camelot-forum.co.uk

Our new 9.6KW PV static array goes to planning.
Here in France, Normandy they do love the Paper work. The photos here are what the installation will look like and to scale.
And for Mr GUS, I have put one of our sheep underneath the Array.

Below my Mrs comments……..
“And in case useful info for anyone, the French state is looking at the new Plan d'Urbanisme for the locality (not sure if just our region), and it is likely that permission for ground-mounted solar panels will soon be stopped, even for domestic use, apparently at least in part to avoid generalised proliferation of "solar farms" with hectares of panels.
Possibly also because, besides potential aesthetic consequences, the powers-that-be at EDF, which is mainly state-owned, is getting itchy about "autoconsommation" (self-sufficiency) installations being on the increase as energy costs rise.
In some countries you even have to pay "solar tax" if you take the initiative of going offgrid. So if anyone has plans for ground-mounted solar panels, get your Déclaration in asap! Roof panels remain okay.”

Interesting that when we met the functionaries regards getting our application in quick, there was some definite hostility to our new 9.6 KW array, with a comment that good agriculture land is being lost to these PV Arrays. However, when i pointed out that getting the base of the panels above 1.1m meant that our sheep can happily graze around and under, suddenly there was sunshine and light and even a smile. Our local councillors and mayor have known us well over 20 years so no issues with them.
So be careful, as a those that have and those that don’t mentality is sneaking in with PV, but as I said getting the PV high enough so our sheep can graze underneath seems to be a middle road solution.
In other countries I, and others have had big arguments with commercial boys/developers of PV farms so the land can still be grazed but as usual the developers say it will cost them loads of money to implement a 1.1m minimum hight. Mostly bullshit about PV Monkey’s installers needing better safety precautions

A picture showing sheep lying underneath to take advantage of the shade would be good propaganda...
I've changed my mind now about these things, but I guess it only works if the animal-raiser and the pv-owner are on the same wavelength!
A

strange , is it still requiring permission what one does with that lawn ? i would undestasnd that if water is needed , but not when sun power is installed

Billi, where there’s a change, doing something different, going against the accepted with Bureaucrats, Planners, neighbours with alternative interests involved, there’s always a potential dispute/objection.

Rapidly followed by lawyers

It is odd considering it’s your own land, but I suppose it’s the price we pay for an ordered society. It’s a game one has to play - sounds like Clockman is managing the game well.

I like the 38.02 degree slope.

You must have spent some time on PVGIS to work that out.

Does l' inspecteur have an accurate enough angle gauge to check for compliance ?

Good afternoon all.

Nowty,
38.02 degree slope is my own compromise after all these years, and talking to Australia a fair bit.

As regards building inspectors and the like.... hahaha ... France does not have any, but i have had a visit from the Cadastre chaps, in Uk that’s the Land registry people coming out and measuring everything very accurately. Here in France there is a right to roam so they can turn up at any time and you cannot stop them.
I just make sure that i have all my paper work folders in order and ready to hand.

Here below are two pics, one done by the cardstre Geo satellite system and the other is my drawing tat i did many, many years ago. Funny to hear the chief cadastre chap say "Can i have a copy of your drawing its more accurate than ours". haha, couldn’t make this stuff up.

France is a Republic and supposed to work for the benefit of the people, so most French folk are ready to kick up a fuss or mass march if they believe they will lose. My Eco warrior friends are always about, so we just explain our logic and most ordinary French see it, but the commercial organization greed folk aren’t keen on us.

Our Mayor has kindly sent this document through to us.

What it means is that both planning committes could not sort them selves out. So under the French rules, no objections withing a month period then the application is automatic approved.

Rather than me just wait until October 7th, and then start works if no objections, our Mayor has officially approved our 9.6KW static PV array that is modified for sheep grazing underneath.

This doucument was following a STOP WORK notice as the planning departments could not see eye to eye with each other. Long story.

So Its official approval, but as i say ny French friends think we are mad just going through this process, they would just do it and stick a finger up. As i constantly explain to them, "We are not French we have to tread very carefully around your officialdom."

Working here on my own and popping to the shops for cat and dog food once a week, I am never sure if any members on this forum see my posts as relevant to them or to this forum, as i live in a different Country with different rules and regulations.

I feel sure most of you do not mind what i post as hopefully its entertainment.

But recently on a USA forum some members and Mods see no relevance to them regards our projects here in France, especially this 9.6KW array and the sheep grazing underneath.

The Sustainability part of our projects seems to not go down well in the US, plus my writing skills are seen as not correct English.

Yes, the World is full of very differeing cultures.

Americans have a different perspective. Solar for them is about “sticking it to the man”, and about saving money. They don’t care about sustainability and they don’t care about the environment. They also couldn’t care less about anything beyond their borders, to the point they’re sometimes offended by someone reminding them that society even exists beyond their borders.

While we might not be able to help you tussle with French bureaucracy, it is (in my mind) on topic for the forum.

France is a skip across the pond, part of the large land mass that is europe, so yes it's always interesting to get another slant beyond your own front door.
Many laws / regs are also co-opted down the line because the hard work has already been done by someone else, ...well until the lies & bs that tory brexit brought along.