The Solution for Reducing Energy Costs for Businesses
Recent changes in the renewable energy sector by the Ministry of Environment and Energy (ΥΠΕΝ) have led to a significant shift from net metering to simultaneous net billing. Simultaneous net billing refers to the offsetting of produced energy at the time it is consumed.
Who Can Now Participate in the Net Metering Program?
The following entities can now participate in the net metering program:
- Farmers registered in the Register of Farmers and Agricultural Holdings for photovoltaic systems up to 30 kWp for agricultural installations.
- Municipalities and legal entities, either public or private, pursuing charitable or other public purposes.
- Systems addressing the energy needs of citizens living below the poverty line and households affected by energy poverty.
A Ministerial Decision is expected in the coming days, following the recent end of the consultation period, which will detail the implementation of Net Billing for businesses and individuals. However, its key features are already known.
Key Features of the Net Billing Program
Location of Production Station for Virtual Simultaneous Net Billing | Production stations can be installed in any region of the country, regardless of where the consumption installations to be offset are located. |
Eligibility | Simultaneous Net Billing: Individuals (whether business owners or not) or legal entities, public or private, that either own the property where the production station is installed or have lawful use of it (e.g., through lease, free concession, etc.) and have secured the written consent of the property owner. |
Virtual Simultaneous Net Billing: Individuals (whether business owners or not) or legal entities, public or private, that either own the property where the production station is installed or have lawful use of it (e.g., through lease, free concession, etc.) and have secured the written consent of the property owner. | |
Compensation for Surplus Energy | Surplus energy, which cannot be offset at the time of production, will be fed into the grid and compensated based on the Day-Ahead Market Clearing Price. |
Capacity Limits for PV Systems (in the interconnected network and Crete) | Simultaneous Net Billing: The capacity of each production station installed under this framework can be up to 100% of the agreed consumption capacity. |
Virtual Simultaneous Net Billing: The capacity of each production station can be up to 200% of the installed capacity of the total offset consumptions. | |
Measurement of Produced, Absorbed, and Injected Energy | The measurement of the produced electrical energy of the production station, as well as the absorbed and injected energy to and from the grid, will be carried out by the responsible Operator, in 15-minute intervals. Thus, a telemetering system is required to record real-time production and injection data of the station and the consumption data for offsetting. |
Meter Matching | Simultaneous Net Billing: Each production station is exclusively matched with the consumption installation meter. |
Virtual Simultaneous Net Billing: Each production station can be matched with one or more meters of the self-producer with predetermined percentages for energy distribution to each consumption installation. |
Who Benefits from Net Billing?
Net Billing is particularly significant and efficient for consumers with high energy consumption during the day. To maximize the benefits of this program, businesses or individuals should maximize the synchronization of production and consumption. The hours of maximum sunshine and production of the photovoltaic station should be fully utilized for energy consumption of equipment and machinery in a business, as well as household appliances (e.g., air conditioners, kitchen appliances, washing machines).
When Is the Benefit of Net Billing Maximized?
Combining a Net Billing PV system with a storage system (battery) maximizes the benefit for the self-consumer (business or individual), as it allows for the storage of excess energy (during high sunshine hours) that exceeds the consumption at those times. The stored energy can be used when production is low or zero. A Net Billing system with batteries contributes to independence from the grid and protects consumers in areas with frequent power outages. It also serves as a backup power source, for example, during severe weather conditions or extended power outages. For businesses, it ensures uninterrupted operation, while for individuals, it provides security during power outages.
What Are the Benefits of a Net Billing Photovoltaic System?
The benefits of a Net Billing photovoltaic system, with or without storage, are manifold for the self-producer, the environment, and society as a whole:
- Coverage of part or all of the self-producer’s electrical consumption, with significant financial benefits.
- Protection from the constant fluctuations in prices and future increases in electricity prices.
- Reduction of dependence, especially for businesses, on the electrical grid and its potential issues.
- Enhancement of a business’s ecological/”green” profile, along with increasing its competitiveness.
- Environmental protection, especially in today’s context of experiencing the impacts of climate change.
What Is the Advantage of Virtual Net Billing for Businesses?
A major advantage of Virtual Net Billing for businesses is that production stations can be installed in any region of the country, regardless of where the consumption installations to be offset are located. This allows businesses without their own roof or adjacent agricultural land to offset their consumption with a photovoltaic system installed elsewhere (building, agricultural land, etc.) in a different region from their headquarters.