Feasibility study and sizing
Analysis of your consumption, orientation, shading and the structure of the building or car park. It leads to a sized proposal and an estimate of the formalities to expect.
Construction & works
Solar panels and EV charge points: find your installer
Rooftop or car port solar PV, self-consumption, charge points for company car parks and fleets: describe your project and compare quotes from installers.
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Generating part of your own electricity and fitting your car park with charging are two increasingly common projects for businesses, shops, local authorities and building managers. Installing solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on a roof or as a car park canopy lets you cover part of your needs through self-consumption, while electric vehicle (EV) charge points (known in France as IRVE) meet the needs of employees, visitors and fleets.
These projects are technical and regulated: feasibility study, roof structural survey, planning formalities, grid connection, choice of inverters, electrical protection and charging management. A competent installer does not just sell equipment: it sizes the installation to your consumption, your usage and your site constraints.
This page helps you write a quote request that can be compared like for like: services, equipment, price factors, drafting tips, then formalities, qualifications and maintenance. Posting a request on Meaflow is free and commission-free. To structure your needs, use our specification generator; for all the trades involved in the project, see the page on construction and building work for businesses.
Common services
Rooftop solar panels
Fitting modules on flat or pitched roofs, with fixings suited to the type of roofing and the waterproofing. The roof must be in good condition and able to bear the additional load.
Solar car park canopies
Structures covering parking spaces, which generate electricity while protecting vehicles. They can be combined with charge points.
Self-consumption
An installation designed to use all or part of the electricity generated on site, with or without selling the surplus depending on the set-up chosen. The choice depends on your consumption profile.
Electric vehicle charge points (IRVE)
Supply and installation of charge points for company, retail or professional co-ownership car parks, and for fleets. The number of charge points, their power and their management are defined with the installer.
Grid connection and commissioning
Formalities with the network operator (most often Enedis in France), testing, commissioning and handover of documents. Allow time for the connection.
Monitoring and charging management
Tracking of generation, management of vehicle charging, access by badge or app, sharing of available power between several charge points.
Maintenance and monitoring
Periodic checks, cleaning of modules, checking of electrical protection, repair of charge points. A maintenance contract can be offered with the installation.
Equipment
Photovoltaic modules and mounting structuresInverters and electrical protection cabinetsSteel or timber car park canopiesGeneration meters and monitoring systemsStorage batteries, depending on the projectWall-mounted or free-standing charge pointsLoad management and power-sharing systemsCabling, distribution boards and earthing connectionsRoof safety equipment: lifelines, guardrails
Clients and typical projects
- Office buildings and company headquarters
- Warehouses and logistics hubs with large roofs
- Industrial sites wishing to reduce their dependence on the grid
- Shops and shopping centres with car parks
- Company car parks for employees and visitors
- Fleets of commercial or service vehicles
- Local authorities, public bodies and municipal buildings
- Co-ownerships and managing agents for communal areas and car parks
What affects the price
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1
Power and size of the installation
The number of modules, total power, type of inverters and available area determine most of the quote. Sizing consistent with your consumption avoids oversizing.
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2
Type and condition of the roof
A flat roof, a steel frame or fragile roofing call for different fixings. Prior repair of the roofing or waterproofing may be necessary.
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3
Site access and safety
Height, roof access, collective protection, the need for a cherry picker or crane: these constraints affect the resources to be deployed and the installation time.
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4
Connection and electrical work
The distance to the distribution board, the capacity of the existing connection and any reinforcement affect the cost, as do the fees charged by the network operator.
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5
Number, power and type of charge points
Basic or managed charge points, badge access, monitoring, power sharing between several spaces: the level of service changes the price, as does the distance between the charge points and the distribution board.
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6
Formalities, studies and maintenance
Structural studies, planning applications, administrative support and a maintenance contract may be included or charged separately. Ask for a clear breakdown so you can compare like for like.
Tips for a successful request
Post a request- State the type of project: roof, canopy, charge points or a combination. Give the address, the type of building and the roof area or number of spaces involved.
- Attach your electricity bills or consumption curves: they allow a self-consumption installation to be sized.
- For a roof, state the type of roofing, its age, its condition and, if possible, any existing plans or structural studies.
- For charge points, state the number of spaces to equip, the types of vehicle, the uses (employees, visitors, fleet) and the electrical power available on the site.
- Say whether you want help with the formalities: planning, grid connection, any grant applications.
- Ask for a technical visit before the quote and request the relevant qualifications and insurance certificates, including ten-year liability insurance (garantie décennale, in France).
Rooftop or canopy solar PV: steps and formalities
A photovoltaic project follows a fairly standard path. It starts with the feasibility study: consumption, orientation, shading, access and structure. For a roof, a structural survey checks that it can bear the weight of the modules. Next comes the application: depending on the case, a prior declaration or planning permission is required. Check with your local authority (in France, the mairie), as the rules vary by location and type of project.
| Step | Points to check |
|---|---|
| Feasibility study | Consumption, orientation, shading, access, choice between selling the surplus and self-consumption |
| Structure and roofing | Roof capacity, condition of the waterproofing, fixing solutions |
| Planning | Prior declaration or permission depending on the case, local rules, protected buildings |
| Grid connection | Application to the network operator, often Enedis in France, and the associated lead times |
| Installation and commissioning | Safety at height, testing, handover of the technical file |
For self-consumption, compare the options (immediate use, selling the surplus, storage) according to your consumption profile: a site that consumes mostly during the day benefits more easily. For a canopy, you also need to think about traffic flow, lighting and the possibility of combining it with charge points. Before installing on an older roof, have its roofing assessed: see roofing and waterproofing. Connection and protection work falls under building electrical work.
EV charge points (IRVE): power, management and obligations
Equipping a car park means first knowing the electrical power available on the site. The installer assesses the capacity of the connection, the distribution board and the cable routes, then proposes the number and type of charge points. Load management allows power to be shared between several charge points without exceeding the site’s capacity, and badge or app access lets you reserve charging for authorised users.
One regulatory point to watch: in France, installing a charge point above 3.7 kW must be carried out by an installer holding an IRVE qualification. So ask for this qualification in the quotes, alongside insurance certificates. For some buildings and car parks, there are obligations to pre-equip or equip with charging infrastructure: find out which apply to your site, as they depend on the type of building, its date and the size of the car park.
- Uses: employees, visitors, fleet, customers. They determine the power and the management.
- Billing: if you want to re-bill charging, say so: monitoring and metering depend on it.
- Scalability: providing ducting and capacity for future charge points limits later works.
- Safety: electrical protection, signage and compliance of the installation.
For fleet projects, a link with logistics and transport can help you plan charging times.
Qualifications, insurance, grants and maintenance: what to check
To benefit from certain grants in France, you may need to use an RGE installer (Reconnu Garant de l’Environnement, an official environmental quality label), for example with the QualiPV qualification for photovoltaics. Eligibility conditions and grant amounts change: check with the relevant bodies before signing, and have the quote state what is the installer’s responsibility and what is yours.
Also ask for ten-year liability insurance (assurance décennale, mandatory in France for installation work), professional liability insurance, equipment data sheets and the manufacturer’s and installer’s warranties. Check the maintenance offered: frequency of checks, monitoring, response time if an inverter or charge point fails. Meaflow checks the SIRET number (the French company registration number) of registered companies, but does not verify their insurance, qualifications or certifications: you should ask for these documents before signing.
To formalise your request, our specification generator can serve as a template. Ready to consult installers? Post your request or browse the registered suppliers.
Related expertise
Building electrical work
Installations, compliance upgrades, lighting, low-voltage systems
Roofing & waterproofing
Roofs, roof framing, zinc work, flat roof waterproofing
Premises refurbishment
Refurbishment and fit-out of offices, shops and workshops
Transport & delivery
Freight transport, courier services, urgent runs
Frequently asked questions
A question not answered here? Visit the help centre or write to us.
What formalities are needed to install solar panels on a commercial building?
Depending on the case, a prior declaration or planning permission is required, and a connection application must be sent to the network operator, often Enedis in France. A structural survey of the roof is recommended. Check with your local authority (the mairie in France) and ask the installer whether it helps with the formalities.
Is a qualification required to install a charge point?
Yes in some cases: in France, installing a charge point above 3.7 kW must be carried out by an installer holding an IRVE qualification. So ask for this qualification in the quotes, together with insurance certificates. State the number of charge points and the planned power in your request so that bidders can answer precisely.
What is an RGE installer and why does it matter?
RGE stands for Reconnu Garant de l’Environnement, a French quality label. To benefit from certain grants in France, you must use a qualified installer, for example with the QualiPV qualification for photovoltaics. Conditions change: find out which grants apply to your project and ask the installer for its documents before signing.
What is the difference between self-consumption and selling electricity?
With self-consumption, you use all or part of the electricity generated on site, with or without selling the surplus. The right choice depends on your consumption profile, notably your daytime needs, and on any storage. The feasibility study compares the options and helps you size the installation.
Does Meaflow verify installers’ qualifications and insurance?
No. Meaflow checks the SIRET number of registered companies, but does not verify their insurance, authorisations, qualifications or certifications. It is up to you to ask for the relevant documents, such as ten-year liability insurance, the IRVE qualification or RGE qualification, before signing. Meaflow is for business clients only, with free, commission-free request posting.
Can my roof take photovoltaic panels?
That depends on its structure, condition, orientation and shading. A structural survey checks that it can bear the additional load, and a check of the roofing or waterproofing is advisable before installation. If the roof is old, prior repair may be worthwhile. Ask for a technical visit and state the age of the roofing in your request.
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