DIY solar panel kits: Are they worth fitting or not in France?

I have been weighing up the pros and cons of deciding whether or not to buy one or more DIY photovoltaic solar panels. 

To remind you, we are talking about kits that you assemble yourself and plug into a convenient socket – not professional rooftop schemes which sell excess electricity to the grid. 

Here I want to get down to the reality of going into action.

Several people who I know, and two readers of this newspaper who have written to me, have successfully set up solar panels in their gardens. 

It is hard to draw general conclusions because each case is so different, but I will pass on what I have learned. 

One reader in Vienne tells me that he set up 3kW worth of panels at a total cost of €1,600 online, and estimates his savings to be almost €40 a month under averagely good weather conditions. In winter and on foggy days, of course, much less power will be produced. 

A neighbour of mine proudly showed me three panels standing on a south-facing patch of grass. She is a tenant and had to get permission from the owner before doing anything. However, one advantage for her is that the panels can be easily dismantled and set up somewhere else if necessary. 

“They are heavy to handle” she told me, “and you need two people to put them in place, but the instructions are straightforward and it took us a day. 

“It is important to prepare the site well before you begin. We put a white groundsheet down because these panels also collect reflected light. You have to weigh the panels down properly, too, so they don’t get blown away.”

There are a few more things to remember before you can roll up your sleeves and get your toolbox out, she told me. 

“One is to specify the length of cable you are going to need when you place your order. “Another is insurance: I could only find one company willing to cover damage to or theft of the panels.”

We must not forget, either, that we are in France, a country of innumerable restrictions. Not all suppliers of DIY solar panels are upfront about the prevailing regulations, so before you go ahead with your project you should double-check that you are not infringing planning rules. 

At present, the law allows installation of up to 3kW worth of panels on the ground as long as they are no higher than 1.8m. 

For more information see the official government website here.

The web page states that you are supposed to declare your panels to the local tax department and pay a taxe d'aménagement of €10 per square metre. 

I have not heard of anyone doing this but I feel duty-bound to pass on the information.

Set up and plugged in, the panels produce electricity according to the atmospheric conditions, but your output is never going to be more than enough to run one or two appliances. 

You can see how much you are generating on a phone app. 

The efficiency of the panels will also depend on maintenance: in stormy periods they are vulnerable to hailstones. All year round birds can leave deposits on them, which will need clearing off.

I should make it clear that I am not trying to discourage anyone: I am just being realistic. 

I have been in favour of renewable energy for most of my life. Anything we can do to lighten the load on legacy sources of electricity is to be encouraged; but we should also think hard about what we do and how. 

Done right, you should be able to save a little money; learn a great deal; and have a talking point for your next few dinner parties.

Have you fitted DIY solar panels? How easy was the process? Has it proved worthwhile? Let us know at feedback@connexion.com