EI-IA — Independent energy advisory for Dordogne homeowners

Service 02 · Technical brief

Solar + Storage
Concept Design

A technical concept brief — string layout, inverter sizing, battery chemistry, and export tariff options — ready to take to any installer for like-for-like comparison quotes.

Desktop review available nationwide Installer-ready specification No equipment sales
What does this service cost?

The Solar + Storage Concept Design is primarily a desktop service available nationwide. All fees are time-based and quoted HT.

Initial conversationFree
Desktop concept design (full written brief and specification)€280–380
On-site site survey if required (within 50km)By arrangement

Fees quoted HT. TVA at 20% applies. Indicative — confirmed at time of engagement.

A specification document, not a sales pitch

When you ask three installers to quote for a solar and battery system, you typically receive three documents that are impossible to compare directly. Each one reflects the installer's preferred brands, their margin structure, and assumptions about what you need — none of which are made explicit.

The Concept Design solves this. It produces a clear, independent technical specification that defines exactly what the system should do, how it should be sized, and what the Enedis raccordement process looks like for your connection point. Installers price against the same brief, which makes comparison straightforward.

  • System concept drawing — string layout, module count, array orientation
  • Inverter sizing and type recommendation — string, hybrid, or microinverter
  • Battery chemistry selection — LFP specification for capacity, cycle life, and warranty
  • Export tariff analysis — autoconsommation avec vente du surplus vs full injection
  • Enedis raccordement guidance — PTF/CACSI process and connection timeline
  • Installer briefing document — a single specification all contractors price against
  • Yield estimate using PVGIS data for your precise location and roof plane

Why battery chemistry matters

LFP (lithium iron phosphate) and NMC (nickel manganese cobalt) batteries have very different cycle lives, thermal characteristics, and warranty terms. Most installer quotes specify a brand name, not a chemistry — which makes comparison impossible. The concept design specifies the chemistry and minimum performance requirements, not a brand.

Enedis raccordement explained

Connecting a solar installation to the grid in France requires a formal application to Enedis — the network operator. The process produces a Proposition Technique et Financière (PTF) that defines the connection terms. Understanding this before installation avoids delays and unexpected costs. The concept design includes guidance on this process for your specific situation.

EDF OA tariffs and the autoconsommation decision

Autoconsommation avec vente du surplus

You consume what you generate and sell the remainder back to the grid at the EDF OA export tariff. This is the most common arrangement for residential systems in France. The export tariff is fixed for 20 years from connection, which provides a degree of revenue certainty for the system's lifetime.

Injection totale

All generation is exported to the grid at a higher tariff. This was common for older systems but is now less advantageous for residential properties with significant self-consumption potential. The concept design models both options against your specific consumption profile to identify which structure suits your situation.

La prime à l'autoconsommation

Systems of 3kWp to 100kWp that opt for autoconsommation avec vente du surplus are eligible for an upfront capital grant — the prime à l'autoconsommation — paid by EDF OA on commissioning. The amount depends on system size. The concept design confirms eligibility and includes the current rate in the financial modelling.

You already know you want solar. You need the specification.

The Solar + Storage Concept Design is best suited to homeowners who have already decided they want a PV and battery system and now need a rigorous specification before approaching installers. It can follow on from a Home Energy Autonomy Assessment, or stand alone if your property is straightforward and your objectives are clear.

It is particularly valuable where roof geometry is complex, where there are multiple array planes, where battery sizing is uncertain, or where the Enedis connection point needs clarification before quotes can be meaningful.

  • Multiple roof planes or non-standard orientation
  • Large system (above 6kWp) where inverter topology matters
  • Battery storage integral to the design from the outset
  • Generator integration or critical backup circuit planning required
  • Uncertainty about Enedis connection capacity or raccordement cost
  • Previous quotes that varied significantly in system size or configuration

Available nationwide by desktop review

Unlike the Home Energy Autonomy Assessment — which is primarily on-site for Dordogne clients — the Solar + Storage Concept Design can be completed remotely for clients anywhere in France, based on roof plans, orientation data, property documents, and a structured questionnaire. Contact us to discuss your situation.

Get a specification you can use

A technical concept brief means every installer prices against the same document. That makes comparison meaningful and negotiation straightforward.

Start your design brief Start with a full assessment