What is RGE certification and why does it matter?

If you're looking into energy grants in France for a heat pump, insulation or solar panels, you'll keep seeing the letters RGE. They appear on contractor websites, on grant forms and in the small print of MaPrimeRénov' (the state renovation grant). Whether your contractor holds the right RGE qualification can decide whether you get a grant at all.

What does RGE stand for?

RGE stands for Reconnu Garant de l'Environnement (Recognised Guarantor of the Environment). It's a label for contractors who do energy-efficiency work and have passed a set of checks. The state ties its main grants to it, so public money pays only for work by firms that have been vetted.

For you, the useful part is that every certified firm has a number. Ask for it on the devis (written quote), along with the qualification that covers your type of work.

Which grants need an RGE contractor?

MaPrimeRénov', the state renovation grant, is paid only for work by an RGE contractor, and only in a principal residence. A second home can't claim it whoever does the work. The Éco-PTZ interest-free loan also needs an RGE contractor and is also for a principal residence only.

CEE grants, paid by energy suppliers, have no residence condition. Most CEE measures need an RGE contractor, but not all. CEE on an air-to-air heat pump (a reversible split) only needs the work done by a professional. Whoever handles the refrigerant still needs F-gas certification by law, so ask to see it. MaPrimeRénov' excluded air-to-air heat pumps in January 2025, so for a split, CEE is the grant that's left.

Does RGE affect the TVA rate on your quote?

For most work, no. Air-to-water heat pumps and insulation get 5.5% TVA (French VAT) whoever installs them, and general renovation gets 10%. Solar panels are the exception. Since 1 March 2026, the 5.5% rate on a solar system needs an installer holding RGE QualiPV (an RGE label for solar panels). Without it, the system is taxed at 20%.

Which RGE qualification applies to which type of work?

RGE is an umbrella over trade-specific qualifications. The ones that matter for a house:

• QualiPAC: heat pumps (air-to-water and ground-source)
• QualiPV: solar panels that make electricity
• QualiSol: solar water heating
• Qualibois: wood and pellet stoves and boilers
• Qualibat RGE: insulation, windows and other building envelope work
• Qualifelec RGE: held by some electricians for heat pumps

Some small builders hold RGE through the Éco Artisan or Pros de la performance énergétique labels. An EV charger needs a different qualification, IRVE, which isn't part of RGE.

The qualification has to match the work on the quote. A contractor with only an insulation qualification can't unlock MaPrimeRénov' for an air-to-water heat pump, even in a principal residence where the heat pump itself is eligible. For a heat pump and insulation together, you need one contractor holding both qualifications, or two contractors. Since 1 September 2026, MaPrimeRénov' funds insulation only inside a rénovation d'ampleur (a whole-house project), so ask the contractor which route your project is on.

How do you know a contractor's RGE status is real?

Ask the contractor to print their RGE number, and the qualification for your type of work, on the devis. The France Rénov' RGE directory can confirm it, though the number on the devis is what counts. It's free and searchable by company name or SIRET number (the French company registration number). Contractors we refer are vetted first: see how we vet partners.

A logo on the letterhead, a website badge or a promise on the phone isn't enough. Certifications expire, and not every contractor updates their marketing when one does. Some listing sites keep showing firms after their RGE has lapsed. The directory is the official record, and it's what grants go by.

What does RGE certification check, and what doesn't it?

RGE has to be renewed regularly. The certifying body checks the firm's staff, insurance and finances, and audits some finished jobs on site, chosen at random. A firm that lets its RGE lapse, or fails an audit, drops off the register.

So RGE shows the contractor has the training and has had some of its work inspected. Nobody inspects your job, though. It sets a minimum standard, and it can't tell you whether this contractor will do your work well. For that, ask for references from past clients and get more than one quote. Also ask for the insurance certificate and, for any equipment, the installer's and the maker's warranties in writing.

What happens if you use a contractor without RGE?

If the work needed an RGE contractor, the MaPrimeRénov' or CEE claim is rejected. The work itself isn't illegal and there's no fine, but the grant for that project is gone. You can't redo the work later to claim it.

For higher-income households the grants are smaller, so the loss is modest. For lower-income households, whose grants cover a large share of the cost, it can be a big one.

What should you ask contractors about RGE before signing?

Before you sign any devis for energy work, ask for the RGE number to be on it. If it's missing, ask why. Sometimes the work is passed to another firm, so ask which company will actually do the job and make sure the number is theirs.

With two devis side by side, compare the RGE numbers and qualifications too. If a contractor says certification is "in progress" or "being renewed", ask for the number once it comes through, and hold off signing until you have it.

More on RGE and the grants that depend on it

• RGE certification: quick reference
• MaPrimeRenov': the main grant that requires RGE contractors
• CEE: the energy supplier grant, RGE for most measures but not air-to-air heat pumps
• Devis: the quote where the contractor's RGE number should appear