Installation of solar panels: what are the financial aids?

How does it work?

If you want to self-consume your electricity, you must first settle solar panels on the roof of your home, or on a facade or in a garden depending on your region. The panels are connected to inverters that convert the direct current produced into alternating current identical to that of the network and usable at home. Electricity production and consumption are measured by a communicating meter and the whole installation is connected to the national electricity grid.

For the management of the electricity produced, you have the choice between:

• total self-consumption: you consume your entire production (this saves you money on your electricity bill from the grid);
• self-consumption with sale of surplus: you consume your production and sell the surplus to a regulated body (you thus reduce your electricity bill from the grid and you have revenues related to the sale of the surplus).

What is the financial support?

The photovoltaic self-consumption premium

Paid for 5 years, this aid is proportional to the settled power expressed in kilowatt-peak (kWc): this is the maximum power under optimal sunshine conditions.

The sale of surplus electricity

You can sell the surplus electricity you have produced to the chosen supplier (Electricité de France (EDF) or a local electricity distribution authority). Each year, on the anniversary of the commissioning of your facility, you send your bill to the producer who buys the electricity from you. The purchase rates are fixed by the Order of 9 May 2017.

The reduced VAT rate

You can benefit from a VAT rate at 10% for your photovoltaic installation if its solar power is less than or equal to 3 kWc.

Aid from local authorities

Find out from your local council, your general council, your regional council who can offer financial support.

Taxation

If the power of your photovoltaic installation is less than or equal to 3 kWc (this corresponds to about 25 m² of panels), and that it is connected to the public network at 2 points at most, you benefit from an exemption from taxation on the income generated, even if you sell electricity. This requires that it not be used for the pursuit of a professional activity.

If your facility has more than 3 kWc of power, income from the sale of electricity is taxable for income tax purposes in the industrial and commercial profits category.

How to benefit from the aid?

Since 1^er october 2017, it is mandatory to call on a Certified installer with EGR rating (Recognized Environmental Guarantor) for installations of minus 9 kWc and since 1^er January 2018 for installations below 100 kWc.

The amounts of the premium and the initial purchase rate shall be fixed at the time of the request for connection from the system operator. They are effective only after the installation has been put into service and the purchase contract has been signed (generally concluded for 20 years).

Need help building your project?

The site PhotoVoltaique.info provides you with all the information you need to prepare, implement and operate your installation.

You can call on a FAIRE advisor who can study the feasibility of your project with you free of charge and make an assessment of its potential profitability. You can make an appointment with an advisor near you on the MAKE site or on 0 808 800 700 (free service + call price) Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm, with your last tax notice.