If you would like solar panels on your villa in the Vega Baja but the thought of Spanish town halls, forms you cannot read and an electricity company that only answers in Spanish puts you off, this is for you. A turnkey installation exists precisely so you do not have to deal with any of that. Here is what it should include, step by step, and the short list of things you will actually be asked to do.
We work this way every week on villas in Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa and the golf resorts, many of them owned by people who spend part of the year in the UK, Belgium or France. Most of them want exactly the same thing: one company that handles everything and tells them, in English, when the system is producing.
1.What turnkey
should mean in Spain
A turnkey solar installation means a single company is responsible for the whole job: survey, design, equipment, installation, electrical work, legalisation and commissioning. You approve the project and, at the end, you receive a working, legally registered system with all its documentation.
It should not mean:
close The panels go on the roof, but you sort out the electricity company yourself
.
close A quote that does not name the brand and model of each component.
close Nobody explaining the app or telling you who to call if something stops working.
If an offer leaves any of these open, it is not turnkey.
2.Step 1: the site survey (you do not have to be there)
Everything starts with a visit to the property. A photo is fine for a first idea, but not for a firm proposal. During the survey we check the roof and its waterproofing, orientation and afternoon shade, the condition of your consumer unit, where the inverter (and a battery, if you want one) will go, and how cables will run.
Many owners are abroad when we visit. That is not a problem: a neighbour, a key holder or your property manager can let us in, and we send you photos and a summary afterwards.
3.Step 2: a design based on your real bills
We ask for your recent electricity bills, ideally covering a full year, so we can see both summer and winter. The system is then sized for how you actually use the villa, not for an area average.
That matters a lot for expat owners. A villa at Las Colinas Golf lived in year-round, with a pool and daytime air conditioning, is a very different case from a holiday home used mainly in summer. Depending on your consumption, savings can vary widely, which is why we give you ranges and explain the assumptions, never a guaranteed percentage. If you only spend part of the year here, our article on solar for holiday homes in Spain goes into that in detail.
4.Step 3: a written quote you can understand
A serious turnkey quote states what is being installed, what is included and what warranties apply: brand and model of panels, inverter and battery, mounting structure, cabling and protections, full legalisation and remote monitoring. We go through it with you in English, so you know exactly what you are signing. For a checklist of what to look for in any offer, see the catch behind ‘free’ solar panels in Spain.
5.Step 4: installation day
The physical work is usually the shortest part. On a typical villa it takes a few working days, depending on the size of the system, the type of roof and whether there is a battery.
check Mounting structure and panels on the roof. check Inverter (and battery, if included) in the agreed location. check Cabling, protections and connection to your consumer unit. check Monitoring app set up on your phone.
All electrical work is carried out by a licensed installer (instalador habilitado). This is not a job for a handyman: it involves high-voltage direct current and your main consumer unit.
6.Step 5: the Spanish paperwork (handled for you)
This is where turnkey really earns its name. We take care of it, but it helps to know what happens:
- Town hall. Each council has its own procedure, usually a simple notification or declaration, and some offer discounts on local taxes such as ICIO or IBI. It varies from one municipality to another, so we check it for your address.
- Installation certificate. When the work is finished we issue the official electrical installation certificate, the document every system in Spain needs. You can read more on our electrical certificates page.
- Self-consumption registry. The system is registered with the Valencian Community. Under Royal Decree 244/2019, for low-voltage systems the regional authority passes the details on to the distribution company.
- Grid and electricity company. Systems with surplus up to 15 kW on urban land are exempt from grid access and connection permits. The distribution company updates your access contract, and your electricity supplier activates simplified surplus compensation, so the energy you export is credited on your bill.
The timing of each step depends on the town hall, the regional administration and the distribution company, so we will not promise a date here; we give you an estimate based on your case. Rules can also change, which is why we check each file at the time.
Being a non-resident does not stop any of this. If you would like more detail on the non-resident side, read our guide to going solar in Spain when you are not a resident.
7.Step 6: switch-on and after-sales
Once the system is installed and checked, it can start covering your own consumption. Credit for exported energy appears on your bill once the supplier has updated your contract.
At handover we show you how to read the app: what you produce, what you use and what you export. For owners who spend months abroad, this is often the most valued part, because you can check your villa from home. And if something looks wrong, you have a named contact who answers in English.
8.What you will actually need to do
- Arrange access for the survey (in person or through someone you trust).
- Send us your electricity bills and the account holder’s details.
- Sign the authorisations that allow us to handle the paperwork on your behalf.
- Approve the project.
Everything else, from the roof to the electricity company, is our job.
9.Frequently asked questions
9.1.What does a turnkey solar installation include in Spain?
Survey, design based on your bills, equipment, installation, electrical work, the installation certificate, registration, dealing with the distribution company and your supplier, and commissioning with remote monitoring. You approve the project and sign the authorisations.
9.2.Do I need to be in Spain while the system is installed?
Not necessarily. Many owners leave keys with a neighbour or property manager. We keep you updated at each step and you can follow production on the app.
9.3.Can a non-resident install solar panels on a villa in Spain?
Yes. Residency is not a requirement to install or register a self-consumption system. What can differ is access to certain tax deductions, which depends on your tax situation, so it is worth checking with your adviser.
9.4.How long does the whole process take?
The installation itself usually takes a few days. The paperwork varies most, since it depends on the town hall, the regional administration and the distribution company. We give you an estimate for your specific case.
9.5.Can I add a battery or an EV charger later?
Yes, if it is planned from the start. That is why we choose the inverter with future additions in mind. If you are considering it, see is a solar battery worth it if you already have panels?
Information on procedures was checked against official sources at the time of publication. Regulations and local procedures change: always check your specific case.
10.Start with a free survey
If you would like solar on your villa without having to deal with Spanish bureaucracy, the first step is for us to look at the property and your bills. We will tell you plainly what makes sense, what does not, and how the process would work in your municipality. In English, free and with no obligation.