, you can request the modification of your home insurance policy. Your contribution amount will then be recalculated.
FYI
The lifetime of solar panels is usually 25 to 30 years. You should regularly maintain your solar panels (clean them), as their materials degrade with the weather and pollution. In addition, the inverter must be changed approximately every 10 years.
You must sign an self-consumption convention without injection (CACSI) with the public electricity system operator, i.e Enedis.
This agreement serves in particular to secure your installation and avoid any accidental injection of electricity on the public network.
You must use the following convention template:
Self-consumption agreement without injection for an electricity generating installation
This agreement must be sent to Enedis, preferably by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt.
The commissioning of your solar panels will be carried out after receipt of the signed agreement.
You want to use some of the electricity and sell the surplus
These are the following equipment:
- Solar panels. These panels capture solar energy to turn it into electricity. They can be attached to your original roof (non-integrated equipment) or integrated as a replacement for the original roof (built-in equipment).
- One or more inverters. The inverter is a small housing fixed on a wall as close as possible to the solar panels. It makes it possible to convert the direct current obtained into alternating current identical to that of the public electricity network.
- Batteries to store the electricity obtained for your consumption.
Yes. You have to make a prior declaration of works to your town hall.
If you are building a house, the installation of solar panels must be included on your application for building permit.
Warning
Before making your declaration or application for a building permit, it is recommended to contact your town hall. They can inform you about any local restrictions regarding the installation of solar panels or specific aesthetic requirements such as the color of the roof.
It is recommended to use a recognized environmental guarantor (EGR).
For the list of RGE professionals, you can use an official directory:
Search for a recognized environmental guarantor (EGR) or architect
Before signing a quote with a professional, it is advisable to evaluate the profitability of the project using a simulator:
Evaluate your quote for the installation of solar panels (photovoltaics)
Purchase and installation
The price of equipment (solar panels, inverter, ...) and their installation is variable. It depends on the following:
- Materials used
- Installation method (integrated or simply installed solar panels)
- Choice of the professional who will settle your solar panels.
Since 1er October 2025, you benefit from the value added tax (VAT) at 5.5% (against 10% before that date) if the following conditions are met:
- The power of the installation is less than or equal to 9 peak kilowatts (kWp). This corresponds to about 25 solar panels.
- The panels have a low carbon footprint (less than 530 kgCO2eq/kWc)
- Heavy metal content is zero or low: silver (less than 14 mg/W), lead (less than 0.1%) and cadmium (less than 0.01%)
- The installation incorporates an energy management system (EMS) that synchronizes consumption with solar production (heating, hot water, charging station, ...).
If the conditions are not met, then you are subject to the VAT rate at 10%.
Operation
The sale of surplus electricity results in the annual payment of a tax called transmission rates for electricity producers.
Once the solar panels are settled, you have the obligation to take out civil liability insurance for your installation. For this, you can request the modification of your home insurance policy. Your contribution amount will then be recalculated.
FYI
The lifetime of solar panels is usually 25 to 30 years. You should regularly maintain your solar panels (clean them), as their materials degrade with the weather and pollution. In addition, the inverter must be changed approximately every 10 years.
Yes. You can benefit from the investment premium also called self-consumption premium for the sale of surplus electricity generated.
Warning
For this, your solar panels must have been settled by an RGE installer.
The amount of the premium depends on the power of your installation. This amount is changed quarterly.
This bonus is accessible without resource requirements. No specific steps are required, except that of connecting your installation to the public electricity grid.
To be able to sell unused electricity, you must make a connection request to the public electricity system operator, i.e. Enedis :
Enedis: apply for connection to the public electricity grid
This service is paid for and its cost varies according to the characteristics of your installation.
Please note
The connection request can be made by yourself or by the installer of your solar panels.
Enedis addresses you a connection proposal (RDP) and a number of Network Access and Operating Agreement (NEA). Once the RDP has been accepted and the CAE has been signed, Enedis will connect and commission your facility.
Enedis settles 2 communicating meters in your home:
- 1 production counter which measures all the electricity produced by your solar panels and which is used to calculate what you sell
- 1 consumption counter (usually Linky) to track your consumption from the network and, to allow Enedis to manage the entire connection.
When you request a connection, you sign a purchase obligation contract (COA) with Enedis. This contract requires Enedis to purchase your surplus electricity.
The duration of the contract is 20 years. It applies from the date of commissioning of your equipment (actual connection to the network).
The purchase price of the electricity produced is set by law and therefore cannot be negotiated.
The rate that applies to your contract is the one in effect on the date of the request to connect your equipment.
Each year, on the renewal date of your contract, you must send your invoice to Enedis.
No, you do not have to pay income tax for the sale of electricity if you meet the following 3 conditions:
- The electricity produced has a power of 3 kWp or less
- Your equipment is connected to the public network in 2 points at most
- The electricity produced is not used for the exercise of a professional activity.
However, if one of the 3 conditions is not met, you must pay income tax. Income from the sale of electricity must be included on your tax return as Industrial and Commercial Benefits (BIC).
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Specialized advisors in home renovation works (France Rénov')
Allows to be accompanied free of charge in its renovation work by advisors of France Rénov'.
By phone
0 808 800 700
Open Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm. You must have your last tax notice.
Free service + cost of a call
Self-consumption
Obligation to purchase
Obligation to purchase
Conditions for the exemption of income from the sale of electricity
Agency for Ecological Transition (Ademe)
Agency for Ecological Transition (Ademe)
Agency for Ecological Transition (Ademe)
ENEDIS (ex-ERDF)
Ministry of Economy
Agency for Ecological Transition (Ademe)
ENEDIS (ex-ERDF)