What are the rules for domestic wind turbine installation in France?

Reader Question: We live in the path of the Mistral winds, and want to know if it is possible for us to install wind turbines on our land? 

You are allowed to construct a wind turbine (éolienne) on your property as long as you respect planning rules.

However, there are fewer financial aids available for wind turbines compared with other forms of renewable energy such as solar panels. 

Nonetheless, there is a reduced VAT rate (down to 10%) for turbines, and local aid may be available, although this is uncommon for domestic installations.

To install a turbine you must adhere to local rules, which depend on the location and the size of the turbine.

Small wind turbines (less than 12m in height) can be installed without any prior authorisation or planning permission, provided they are allowed for in the local planning rules (plan local d'urbanisme or PLU). 

You can find your local PLU at your mairie. 

This will tell you about other potential restrictions, such as the proximity of a historic monument or a ‘protected zone’ (either natural reserve or military area).

In such cases, and for larger turbines, you must send a déclaration préalable de travaux (DP) - a prior declaration of works - to your mairie before installing the turbine. Depending on your area, you may be able to do this online. 

The construction of wind turbines larger than 12m are instead subject to an application for a permis de construire (planning permission), which can also be done online in some areas.

Failure to adhere to these rules could result in a fine.

You do not need to explicitly inform your neighbour of the construction, however, since the turbines could cause a nuisance (such as noise or blocking sunlight), it would be wise to inform them beforehand to show that you have accounted for the rules. 

Read more: France lags behind on wind farm installations, official report warns

Other rules to be aware of 

If installing a wind turbine at the edge of your land, ensure that it is on your property by a distance of at least half its overall height. 

For example, a 10m turbine must be at least five metres inside your property. 

Another rule concerns noise: Turbines smaller than 12m are subject to article R1334-31 of the public health code, whereby: “No particular noise may, by its duration, repetition or intensity, be detrimental to the peace and quiet of the neighbourhood or to human health, in a public or private place.”

This is of course relative to the surroundings and open to interpretation.

Taller turbines must not contribute more than 5dB over the ambient noise (at ground level) in the daytime and 3dB at night

Ambient noise level is typically 30-40dB in country areas and 80-90dB in cities.

Installations over 12m in height also face additional installation rules as they must be labelled as installation classée pour la protection de l'environnement (ICPE).

Depending on the amount of power the turbines produce, you must either declare the installation, or ask the authorities behind the ICPE to accept the installation. 

You can find further information online at the service-public website section on domestic wind turbine installation.

They must also undergo a contrôle technique to check they have been correctly installed. Again, the service-public site provides a list of companies that can carry out this task.

Wind turbines can be linked to the grid, to sell all or surplus energy, or used for self-consumption. In the case of the former, the electrical grid operator, Enedis, must ratify the connection. 

If you plan to use the turbines to power a building not connected to the wider electrical grid, Enedis must also connect the building to the grid beforehand (as the turbines will be part of the national system from the beginning of their installation). 

Read more: How is surplus energy sold to EDF declared on French tax form?