FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

In the same way as other sources of renewable energy production, installing solar panels has a direct positive impact on your home's PEB (Performance Energétique des Bâtiments) score.

1. Will my house increase in value? Yes, most certainly. Photovoltaic systems have a lifespan of around 25 years, which means considerable savings for you and future buyers of your property.
2. Another aspect to consider is that the EPB certificate is playing an increasingly crucial role in the decision to buy a property. The photovoltaic installation has a direct impact on the house's EPB rating, which should therefore increase its value.

Self-consumption is the amount of electricity generated by your solar panels that you use directly.

• A self-consumption rate of 0% means that you don't use the electricity generated by your solar panels at all. All surplus electricity is fed into the grid
• A self-consumption rate of 100% means that you use all the electricity generated by your solar panels.

High self-consumption reduces your dependence on grid electricity, increasing the value of the electricity you produce. The average purchase cost of a kWh is around 23 cents, while the average selling price is around 5 cents. So consuming your electricity rather than feeding it back into the grid can earn you up to 4 times more!

A recent article has been written on this subject for a better understanding:

https://soltisfrance.site/news/comprendre-economies-panneaux-solaires-belgique-2023/

How compatible are batteries and energy storage systems?

Battery-based energy storage systems are currently available, but they are still costly and cannot be amortized over the entire life of the battery. As a result, it is not yet economically advantageous to invest in this type of equipment.

However, it is important to note that the inverters currently available on the market are compatible with the future installation of batteries. It may therefore be wise to wait a few years before considering the purchase of a battery to complement your existing photovoltaic system. Battery prices are dropping significantly, which means they will become profitable in the future.

In photovoltaics, the fundamental units of measurement include the watt-peak (Wp) and the kilowatt-hour (kWh).

Watt peak (Wp ): represents the maximum electrical power generated by a photovoltaic system under standard sunlight conditions. These conditions include :

• irradiance of 1,000 W/m², spectral distribution of radiation (AM 1.5) ²
• The spectral distribution of radiation, known as AM 1.5, represents the solar radiation reaching the Earth's surface after passing through an atmosphere with a mass of around 1 kg at an angle of 45 degrees.
• The panels are oriented to capture the maximum amount of direct solar radiation, with their surface perpendicular to the direction of the source of the direct radiation).
• Standard conditions also include a panel temperature maintained at 25°C.

Kilowatt-hour (kWh): In other words, one kilowatt-hour (kWh) is equivalent to the energy consumed by a device with a power of one kilowatt, operating for one hour (1 kilowatt × 1 hour).

The optimum inverter load (expressed as a percentage of the kWp output of the panels in relation to the kVA output of the inverter) is generally between 100% and 130%.

• Below this range, the inverter won't start if panel output doesn't meet the minimum required, which can lead to efficiency losses in the system.
• Beyond this range, clipping starts to occur ( "Clipping" refers to a situation where the power generated by the solar panels exceeds the inverter's ability to convert it into usable electricity. When this happens, the inverter must reduce the input power to avoid overloading the system. As a result, some of the energy produced by the solar panels is lost. Clipping can reduce overall system efficiency. It is therefore important to correctly size the inverter to prevent this from happening).

The profitability of your photovoltaic panels is generated by various sources of income that depend in part on the region in which the installation takes place

Please read the article we've concocted with our engineers to give you a clearer understanding of profitability:

https://soltisfrance.com/news/comprendre-economies-panneaux-solaires-france-2023/

Self-consumption + Resale of surplus electricity scheme

Years of carbon-free electricity generation.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), a solar panel currently takes between 2 and 3 years to generate as much energy as it took to manufacture it. This period is constantly shrinking, thanks to continuous improvements in solar panel performance. Given that the average lifespan of a solar installation is 25 to 30 years, this means that there are just as many years of carbon-free energy production. It's a real boost for the environment and the fight against climate change!

• The production and construction of solar panels have a relatively small carbon footprint compared to their lifetime. Most of the carbon emissions associated with solar panels come from their manufacture, transport of materials and production processes. However, once in service, solar panels generate carbon-free electricity and help reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
• It is important to note that the carbon emissions associated with the manufacture of solar panels have fallen considerably over the years due to improved technologies and the growing use of solar energy. So, although solar panels have an initial carbon footprint, they reduce carbon emissions in the long term by replacing electricity generated from fossil sources.

What's more, as Greenpeace points out in this article,... Most solar panel manufacturers guarantee a recycling rate of between 95 and 99%, whether the panels were made in China or Europe."

Three parameters influence the profitability of your installation:

1. Price per Watt-Peak

In turn, these factors are influenced by :

• The size of your installation: as a general rule, larger installations generate economies of scale. There are many fixed costs associated with installation, such as worker travel, the inverter, rental of a gondola, etc. As a result, an installation with a larger number of solar panels will cost less per watt-peak installed, making it more profitable.
• Characteristics of solar panels
• Inverter characteristics
• The distance between the inverter and the panels: if the panels are located at some distance from your home (for example, a structure on the ground at the bottom of the garden), trenching may be necessary to run the cables. The greater the distance, the larger the cable diameter, which increases the cost per watt-peak installed.

2. Orientation, inclination of solar panels and geographical location

The orientation of solar panels has an impact on their electricity production. For example, a panel facing south generally generates more electricity than one facing east or west. Depending on the orientation and inclination of the panels, we can determine the "producibility", i.e. the number of kilowatt-hours (kWh) produced per kilowatt-peak (kWp) installed.

Productivity can vary, for example, from +/-1,050 kWh/kWp for an optimal situation with a 30° south-facing orientation, to 850 kWh/kWp for a situation with a 30° east-west orientation. To give some examples from France, in cities such as Nice or Marseille, with optimum orientation to the south, we can achieve a producible output of around 1,050 kWh/kWp. On the other hand, in cities like Lille with an east-west orientation, the producible power can be around 850 kWh/kWp, i.e. a loss of around 20% compared to the optimal situation.

3. In which region are you located

Geographical location is a crucial factor, as is plant size. In fact, the region in which you install your solar project directly influences the grants or incentives available, and these can vary from one region to another.

Which monitoring or control tool can I use to track my production?

Whether you choose a SMA or SolarEdge inverter system, you can benefit from a monitoring and control tool for your installation. This will enable you to monitor your panel production in real time and access detailed information. Here's what it looks like:

Here's a dashboard of a residential solar panel installation, located in Brussels-North, in production throughout 2022, equipped with 23 panels.

These technologies are available on most inverters. Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information.

Do you have a bi-hourly or Linky meter and are wondering about its impact on your photovoltaic installation?

• Your meter is working properly. That is, it will turn positive if you consume electricity from the grid (when your panels produce less than you consume). This electricity will be sold to your energy supplier at a lower price than the electricity purchase price.
  So it's in your interest to keep a two-hour meter
  to benefit from the reduced rates of the Night meter. Since your panels don't produce when the sun is down, you'll be using electricity from the grid in any case.

• In France, if you have a bi-hourly meter or a Linky meter, this does not affect the possibility of installing photovoltaic solar panels. You can still install a solar panel system to generate electricity from solar energy, whether you have a dual-hour meter or a Linky meter. These meters are designed to measure the electricity you import from the grid and the electricity you export when your solar installation produces more electricity than you consume. However, it's important to note that the bi-hourly tariff can influence the way you consume and sell solar electricity. You can benefit from preferential rates during off-peak hours, which can be taken into account when managing your solar energy production and consumption.

• What's more,
  the Linky meter enables real-time monitoring of your electricity consumption, which can help you optimize your use of solar energy
  . All in all, these meters can offer advantages in terms of energy management for photovoltaic installations in France.

I'm planning to rent out my property. Are photovoltaic panels still cost-effective? The answer is generally yes, although there may be nuances depending on the region.

It's essential to note that adding solar panels to your property can also influence the building energy performance certificate (PEB certificate). An enhanced EPB certificate testifies to the home's energy efficiency, which can be a selling point in attracting tenants who care about the environment and their energy costs. As a result, you might consider asking for a slightly higher rent by highlighting the economic and environmental benefits of solar panels.

The main advantage of a photovoltaic system is that the tenant's electricity bill is reduced according to the amount of solar-generated electricity. This means significant savings compared to renting a property without this feature. What's more, the photovoltaic installation has a direct impact on the property's EPB certificate, which can influence its value.

The answer depends on where you are in France.

In France, most photovoltaic installations do not require a change of electricity meter. Existing meters, including Linky meters, are generally compatible with solar panel installations. However, it may be necessary to make some minor modifications or updates to the meter or switchboard to ensure that the photovoltaic system operates correctly and safely.

It's strongly recommended that you call in a professional solar installer or qualified electrician to assess your current electrical installation and make sure it's suitable for the addition of solar panels. They can also take care of all the necessary administrative formalities, including connecting the photovoltaic system to the electricity grid.

Please do not hesitate to contact us or your electricity supplier and local grid operator for information specific to your situation, and to ensure that you comply with all regulations in force in your area.

Most roofs are suitable for photovoltaic panels.

You can follow this sentence by inserting the table or providing additional information on the different types of roofing.

Warning: it is strictly forbidden to carry out work on a roof containing asbestos!