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Solar panels

Bordeaux is on the road to solar energy plan

There are plans to have two million solar panels overhang 45km of road

How is surplus energy sold to EDF declared on French tax form?

Understanding the declaration process for income, including deadlines and exemptions

When are payments for solar energy production from French home received?

Some contracts allow you to sell surplus solar energy back to the grid

news

Electricity price rises in France: are solar panels a good solution?

Can the panels really save you money? We look at the advantages and disadvantages

The rules for solar panel kits in France and potential savings

The kits are growing in popularity thanks to their low cost compared to traditional installation

What are the costs and rules for DIY home solar panel kits in France?

The number of those choosing to install solar panels themselves is increasing

MAP: How long before home solar panels cover costs in France?

The significant initial outlays are offset over time by grants and selling electricity back to suppliers

Why record numbers of homeowners in France are installing solar panels

200,000 installations took place last year alone - and it is said to be just the beginning

What aid is available to install home solar panels in France in 2024?

Several schemes can help both with initial costs and on an ongoing basis

‘We feel duped by French solar panel firm’ - 12 signs to look out for

A couple tell us how fitting solar panels on their French home has left them out of pocket

Solar panels, ‘ugly’ tractors, 2024 forecast: French property updates

Our recap of property stories you may have missed

French court rules against homeowner on ‘misleading’ solar panel deal

The claimant was told he must continue to repay the bank loan taken out to pay the solar panel company

Why the price of home solar panels is dropping fast in France

Many Chinese-made panels are being sold at little more than half price of a year ago

Solar panel row, permit drop, fake bricks: French property news recap

Our pick of recent property articles that you might have missed

Rise in solar panel scams in France and how to spot the tricks

Homeowners looking to install solar panels warned to be sceptical of ‘too good to be true’ deals

Huge solar panel factory set to be built in France

The €1.5billion 60-hectare site will bring 3,500 jobs to the port of Marseille area and is aiming to disrupt the Chinese-dominated market

France imposes regulations on use of solar panels on farms

Farmers in France will soon only be able to define their activity as ‘agrivoltaics’ if the solar panels benefit their agricultural production in some way

Plans for a giant solar park anger residents in south-west France

First it was wind turbines but now it is 44,000 photovoltaic panels that are at the heart of tensions in the Lot

Eight questions about installing solar panels on homes in France

We look at government aids available, how to sell surplus energy and what permission requests are needed both for homeowners and businesses

Warning over solar panel firm and its sales tactics in France

A consumer association says homeowners considering installation should be alert to its misleading ways of working

French solar panel firm is delaying installation: what are my rights?

Service providers in France are required by law to complete the work in a specific timeframe

French city’s plan to encourage residents to invest in solar panels

A new scheme aims to give locals a return on investment that is higher than the interest rate on the popular French ‘Livret A’ savings account, through energy sales

Easy-fit French solar panels could cut electricity bill by €30 a month

The kits should pay for themselves within three to five years and come with everything needed to get started

French firm’s solar panel sails let yachts produce their own power

The OPV panels, different to more common silicon-based ones, can potentially be used on the canvas of tents, awnings and airships too

‘We found balance between joy and frugality living off-grid in France’

A French couple have not had a water bill for 48 years but their mission has always been to save the planet rather than save money

Green news France: easy-install solar panels, stop fly-tipping team

Small plug-in solar panels could ‘democratise solar energy for all’, a new brigade in Colomiers challenges fly-tippers and more in our eco-news round-up

Solar panels on French property: how to make your own electricity

We explain each stage of fitting solar panels - from planning permission and installation to selling back to EDF

Coloured solar panels can offer solution for protected areas in France

Standard grey and black solar panels do not comply with aesthetic regulations in some historical locations but this new technology provides an alternative although more expensive

Can you have solar panels on homes in historic areas of France?

We look into when planning permission can be refused, what you can do and an example of a successful appeal

Solar, erosion, renovation: Four updates for property owners in France

In our weekly roundup we look at the 126 communes threatened by coastal erosion and what happens if a squatter burns down your property

Warning for homeowners in France over solar panel loan scam

Over the years, thousands of people have been talked into signing up for fake loans that leave them without the means to gain back their money

Bank in France sends in bailiffs for solar panels that never worked

'Nightmare' solar panel installation for a couple in in Lot-et-Garonne has resulted in a shock visit from bailiffs chasing €20,000 for the panels

What are the rules on solar panels on Canal du Midi properties?

The rules depend on where the property is situated. The most protected areas are the ' sites classés' , which consist of “emblematic scenery directly linked to the canal”

French designer creates solar energy car that also powers your home

The prototype is currently being used by a couple who say that as well as providing them with transport, the vehicle provides two-thirds of the electricity they need at home

French property market news: September roundup

Our pick of stories for property owners in France from the last month

Solar panel installation trend in France is to sell back the surplus

Solar power, both from large installations and domestic ones, now accounts for around 7% of electricity production in France

No change for existing solar electricity contracts

Householders with old solar electricity resale contracts will not see their contracts changed under the French government’s review of grants

Are there grants to help install solar panels in France?

A reader question is answered in the Connexion September issue, on solar panels and financial aid.

IKEA offer solar panel installation service for French homes

IKEA is offering photovoltaic solar panel systems for the home from this autumn.

Solar panels for your house in France? Get them at Ikea

Solar panels for individual homes will soon be available to buy in France via Swedish homeware giant Ikea in a significant move for a sector that is still used by relatively few private homes in the country.

France's largest floating solar plant powers up

Energy from 17-hectare site will provide enough energy for more than 4,700 homes

Biarritz solar benches prompt jokes over ‘no sit’ rule

New benches in Biarritz with solar panels built into the seats have prompted mockery on social media, after it was reported that people should “avoid sitting on them during sunnier hours”.

Hybrid solar panels produce more than twice the energy

Hybrid solar panels, invented and made in France and combining photovoltaic and water heating, are leading the way in efficiency.

French court wipes out solar panel loans

Banks will have to write off solar panel installation loans after the highest appeal court said they had not done proper checks on work or contracts.

Going solar harder than it needs to be

We enjoyed your feature on solar panels (see Connexion , April here) but don’t think it went far enough examining “official facts”.

Solar panels are hot idea but beware pitfalls

Solar photovoltaic panels cost a fifth what they did 15 years ago, so many people are looking again at fitting them – even though the price EDF pays for electricity has tumbled.

Who can help in solar panel dispute?

I am battling with EDF to be paid properly for my solar energy as my meter is faulty. Is there a body I can call on for help? S.W.

Frenchman triumphs in France-China solar bike race

A Frenchman has come 8th out of 60 participants in a 12,000 km race from Lyon in France to Canton in China, using only an electric bike entirely powered by solar energy.

France's solar con victims’ victory over bank

Victims of a solar panel scam do not have to repay the bank that loaned the money for the work… as the bank should have checked that the project was legal and their clients were satisfied, France’s highest court has ruled.

Green news - June 2018

An update on environmental events and occurrences in France

Solar energy goes through the roof

CoWatt launched in September 2017

Feed-in tariff changes put new shine on solar panels

Changes in feed-in tariffs for power from solar photovoltaic panels could give the industry a shot in the arm as they end problems over built-in and self-use systems.

Floating solar farm plan for lake

Commune creates a test-bed to see how panels work and the effects on wildlife

Online map helps you see if solar panels work for you

FOR anyone interested in checking if their rooftop is viable for solar photovoltaic panels, a website offers a snapshot of the potential pluses and minuses along with rough but fairly accurate cash figures.

Investors beware solar power scams

Warning to investors that claims are full of hot air