Reduce your electricity bill by adopting a renewable energy solution by opting tophotovoltaic panel installation. To ensure that your project runs smoothly, it’s important to understand the necessary steps and preparations. In this guide, we explain in detail how to install photovoltaic panels on your home, whether you’re a private individual or a professional.

Calling on a photovoltaic panel professional in Wallonia

A certified professional photovoltaic installer will evaluate many factors before starting your photovoltaic panel installation. During his first visit, the Vectura technician will analyze the following points:

Anticipate your annual electricity consumption

First of all, you need to understand and analyze your electricity requirements to determine the size of photovoltaic system you need. It’s a good idea to know that photovoltaic systems are generally more profitable for annual consumption in excess of 1,200 kWh.

As your situation and your family evolve over time, it’s important to think and study your photovoltaic panel installation with these future developments in mind. Are you thinking of investing in an electric or hybrid car? Would you like to install one or more air-conditioning systems or a heat pump? Or are you thinking of expanding your family in a few years’ time? All these factors will have an impact on your annual electricity consumption. The better you can anticipate them, the better the solar infrastructure proposed will match your consumption. Our specialists are here to help you think about each of these elements.

Orientation of your roof

The ideal roof orientation for photovoltaic panels is, of course, south-facing. Such an orientation offers excellent exposure to the sun and therefore maximum productivity for the panels. But, fortunately, other orientations are just as advantageous. Our technician will carry out a sunlight analysis of your roof and advise you on the various installation options.

The panels will be positioned at an angle of between 30° and 35° to maximize the profitability of the photovoltaic cells.

Roofing compatibility and quality

The technician will also look at the quality of your roof and its coating (tile, slate, steel, etc.). Each type of roofing requires its own specific installation procedure: you can’t install panels on a flat roof with roofing tiles in the same way as on a sloping roof with slate tiles. What’s more, a roof that’s too old won’t be able to support the weight of photovoltaic panels. If you know your roof is old, you’ll need to renovate it before installing a photovoltaic system in Wallonia, to avoid incurring additional costs.

Available and usable surface area

The surface area of your roof that can be used forpanel installation will be carefully studied. Chimneys, dormer windows, barbicans, etc. will all reduce the available installation surface.

Analysis of your electrical connection

The electrical connection of your home will have an impact on the type of inverter that can be installed: a three-phase electrical installation does not require the same inverter as a single-phase one. What’s more, your electrical box must meet certain standards to accommodate the photovoltaic system.

  • If your house is under construction, the panels can be installed as soon as the roof is in place. The connection will take place at a later stage, so that it can be integrated into your building without leaving any visible wiring.
  • If photovoltaic panels are intended for a house that’s a few years old, don’t panic! The various cables linking the panels to your inverter and electrical box can be hidden behind a downspout or cladding, for example.

In all cases, we’ll make sure the installation is as clean and unobtrusive as possible.

What happens after the photovoltaic professional’s visit?

Our technician will then provide you with a detailed quotation containing all the information you need to install your photovoltaic system. If you’re happy with the number of panels and wattage proposed, we’ll validate the quote and schedule the work.

At present, we can guarantee installation within 2 to 3 months.

How long does it take to install photovoltaic panels?

It usually takes a day to install the photovoltaic panels on your roof and make the various electrical connections. Of course, this time estimate depends on the type of roof, the number of panels and the desired installation.

Administrative formalities after installing your photovoltaic panels in Wallonia: checking conformity

The inspection of photovoltaic panels is an essential step in ensuring the safety and conformity of your photovoltaic electrical installation. In Belgium, the new RGIE (Règlement Général des Installations Electriques) defines the rules for electrical compliance. This inspection, carried out by an approved, independent body, is essential. Your Vectura installer will take care of all the certification formalities.

Why is it important to have your photovoltaic panels inspected?

The photovoltaic panel inspection guarantees the safety of your installation. It is mandatory before commissioning your photovoltaic electrical installation in Wallonia, and can also be requested after any modification to your electrical installation.

Verification of correct installation

During this inspection, the certifier will check that the electrical installation has been properly installed, validate that the plans conform to what he sees, and measure the earth leakage resistance value. Our installers are familiar with the criteria that must be met to ensure that the inspection is carried out correctly. However, the one piece of data they don’t master is the earth resistance, and this is often the point that is missing when a certification turns out to be non-compliant. A second intervention to resolve this and you’ll have an approved conformity report.

Once the inspector has passed the inspection, he will submit his report to Vectura, who will forward it to you as soon as possible, explaining the various steps to be taken with your energy supplier.

Are your photovoltaic panels and installation certified? Congratulations, it’s time to take advantage!

It’s probably the moment you’ve been waiting for: your system is officially up and running. Now it’s time to take advantage of it and watch your consumption melt away like snow in the sun.

What administrative procedures need to be taken into account once your photovoltaic panels have been commissioned in Wallonia?

Once your photovoltaic panels have been installed and are up and running, it’s important to take a few steps to ensure total peace of mind. Below we explain the essential steps to take once your photovoltaic panels have been installed in Liège or Wallonia.

Notify your electricity or energy supplier and provide them with an official document.

Now that you’re about to consume some of the electricity generated by your photovoltaic panels, don’t forget to inform your electricity supplier. He can then adjust the amount of your next instalment bills to reflect your actual consumption. If you don’t, your supplier will continue to bill you on the basis of your usual consumption, which will delay reimbursement of the difference between the estimate and actual consumption when your account is settled. It’s better to take advantage of this money now, rather than wait for the adjustment!

If you’re thinking of switching electricity supplier after installing your photovoltaic panels, try to plan this change following your annual meter reading. Your meter reading will enable us to calculate precisely your net electricity draw from the grid, i.e. the difference between the electricity you injected into the grid (higher in summer) and the electricity you drew from the grid (higher in winter). When you switch to your new supplier, your consumption will be regularized and your meter will be reset to zero, allowing your next bill to reflect your actual consumption.

Communicate the installation to your insurance broker or Belgian insurance company

To protect yourself against possible incidents, inform your insurance company of theinstallation of your photovoltaic panelsso that they can be added to your home insurance.

 

Need help or expert advice from our photovoltaic panel experts?

Contact us today to request a free, no-obligation quote, and take another step towards a more sustainable future.