Plugin solar in France

Can I use a plug-in solar kit in France? Yes, with caveats. Plug-in kits are sold and used widely in France, and no law forbids them. Before you switch yours on, declare it free of charge to the grid operator Enedis; factory-built kits up to 3 kVA without a battery need no Consuel safety certificate. There is no official watt limit, and surplus power is not paid. One caveat: the 2024 edition of France's wiring standard, NF C 15-100, says a generator should not be connected through a socket, and the government confirmed this reading in May 2026. Make sure the circuit you use is in good order, or have an electrician connect the kit.

France has no specific law on plug-in solar. Three sets of rules apply.

• Wiring. NF C 15-100 (AFNOR) was published in August 2024. It has applied to renovated installations since 1 September 2025 and to new buildings since April 2026. It states that a generator must not be connected to a final circuit by a socket or plug. Consuel, the national electrical safety body, says generators must be connected upstream of a circuit's protective devices.
• Government position. In a written answer published on 26 May 2026, the government confirmed the ban on connecting a generator to an ordinary socket, citing shock and fire risks. It also said kits are sold under the manufacturer's responsibility and are not part of the building's fixed installation. It announced no exemption.
• Grid. Every production installation, including plug-in kits, must be declared to the grid operator before use. Enedis's no-export agreement (CACSI, version of 15 September 2025) covers this.
• EU. Commission Recommendation (EU) 2026/1007 asks member states to ease rules for balcony solar up to 800 W. It is not binding, and France has not changed its rules so far.

Read the government's answer of 26 May 2026. This page is guidance, not legal advice.

Declare your kit to Enedis, or to your local distribution company (ELD) where one serves your town, before switching it on. It is free and done online at connect-racco.enedis.fr: choose self-consumption without injection (CACSI). Have ready your PDL meter number (on your bill), the kit's power and the inverter data sheet. Without a Consuel certificate, you attest that the kit:

• is factory-built and tested,
• is up to 3 kVA,
• has no battery,
• has compliant decoupling protection,
• is plugged into a circuit that meets NF C 15-100.

Check that the micro-inverter is certified to NF EN 50549-1. Kits with a battery, kits above 3 kVA, and kits wired in by an electrician need a Consuel certificate.

Planning: ground-mounted kits under 3 kW and below 1.80 m need no permission. On a roof, on a façade, or in a protected heritage area, file a déclaration préalable at the town hall. Tenants and co-owners should check their lease or building rules before fixing anything.

You need a Linky smart meter. If you still have an older meter, ask Enedis to replace it. After you submit the CACSI online, Enedis has 15 days to respond. If you hear nothing, the agreement counts as accepted and you can start using your kit. Under the CACSI you commit not to export, so size the kit to your daytime baseload (fridge, router, standby devices) or add a battery. A plug-in kit cannot be combined with an existing rooftop system that sells its surplus to EDF OA, because the buyer can't tell where the surplus came from. Tell your home insurer about the kit, since an undeclared installation can complicate a claim. In some towns a local distribution company (ELD) replaces Enedis; the steps are similar.

There is nothing specific to plug-in kits. Reduced VAT of 5.5% applies to solar PV up to 9 kWc only if all of these are met:

• the panels meet low-carbon and material criteria,
• the system includes an energy management system that controls your appliances.

Most simple kits are therefore sold at 20% VAT, so ask the seller which rate the invoice will show. The self-consumption investment bonus was abolished for applications from 5 June 2026 (arrêté of 1 June 2026), and MaPrimeRénov' does not fund solar PV. Some local authorities run their own schemes; check with your town or region.