Technical condition and energy

Solar PV system (fotovoltaická elektrárna)

In Czech: Fotovoltaická elektrárna

A solar PV system (fotovoltaická elektrárna, FVE) turns sunlight into electricity for a home. It consists of panels, an inverter and sometimes a battery; when buying a house you need to know who owns it and which contracts relate to it.

Also called: solar panels, photovoltaics, rooftop solar, FVE, fotovoltaika

What it means

A solar PV system, in Czech fotovoltaická elektrárna, fotovoltaika or FVE, converts sunlight into electricity. On a family house it consists of panels on the roof or the plot, an inverter that turns direct current into alternating current, and often a battery to store surplus power. The house uses part of the electricity itself, and surplus can be supplied to the grid under a contract.

Do not confuse it with solar thermal collectors (solární kolektory), which heat water rather than produce electricity. Listings sometimes mix the two up, so ask exactly what is installed.

How it works in the Czech Republic

When buying a house with solar panels, find out who owns the system. It may belong to the seller, but it can also be leased or bought on credit. It is wise to state explicitly in the purchase agreement (kupní smlouva) whether the system, including the battery and accessories, is part of the sale and which documents the buyer will receive.

Ask for the design documents, an inspection report (revizní zpráva), warranties for the panels, inverter and battery, and the contracts with the distribution company and the electricity supplier. How contracts pass to a new owner varies by company, so ask them in advance.

The energy class in an advert comes from the energy performance certificate (PENB), not from the mere presence of panels. Act No. 406/2000 Sb. requires the class to be stated in adverts, so check any claim of an efficient house with PV against the certificate and find out whether it was issued after the installation.

Practical example

For example, a seller offers a house with its own solar system and promises almost zero electricity bills. Ask whether the panels and battery belong to the seller or to a company they are paying off. Request a full year's electricity statement, production data from the inverter and the inspection report. If the system is not yet paid off, agree in the contract who will keep paying the instalments.

What to watch out for

  • Verify who owns the panels, inverter and battery and whether they are leased or financed.
  • State expressly in the purchase agreement that the system is included in the sale.
  • Ask for the inspection report, warranties and installation documents.
  • Ask about the condition of the roof under the panels and whether it was repaired before mounting.
  • Judge savings by annual bills and production data, not by promises in the advert.

Frequently asked questions

Does solar PV improve a house's energy class?

It can affect the result if the PENB takes it into account. What counts is the class in a certificate issued after the installation.

Does the contract for surplus power pass to the buyer automatically?

Do not rely on it. The procedure depends on the particular supplier and distribution company, so contact them before the house is transferred.

Is the solar system automatically included in the sale?

State it expressly in the purchase agreement, because the equipment may belong to a third party. Without a clear agreement a dispute can arise.

  • Heat pump (tepelné čerpadlo)A heat pump (tepelné čerpadlo) heats a home, and often its water, by taking heat from the outside air, the ground or water and moving it indoors using electricity. How well it works depends on its design and on the house's insulation.
  • Energy performance certificate (PENB)PENB (průkaz energetické náročnosti budovy) is the Czech energy performance certificate. It rates how much energy a building or flat needs and places it in a class from A (exceptionally efficient) to G (exceptionally inefficient).
  • Electrical inspection (revize elektroinstalace)An electrical inspection (revize elektroinstalace) is a professional check of the wiring and electrical equipment in a flat or house. It ends with an inspection report (revizní zpráva) describing the installation and any defects found.
  • Purchase agreement (kupní smlouva)A purchase agreement (kupní smlouva) is the written contract in which the seller undertakes to transfer ownership of a property to the buyer and the buyer undertakes to pay the price. Ownership passes only on entry into the land register.
  • Family house (rodinný dům)A family house (rodinný dům) is a building intended mainly for one or a few households, either detached or attached to neighbouring houses. It is usually sold together with the land, of which the building is legally a part.

Sources

Laws and official pages this text is based on (in Czech).

This text is for information only and has not yet been checked by a legal or financial expert. It is not legal, tax or financial advice. Verify important details in the listed sources or with a professional.

Updated 25 October 2026

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