Ready-to-wear solar: how to produce your renewable energy

Solar panels at home: how to become a producer of renewable energy and orient yourself in the world of photovoltaics

Photovoltaic represents 2.1% of the electricity consumed in France in 2018 https://www.ademe.fr/sites/default/files/assets/documents/etat-photovoltaiquefrance-nsr-2018.pdf France is far behind Germany, it ranks 4th in Europe in terms of installed capacity (2018).

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On average, we consume around 30-40% of the energy produced by our panels (up to 70% if we have a storage/battery system). We can resell the surplus (stopped 9/5/2017):

•if its installation is approved, the state undertakes to buy it back for 20 years at 0.1 euro per KWH for powers up to 9 KWpeak. From 9 to 100 KWpeak the tariff drops to 0.06 euros.

•if the installation is not approved, some energy suppliers buy back the surplus. (ekWateur, for example, offers 0.042 euro per KWH)

Approved installation = made by a qualified/certified installer and respecting the conditions set by decree 9/5/2017. The “purchase obligation” tariff has fallen compared to older installations, following the fall in costs in the sector.

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The state offers a bonus for investment in solar installations in accordance with the decree of 9/5/17. For the ^2nd quarter of 2019 the bonus was, depending on the power of the installation:

•< or equal to 3 kWp: €400 per KWpeak

•Between 3 and 9 kWp: €300 per KWp

•Between 9 and 36 kWp: €190 per KWp

•Between 36 and 100 kWp: €90 per KWp

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Several panel technologies are available, but more than 90% of the market is based on crystalline panel technology. Their structure is explained here: https://photovoltaique.info/fr/realiser-une-installation/choix-du-materiel/caracteristiques-des-panneaux-photovoltaiques/les-technologies-de-cellules-solaires-photovoltaiques/

To summarize, a panel generally consists of:

•a layer of glass (78%)

•a layer of silicon cells with conductive copper and silver ribbons to connect them

•a layer of plastic (7%)

•a junction box to connect the 2 cables

•an aluminum frame (10%)

No or very few rare earths, it is a few milligrams of silver, boron or phosphorus per hundred kilos of panels. These elements are used to dope silicon or improve its conductivity.

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The most efficient panels available on the market are composed of monocrystalline silicon cells, they have an efficiency of 16-20%, they offer one of the best compromises between price and performance. The structure of the silicon crystal is purer and therefore there is less resistance and loss of electrons. All panels, regardless of technology, have lifespans of 25 to 30 years but their performance declines over time. The performance after 25 years is generally guaranteed and reaches 80% of the initial performance.

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The crystalline modules are approximately 95% recyclable. In France there is the legal obligation to recycle since August 2014. According to studies and depending on the level of sunshine, the life cycle analysis gives a period of approximately 3 years to offset the CO2 emissions necessary to produce and transporting the solar panels (the carbon footprint of the panels has dropped significantly in recent years).

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The cost of a particular approved installation is around 10 – 15,000 euros for an installation of 3 KWpeak, it takes 10-15 years to amortize. Since 2007 the price of a panel has been divided by 7.

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Chinese dumping has helped make China the world's leading producer of solar panels, followed by other Asian countries. The vast majority of European producers have gone out of business. Note that a large part of these European suppliers benefited from an oversized support policy, with a very generous purchase price, which came to an abrupt end.

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Solar kits have an average power of 300Wpeak, enough to power (more or less) a fridge and appliances on standby. Their price is about 650-900 euros. To see how they work and how to install: https://ekwateur.fr/kit-solaire-autoconsommation/Savings from a solar kit are around 44-67 euros per year (according to ekWateur).

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Administrative problem in town

For a real installation you have to face a real obstacle course, the regulatory difficulties are numerous, for Paris read for example. https://www.liberation.fr/france/2018/02/22/a-paris-une-toiture-sous-contrainte_1631704

A roof panel project must obtain planning permission (prior declaration or more occasionally building permit) and – in a protected site – this authorization is subject to the opinion of the Architectes des Bâtiments de France: the opinion is negative if they consider that the project harms the heritage and it is generally monitored by the Town Hall (see for example https://www.lemoniteur.fr/article/panneaux-solaires-et-protection-du-patrimoine-une-conciliation -a-trouver.1950969 or https://www.forumconstruire.com/guides/guide-architecte-batiments-france/).

On the other hand, the solar kit is considered as a removable object (like a planter)

• On courtyard floors / balcony / terrace etc: no authorization required

• On the roof or above 180 cm from the ground: you must make a declaration to the town hall and wait for its opinion of non-objection.

FOR FURTHER

https://www.lemonde.fr/idees/article/2019/04/01/autoconsommation-d-electricite-nous-nageons-en-pleine-schizophrenie_5444287_3232.html

https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2017/01/30/le-solaire-sort-de-l-ombre_5071456_3234.html

https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2017/01/30/solaire-un-essor-conforte-par-des-progres-techniques-continus_5071460_3234.html

https://theconversation.com/lavenir-du-solaire-est-il-dans-le-flottant-123245?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=La%20lettre%20du%20week-end%20de%20The%20Conversation%20France%20- %2014149133344 & utm_content = the%20Lettre%20di%20WEEK-END%20DE%20The%20The 20France%20France%20-%201414913344+CID_216D1C5A69F69294B5056E2F7C944B20 & UTM_SOURCE = CAMPAIG

https://www.greenpeace.fr/impact-environnemental-solaire/

https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms13728

https://bfmbusiness.bfmtv.com/entreprise/avec-ces-tuiles-solaires-toues-la-toits-pourront-produire-de-l-energie-992901.html

https://sciencepost.fr/toits-solaires-de-tesla-seront-garantis-leternite/

Many thanks to Redwane Marie – Energy Consultant –, to Samy Engelstein – Solar and Ultramarine Regions Manager at the Syndicat des Energies Renouvelables – and to Marine Le Bihan, Chloé Joly and Cécile Philippon from ekWateur.

I am an independent comic book author and not a journalist from Le Monde, if you like this blog, share it. You can follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. The woman who took her husband for a hat is my latest book (available at https://www.librairiesindependantes.com/product/9782756073477/ or https://www.amazon.fr/Femme-prenait-chapeau-Voyagecerveau/dp/ 2756073474)