Solar panels in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
The calculator opens on Dijon. The region spans the sunny vineyards of the Saône and the Jura plateaus: the figures commune by commune.
Bourgogne-Franche-Comté produces a median of 1,182 kWh per kWp a year, level with the national median (1,185), by our calculation on the European Commission’s PVGIS data. Behind that average lies one of the widest ranges in the country, from 1,007 to 1,239 kWh depending on the commune. Saône-et-Loire leads with 1,212 kWh: the Saône plain, around Mâcon and Chalon-sur-Saône, is the sunniest part of the region. At the other end, Territoire de Belfort stops at 1,160. Yet the two regional capitals are almost level: Dijon produces 1,195 kWh per kWp, Besançon 1,190. For a household using 4,500 kWh a year with 3 kWp, payback is 17.4 years in Dijon and 17.5 years in Besançon. In the mountains the question is less about sunshine than about snow and the strength of the roof frame.
Pays for itself in · 3 kWp in Dijon
17.4 years
Net result over 20 years: +€892
| Output per year | 3,563 kWh |
| Used on site (46 %) | 1,654 kWh |
| Bill saving, year 1 | €331 |
| Surplus sold (1,910 kWh) | €21 |
| Standing-charge surcharge (export) | −€12 |
| Gain in year 1 | €340 |
| Share of your bill covered | 37 % |
| Price used (estimate) | €6,000 |
| Best-value size (estimated prices) | 2 kWc |
Month-by-month output in Dijon (3 kWp)
December: 142 kWh; July: 413 kWh. PVGIS average 2005-2023.
Checked by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
The eight départements
| Département | Median kWh/kWp | Communes: from… to… | 3 kWp pays back in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saône-et-Loire (71) | 1,212 | 1,159 – 1,239 | 17.4 years |
| Jura (39) | 1,208 | 1,109 – 1,225 | 17.4 years |
| Côte-d'Or (21) | 1,185 | 1,130 – 1,217 | 17.5 years |
| Nièvre (58) | 1,177 | 1,143 – 1,213 | 17.5 years |
| Haute-Saône (70) | 1,171 | 1,084 – 1,201 | 18.4 years |
| Yonne (89) | 1,170 | 1,141 – 1,185 | 17.9 years |
| Doubs (25) | 1,164 | 1,007 – 1,228 | 17.6 years |
| Territoire de Belfort (90) | 1,160 | 1,085 – 1,179 | 18.4 years |
The western half of the region, from the Yonne to the Nièvre, stays close to the national median. The east is more contrasted: the Jura and the Doubs mix well-exposed valleys and cloudier plateaus, which explains the very wide ranges in the table. The Morvan, in the centre, sits at the low end of the Nièvre’s range.
A reasonable size is enough
The sizing rule is the same everywhere: aim at daytime usage, as surplus is bought at only 1.1 c€/kWh. For an 8,000 kWh household in Dijon, the best 20-year size is 3 kWp; in Besançon, 3 kWp. The mini-calculator below shows output in the Doubs over the year, in July and in December.
How much will your panels produce?
Output per year
3,471 kWh
| In July | 403 kWh |
| In December | 138 kWh |
| Value at Tarif Bleu | €694 |
Median of the département’s towns (PVGIS 2005-2023), roof at 30°, 14% losses.
Mountain roofs and old frames
In snowy areas, ask the installer to check the roof’s permissible load, especially on a large-roofed Comtois farmhouse. A slope facing east or west is still usable: the facing factor puts a figure on the loss. For expected output over the year, see the guide on solar panel output.