Solar panels

Two firms in Torre del Mar design and install photovoltaic self consumption systems for homes and businesses, from Calle Azucarera and Calle las Pitas, with the permits and registration included. Both hold a perfect public rating.

The paperwork is most of the work

Fitting panels to a roof is the straightforward part. What makes an installation legal is the registration of the self consumption system with the regional authority and the connection agreement with your electricity supplier. Any quote should say clearly that this is included and who files it, because an unregistered installation cannot be compensated for what it exports.

Surplus energy is paid for

What your panels produce and you do not use can be compensated on your electricity bill under the surplus compensation arrangement. It is not the same as a feed in tariff and the amount depends on your contract, so ask the installer to show you the numbers on your own consumption rather than a generic example.

Two local details

• In a block of flats the roof is common property. An individual installation needs the community's agreement, and collective self consumption for the whole building is a different and often better conversation.
• Ask about the council tax rebate. Many Spanish municipalities grant a reduction on property tax for solar installations. Whether and how much applies here is a question for the council, and the installer will normally know the current position.