Obtaining electricity with solar panels (photovoltaic panels) - To use it and sell the surplus

You can produce electricity for your own use and sell what you don’t use by settling:

• Multiple solar panels (photovoltaic)
  These panels 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).
• One or more inverters
  The UPS is a small box attached to a wall as close as possible to the photovoltaic panels. It converts the obtained direct current into alternating current identical to that of the public electricity network.

It is recommended that you use a recognized environmental professional (EGP) to install your solar panels.

To find out the list of professionals, you can help yourself from a directory:

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

Before settling your solar panels, you need to make a preliminary declaration of works to your town hall.

If you are building a house, the installation of your solar panels must be included on the application for building permit.

An advisor can help you define your project, and evaluate the costs and benefits :

Installation costs

The price of the equipment (solar panels and inverter) and its installation varies. It depends in particular on the following:

• Materials used
• Method of installation (integrated or simply laid panels)
• Installer you use

Operating costs

Once the solar panels are settled, you are required to take out civil liability insurance for this equipment. To do this, you can request a change to your home insurance contract. The amount of your contribution will be reassessed.

For the sale of the remaining electricity, you have to pay an annual tax, called Turp: titleContent.

Revenues from the sale of electricity

You do not pay income tax on the sale of electricity if your equipment meets the following 3 conditions:

• Electricity shall not have a power output greater than 3 kilowatts (kWc)
• Electricity shall be connected to the public network at not more than 2 points
• Electricity shall not be used for the exercise of a professional activity

If one of the 3 conditions is not met, you must pay income tax. These revenues must be reported on your income tax return as Industrial and Commercial Benefits (BIC).

Investment premium

By deciding to sell your surplus electricity, you can benefit from the investment premium. To do this, your solar panels must have been settled by an EGR installer.

The amount of the premium depends on the power of your equipment.

The payment of the premium is made over the first 5 years of operation of your equipment.

You must make a request for connection to the electricity network manager in your municipality (in general, Enedis) to be connected to the public grid and to be able to inject the surplus of your electricity production and sell it:

Enedis: apply for connection to the public electricity grid

These services are not free. Costs vary depending on your equipment characteristics.

This request can be made by you or by the installer of your solar panels.

The Network Manager sends you a connection proposal (PDR.) and a network access and operation agreement (CAE) number.

The Network Manager will connect and provision your equipment once you have accepted the RDP and signed the EAC.

When you make your connection request, you sign a contract of obligation to purchase with the network manager. This contract obliges the system operator to purchase your electricity.

The contract is for 20 years. It applies from the date of commissioning of your equipment (actual connection to the network).

The rate of purchase of the electricity produced shall be fixed by law.

The rate that applies to your contract is the rate in effect on the date of the request for connection of your equipment.

You must send your invoice to your Network Manager on the anniversary date of the contract each year.