EI-IA — Independent energy advisory for Dordogne homeowners

Independent adviser · Dordogne (24)

Why independence matters

Fee-paid, commission-free energy advice from an adviser who has lived the problem — in a 17th-century stone farmhouse in central Dordogne, with a 12kWp solar and 28kWh battery system running in production.

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No installer affiliation Fee-paid, not commission-paid English-speaking service
Mark Reade — independent energy adviser, Dordogne
Meet the Founder

25 years of project management vs. one very challenging farmhouse

I am a project management professional with more than 25 years of experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives. I moved to central Dordogne and bought a 17th-century stone farmhouse — the kind of property that every energy installer quotes differently and nobody explains clearly.

I have been through the process myself, conflicting quotes, unsure about grant eligibility. Installers who could not agree on system sizing, I learned the hard way. The result is a 12kWp photovoltaic system with 28kWh of LFP battery storage, operating on a property with mixed heating sources, high consumption, and a grid connection through Enedis.

That experience is what I bring to every client assessment. Not a sales pitch for a particular brand or system — a clear, independent view of what your property actually needs.

Qualifications & experience

Technical depth without a financial agenda

RGE and QualiPV are installation qualifications, my credentials for independent advisory work are different — they are technical training, real-world experience with live systems, and structural separation from any installer or supplier.

  • Formal photovoltaic design and sizing training
  • Hands-on experience with PVGIS yield modelling for Dordogne coordinates
  • Practical knowledge of Enedis raccordement process and EDF OA tariff structure
  • Real-world understanding of MaPrimeRénov', CEE, TVA 5.5%, and Éco-PTZ sequencing
  • Experience with ABF heritage constraints and Déclaration Préalable requirements
  • LFP battery chemistry selection and backup circuit planning
  • 25 years project management across complex multi-party engagements
  • Resident in Dordogne — familiar with local installer market, planning context, and stone property characteristics

The system on my property

12kWp PV array · 28kWh LFP storage · Generator integration · Heat recovery · Wood heating interaction · Enedis raccordement · EDF OA export · HP/HC tariff optimisation. This is the primary case study I use with clients — because every element of it was chosen, sized, and commissioned through exactly the process I now guide others through.

A note on RGE certification

Clients sometimes ask whether I am RGE certified. RGE is an installation qualification required for grant-funded work — it applies to the installer who carries out the physical work, not to the independent adviser who specifies and reviews it. All physical installations are carried out by RGE/QualiPV-certified contractors.

The independence model

The structural conflict of interest in installer-tied advice is not a character problem — it is an economic one

Every installer quote is a sales document. That is not a criticism — it is a structural fact. An installer who sells systems cannot give you objective advice about whether you need a system, how large it should be, or whether a cheaper or simpler solution might serve you equally well. The incentive runs in one direction.

The independence model here is enforced at every level. There are no referral fees, no preferred contractors, no manufacturer relationships, and no commission on any product or installation. The only revenue is the fee paid directly by the client for time and expertise.

This is what makes the advice so valuable; advice that recommends doing nothing, or doing less, is as valid as one that recommends a full system — and there is no financial cost to giving it.

No installer affiliation

Not connected to any installer, manufacturer, or supplier. No referral fees, no preferred contractors, no commission of any kind.

Fee-paid, not commission-paid

Fees are paid directly by clients for time and expertise. There is no financial relationship with any supplier, manufacturer, or installer.

No equipment sales

No panels, inverters, batteries, or heating equipment are sold. The only product is independent advice — a written report the client owns entirely.

Clarity of roles

When to call me first

Understanding the right sequence saves time and often money.

Call me first
✓
Before requesting any installer quotesSet the spec first, then let installers price against it
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When you have conflicting quotesIndependent review to identify the real differences
✓
Planning a renovation with energy in scopeRight time to integrate solar, storage, and heating together
✓
Large, complex, or listed propertyABF, Déclaration Préalable, heritage constraints matter early
✓
Grant eligibility is unclearSequencing matters — the wrong order can forfeit grants
✓
Resilience and backup are part of the goalBattery sizing, generator integration, critical circuit planning
Call an installer first
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You already have a clear specIf your scope is defined, go straight to QualiPV-certified installers
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Emergency heating repairA breakdown is a trade call, not an advisory question
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Basic grid-tied system on a new-buildStraightforward installs on simple properties rarely need advisory input
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Consuel certification onlyInstallation sign-off — not an advisory process
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Single direct replacementLike-for-like boiler or water heater swap
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Expanding your existing systemYou likely already have a relationship with the installer — go back to them first. An independent view can help for a major replacement, but for a straightforward expansion it rarely changes the outcome
Energy professionals

Interested in bringing independent advice to your region?

The model is currently operating in Nouvelle Aquitaine. If you have the technical background and share the conviction that homeowners deserve genuinely independent advice, we'd like to hear from you.

Find out more

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A short, no-charge call to understand your property and what you are trying to achieve. No commitment, no sales pitch.

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