Solar Incentives in France

Under the obligation d'achat (OA) scheme, EDF (or local distribution utilities — ELD) is required to purchase all electricity produced by qualifying solar installations at a guaranteed tariff for 20 years. For rooftop systems ≤9 kW, the full purchase tariff (vente totale) is approximately €0.13/kWh as of early 2026, subject to quarterly CRE revision and degression. A separate self-consumption surplus sale tariff (vente du surplus) exists at approximately €0.06–€0.10/kWh for systems that self-consume first and export the remainder. Installations must be completed by a Qualibat or QualiPV certified installer and registered with the Guichet Unique des Énergies Renouvelables. For systems >9 kW and up to 500 kW, a tendering process (appel d'offres CRE) applies. The feed-in tariff is particularly attractive in combination with the zero-rate eco-PTZ loan.

MaPrimeRénov' is France's main residential energy renovation grant program, administered by ANAH (Agence Nationale de l'Habitat). The grant covers a range of energy renovation measures including solar PV, heat pumps, insulation, and heating system replacement. For solar installations, the grant is typically available when solar is part of a broader renovation project achieving significant energy performance improvement. Eligible households are categorized by income: Bleu (very low income) receives the highest rates, Jaune (low income) and Violet (intermediate income) receive moderate rates, and Rose (upper-middle income) receives minimum rates. Above certain income thresholds, the grant may not be available for solar alone. Applications are submitted online at maprimerenov.gouv.fr before works begin. A certified Reconnu Garant de l'Environnement (RGE) installer is mandatory.

Solar PV system installation on residential buildings qualifies for the reduced TVA (taxe sur la valeur ajoutée) rate of 10% under Article 279-0 bis of the French General Tax Code, provided the building has been completed and occupied for more than 2 years. The standard French TVA rate is 20%, making this a 10-percentage-point saving. For very energy-efficient renovations that significantly improve the building's energy performance, a 5.5% TVA rate may apply in some cases — consult the installer. The reduced rate applies to both equipment and labor when invoiced together by a single RGE-certified contractor. New-build installations are subject to standard TVA at 20%.

The éco-prêt à taux zéro (éco-PTZ) is a zero-interest loan available to homeowners for qualifying energy renovation works. Solar PV installation is eligible when it is part of a renovation project that meets minimum energy performance improvement criteria, or as part of a 'single-gesture' renovation for specific measures. Loan amounts up to €50,000 are available with repayment terms up to 20 years, with no interest charged to the borrower — the government subsidizes the interest cost to participating banks. The loan is available through participating French banks (Banque Populaire, Crédit Agricole, CIC, LCL, etc.). Works must be performed by a certified RGE (Reconnu Garant de l'Environnement) installer. The éco-PTZ can be combined with MaPrimeRénov' grants, making it a powerful financing tool for solar installation in France.