Net metering photovoltaic systems: a Guide to beginners for easy decisions

Main points of the article: 

• What exactly is net-metering or net metering
• During “life” pv 25 years
• Surplus energy is stored for three years
• Sizes of photovoltaic depending on the business or residence
• The differentiation in the islands
• Any zero cost supply
• Saving money every time
• Implementation time is approximately 2 months
• Supporting documents required and how to take the first step

The transition to green energy, particularly with the net metering to homes and businesses, is one of the most important topics of discussion in the last few years. References to photovoltaic systems and renewable energy sources are a daily occurrence in newspapers, tv and radio, creating a hazy landscape on whether this is indeed a feasible solution for everyone, or if the output power remains a privilege of the few.

The technology development of pv has turned, indeed, the production of energy in an affordable solution. In contrast to previous years that the costs were to dizzying heights for anyone who wants to reduce and, why not, to reduce to zero the cost of the power required for the operation of the business or the home. This is achieved through net metering, which is today and tomorrow in the production of energy for their own consumption.

Terminologies such as “net metering” and information that are included in most articles, there are many times understood to the reader. This has as a result of the created more questions and by extension objections. Through this article we will try to make it understood what is the net metering photovoltaics, how they work and how to translate financial data for homes and businesses. 

What it is and how it works net metering;

With the term net metering, or energy clearing, we mean the set-off of the energy produced by the photovoltaic system, and this is consumed on the property that has been carried out the installation. The specificity of the energy clearing lies in the fact that the liquidation of the account is carried out every three years. Therefore, the energy generated by the photovoltaic system, which is not consumed directly, is not lost. On the contrary, it remains available for consumption for the remaining period until we complete the three-year period. That is the producer of energy with the ability to use it when you need it. If, for example, a house or a company produces 1.150 kilowatt hours of energy the month corresponding to the installation of photovoltaic 10kW and consume 980 kilowatt-hours, then the remaining 170 kilowatt-hours of “saved” and will be available for consumption within the next three years.

The counting of the energy produced by the photovoltaic system as well as incoming from the Network of energy are the responsibility of the HEDNO. The energy supplier is responsible for the process of clearing, on the basis of data received from the measurements of the HEDNO. This is the reason why, a 25-year term, netting contract is signed with the provider of electricity and not by HEDNO, in which, however, becomes the connection request of the system to the network. In the event of a change in provider, the new contract has a duration equal to the residual of the 25-year period of time. If, for example, a house or a company has net metering photovoltaic system for ten years and decided to change energy supplier, then the new contract will be valid for 15 years.

A surplus of energy at the end of three years is lost

Είναι σημαντικό να τονιστεί, ότι στο τέλος της 3ετίας τυχόν πλεόνασμα παραγόμενης ενέργειας δεν αποζημιώνεται από τον πάροχο αλλά χάνεται. Συνεπώς, για την επίτευξη του βέλτιστου ισοζυγίου απόδοσης και κόστους, η εγκατάσταση του φωτοβολταϊκού συστήματος θα πρέπει να έχει μελετηθεί κατάλληλα προκειμένου το περίσσευμα ενέργειας να είναι το ελάχιστο δυνατό. Για αυτόν τον λόγο θα πρέπει να επιλεχθεί και η κατάλληλη εταιρεία μελετητών, όπως η ΙΩΝΙΚΗ Renewables, που διαθέτει μεγάλη εμπειρία σε μελέτες και εγκαταστάσεις φωτοβολταϊκών.