Solar self-consumption (autoconsommation): how it works in France

How it works in France

When your solar panels generate electricity, that power goes to your property first. Whatever you're consuming at that moment (lights, appliances, heating) is supplied directly from the panels. If generation exceeds consumption, the surplus flows out to the grid. If consumption exceeds generation, the shortfall is drawn from the grid in the normal way. None of this requires any manual switching: the system manages it automatically via the electrical installation.

For the surplus that you export, you receive a payment under a contract with EDF OA (the state-designated grid offtaker). This payment is called the prime a l'autoconsommation (self-consumption premium) and is set at a fixed rate per kWh for 20 years from the date of connection. The rate is indexed and has been broadly stable in recent years, though it's set by the government and can change for new installations. Your installer can tell you the current rate before you commit. The grid connection declaration to Enedis (the national distribution network operator) is a required step before commissioning, and is handled by your installer as part of the installation process.

Autoconsommation avec vente du surplus vs vente totale

Before autoconsommation became the dominant model, many French solar installations were set up as vente totale: all electricity generated was exported to the grid and sold, at a higher fixed rate, while the household bought all its electricity from the supplier as usual. Vente totale is still available for some installations but is no longer the preferred option for most residential projects.

Autoconsommation avec vente du surplus (self-consumption with sale of surplus) is the current standard. You consume first, export the rest. The export rate is lower than the old vente totale rates, but this is offset by the savings you make by not buying grid electricity during solar generation hours.

The prime a l'autoconsommation

This is a fixed premium paid per kWh of electricity exported, for 20 years. It's separate from the savings you make on your electricity bill by consuming solar power yourself. For a standard residential installation (under 9 kWc), the premium is paid quarterly by EDF OA. The rate is determined at the time of connection and doesn't change for the 20-year period of your contract, regardless of what happens to energy prices or government policy after that point.

Battery storage and autoconsommation

The practical limitation of solar autoconsommation is timing: panels generate during the day, but much household consumption happens in the morning and evening. Without storage, a significant portion of generation is exported rather than self-consumed. A battery changes this by storing daytime surplus for use in the evening. The financial case for battery storage depends on the export rate versus the cost of grid electricity drawn in the evening: as grid electricity prices rise, the case for storage strengthens. Battery systems are not currently eligible for MaPrimeRenov', but this position may change.

Autoconsommation and second homes

Autoconsommation works differently for a property that's unoccupied for extended periods. If a house is empty for weeks at a time, consumption during that period is near zero, and the panels simply export everything they generate. This reduces the self-consumption ratio and means the financial return is more dependent on the export premium than on bill savings. This is a relevant consideration for second-home owners on the Cote d'Azur who use the property only seasonally.

Related terms

• MaPrimeRenov': solar thermal (not photovoltaic) qualifies; battery storage currently does not
• RGE certification: specifically QualiPV for solar PV installers

Further reading

• Solar panels on the Cote d'Azur
• Battery storage