Collective solar thermal rehabilitation study 2026 Grant

Agence de la transition écologique (ADEME)

About this grant

ADEME offers financial support for an audit of a solar thermal installation and the associated rehabilitation works. The aid addresses collective solar thermal systems that are completely stopped or operating at very low productivity (below 50% of expected output) and that present serious malfunctions. An audit is required first to diagnose the problems on the installation and to establish and price corrective actions. The scheme then also funds the rehabilitation works and concludes with the signature of an operating contract. Priority targets are social landlords, collective housing (copropriétés) and medico-social establishments such as EHPAD care homes. Applicants first consult engineering service providers using the specification template published by ADEME, pre-select an offer without committing or ordering, then file an aid application with the provider's technical and financial proposal, stating forecast expenditure for the audit, any project management fees, and the works envelope allocated to rehabilitation. An Agir account is required to file on ADEME's platform. Aid is granted mainly through ADEME regional directorates, and prior contact is advised.

Eligibility

Open to local authorities, companies, and associations that hold a collective solar thermal installation which is either completely out of service or running at under 50% of its expected productivity with serious operating faults. Priority targets are social housing landlords, collective housing co-ownerships, and medico-social facilities. The aid is available in the regions of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Bretagne, Centre-Val de Loire, Corse, Grand Est, Guadeloupe, Guyane, Hauts-de-France, Île-de-France, La Réunion, Martinique, Mayotte, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Occitanie, Pays de la Loire, and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. The programme runs from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2026 and is described as currently open. Detailed conditions are in a separate PDF not reproduced here.

Key requirements

• ✓Installation must be a solar thermal hot-water system using certified glazed liquid-circulation collectors (CSTBat, SolarKeymark or equivalent) with at least 25 m² of collector area in metropolitan France (10 m² in overseas territories)
• ✓System must be less than 20 years old at application date and any warranty, decennial insurance or other recourse against responsible parties must be exhausted
• ✓Priority to idle or systems below 50% of reference productivity; grouped actions and engineering/installer/operator consortia are favoured

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Agence de la transition écologique (ADEME) offer?

Collective solar thermal rehabilitation study offers Selon la surface et l'ancienneté de l’installation solaire, dans un maximum de 30 000€ HT.

When is the Collective solar thermal rehabilitation study deadline?

Applications close 31 Dec 2026.

Who can apply for Collective solar thermal rehabilitation study?

Eligibility covers organisations in FR; nonprofit, local-authority, consortium, engineering-contractor, consultancy, sme, large-company. See the eligibility criteria above for the full conditions.

Relevant sectors

About this sector

Renewable energy funding covers solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal and bioenergy, from early research to grid-scale deployment. Public money tends to back demonstration, grid connection and access to energy in emerging markets, while procurement notices buy installation, operation and maintenance. Calls often ask for proof of resource assessment, permitting progress and local partners.