Having solar panels installed on your home has many advantages regardless of age. As indicated by the Environment and Energy Management Agency (Ademe), "solar energy is non-polluting, economical, easily available, renewable and easily convertible". In addition, producing your own electricity using solar panels has an obvious advantage from an environmental point of view. However, such a project represents a significant cost, especially for people over 60 whose income usually drops once they retire. On the other hand, in particular those who decide to resell their electricity to a network manager of this energy, they are bound by a commitment of at least 20 years with these organizations. These are some of the reasons why seniors should carefully weigh the pros and cons before committing to installing solar panels in their homes.
Having solar panels, also called photovoltaic panels, installed at your home (most often on your roof), has several advantages. From an environmental point of view (solar energy is non-polluting), but also because such electricity production is accessible to everyone. This project can have several objectives for individuals.
It can first be a question of using all the energy produced for its own consumption. In this case, it is necessary to install several solar panels on its roof that capture solar energy and transform it into electricity to power the dwelling. For this, small boxes, called inverters which are used to convert the direct current obtained into alternating current usable at home, must be fixed on a wall near the solar panels. You can also equip yourself with batteries if you want to store the energy obtained from your solar panels.
Then you can install solar panels to benefit from electricity for your own consumption, but also to resell the volume of energy that is not necessary for you. The same installation described above is necessary but your equipment must have been installed by a "Recognized Guarantor of the Environment (RGE)" installer and, in addition, it must be connected to the public electricity network. Enedis or a local distribution company (ELD), which are obliged to buy your electricity if you meet certain conditions, take care of this connection by invoicing you for this service, the cost of which may vary depending on your production-related equipment. of solar energy. On the other hand, your surplus electricity is sold in the form of purchase bonds, the price of which is regulated and set quarterly.
Finally, by installing solar panels on your house, you can also decide not to use all the electricity produced but to sell it entirely. This solution involves, in addition to the necessary installations similar to those described in the previous paragraph, placing 2 communicating meters in your home. In addition, you have the obligation to change your inverter every 10 years.
Installing solar panels on the roof of your house has a significant cost, even if financial aid exists to carry out this project. In particular if you decide to resell the electricity that you do not spend because the installations and the connection necessary in this case generate additional costs.
Most individuals who install solar panels on their homes use consumer credit to finance their equipment. After age 60, especially when it comes time to retire, income drops most of the time. It can then be risky to commit to a large loan which can further strain an already shrinking budget.
On the other hand, you should know that the installation of solar panels requires you to take out civil liability insurance for your equipment, with the consequence of modifying your home insurance contract, and therefore increasing contributions.
Those who choose to resell all the electricity produced by their solar panels are also subject to the payment of a tax due to their electricity distribution network operator, the Tariff for the use of public networks (Turpe).
Another disadvantage:individuals over 60, as at any age, who install solar panels for their consumption and to resell their electricity, or to resell everything, are bound by the network manager who buys back this energy from s sign up for a 20-year contract. A duration which, for seniors, can be long and which requires serious questioning of the interest of such an installation and especially as to its future after their death or their departure in a retirement home for example.
Finally, it is necessary to be aware that it is strongly advised not to neglect the regular maintenance of its solar panels which are subject to bad weather and which necessarily deteriorate. After 60, this necessity can quickly become a burden.
Always considering the fact that installing solar panels at home represents a significant financial cost which can have repercussions for the elderly, in particular whose incomes are lower or have fallen compared to those they received during their working life, such a project can also have consequences on your taxes.
In particular if you choose to use the electricity produced by your installation but also to resell part of it. Indeed, this income is exempt from tax only if your installation meets the following conditions:its power must not be greater than 3 kilowatts peak (value used to measure the electricity produced); it must be connected to the public network at no more than 2 points; and it must not be used for the exercise of a professional activity. Without these conditions, the income you receive with the sale of your electricity must be declared as industrial and commercial profits (BIC), with the possibility of increasing the amount of your taxes in the end.
