What legalising involves
- Inspection. An authorised installer checks the panels, inverter, wiring, protections and earthing against the current electrical code.
- Fixes. Common ones: protections, earthing, labelling, a compliant inverter, sometimes new cabling.
- Paperwork. The memoria técnica (up to 10 kW) or a project signed by an engineer (above 10 kW), the electrical certificate (CIE), and registration in the Balearic self-consumption register. Grid-connected systems also need the supply contract changed to self-consumption with compensation. Isolated systems skip the register but still need the certificate.
- Town hall. Where no permit was ever filed, a comunicació prèvia or licence may be needed. Heritage areas and rustic land are stricter.
Why bother
- Compensation for surplus only starts once the system is registered. On a 5 kWp system that's often €200 to €400 a year.
- Buyers' lawyers ask for the paperwork, and tourist-licence inspections can too.
- Municipal IBI rebates require proof of registration.
Upgrade while you're at it
A system from 2010 to 2018 often has an inverter near the end of its life and no battery. Replacing it with a hybrid inverter and adding storage brings the FACTOR 45% battery grant into play for residents.
Typical prices
| Job | Typical installed price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Home EV charger, 7.4 kW | €800 to €2,000 | FACTOR pays 70% to residents, max €2,500 |
| Off-grid finca system, 4 to 8 kWp with 15 to 30 kWh | €12,000 to €35,000 | Battery is about half; generator integration extra |
| Legalising an existing system | €300 to €1,000 | Up to €2,500 with works to meet code |
| Engineer's project (above 10 kW) | €600 to €1,500 | Plus works direction certificate |
| Energy certificates before and after | €250 to €500 | Needed for the 40% and Balearic deductions |
incl. 21% IVA. Budget ranges from quotes across the island; real prices depend on a site visit.
What a good installer includes
- Written inspection report before any quote for works
- Memoria or project, CIE and register entry included
- Town hall filing covered where needed
- Clear split between legalisation and optional upgrades
Watch out for
- 'It's fine as it is' without a report
- Legalisation quoted without checking the land classification
- Pressure to replace panels that still work
Common questions
My system was installed before 2019. Does it need legalising?
If it was never registered, yes. Until it is, you can't claim surplus compensation or municipal rebates, and a sale or tourist licence can stall.
What does legalisation cost?
€300 to €1,000 for inspection and paperwork if the system meets code; €900 to €2,500 if protections, earthing or the inverter need work.