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Self-production in Industrial buildings

1. NET-BILLING

Net Billing is the new regulatory framework for energy self-consumption, which includes compensation for the energy injected into the grid. It allows businesses to consume the energy produced by their photovoltaic system in real time while selling any surplus energy. Under a Net Billing system, photovoltaic installations are connected to the grid. When the energy generated by the system is insufficient to meet the self-consumer's needs, additional energy is drawn from the grid. In such cases, the self-consumer is billed for the electricity consumed from the grid at the applicable energy rate during that period.

The installed capacity of Net-Billing PV systems can be up to 100% of the agreed capacity and the surplus energy is sold either (i) through participation in competitive procedures, (ii) through the conclusion of bilateral power purchase agreements (PPAs), or (iii) through direct participation in electricity markets. In the case of the competitive procedure, the self-consumer signs a contract with the RES Aggregator (FoSE). Based on the metering data received from the Operator, the RES Aggregator calculates per deviation clearing period the monetary value of the excess energy from the station based on the revenues from market participation. Therefore, the RES Aggregator is responsible for the compensation price for the self-consumer, which depends on its reliability and the results of the Greek Energy Exchange. The list of the RES Aggregators is announced by RAEEY and posted on the link: HERE

Legal entities with an active, permanent power supply and ownership of the location where the photovoltaic system is installed are eligible to implement Net Billing photovoltaic systems. Additionally, the system can be owned or managed by a third party, provided the third party is under the control of the self-consumer (virtual Net Billing). Photovoltaic power plants can be installed on a building, the ground, or another structure, as long as they are located on the same property or adjacent to the site of the consumption installation. Alternatively, the system may be installed on a separate site, as long as it is electrically connected via a dedicated interconnection line to the electricity installation it serves.

Photovoltaic Net-Billing systems can be combined with a storage system, offering maximization of self-consumption and reducing dependence on energy cost fluctuations, while maintaining the ability to sell surplus energy. Specifically, when the energy produced exceeds the energy consumed, the surplus is stored in batteries. When the energy produced is less than or equal to the energy required by the business, the remaining needs are met through stored energy.

Advantages of Net-Billing

  • Immediate return on investment
  • Reduction of energy costs
  • Green energy production and reduction of carbon dioxide emissions
  • Protection from fluctuations in electricity prices

Differences between Net-Metering and Net-Billing

  • Excess energy in Net-Metering is offset against the energy that the self-consumer absorbs from the grid, while in Net-Billing it is compensated.
  • Only farmers that are registered in the register of farmers and have farm use benefits, first and second-level local authorities that are part of the General Government, and vulnerable households can join Net-Metering, while Net-Billing applies to any legal or natural person.
  • Different billing methods.
  • The Contract with the Grid Operator (HEDNO) for Net-Billing photovoltaic systems is valid for 20 years, while for net-metering systems the validity of the contract is 25 years.
  • In Net-Billing there are new possibilities, such as that the self-consumer's photovoltaic plant can be owned by the self-consumer or a third party or managed through a third party, the installation and operation, including metering and maintenance, if the third party remains under the self-consumer's instructions. In contrast, net-metering does not have this possibility.
  • In net-billing, Collective Self-Consumption is allowed.

The equipment required to install a Net-Billing system is the same as for Net-Metering.

 


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2 . VIRTUAL NET-BILLING

Virtual Net-Billing enables the consumer to install the photovoltaic power plant at a different location from the consumption facilities. Photovoltaic power plants can be installed in any region of the country, regardless of the location of the consumption facilities to be netted, provided that both the power plant and the consumption facilities are located in the same electricity system, that is, in the Interconnected System or, for Non-Interconnected Islands, in the respective electricity system. The consumption facilities to be netted must not be electrically connected to the internal electrical installation of the generating station, even if they are located on the same or adjacent site.

The energy produced by the photovoltaic system is fed into the grid and offset in real-time with the consumption at the user's premises through smart meters, which compare the consumption at the premises and the production of the photovoltaic system in 15-minute intervals.

The consumption facilities to be netted may be represented by a different supplier, and the installed capacity of each station may be up to one hundred percent (100%) of the total installed capacity of all the netted facilities.

3. ZERO FEED-IN

The rapid development of renewable energy, particularly photovoltaic systems, has led to grid saturation, as at certain times the energy produced exceeds the energy needs of consumers, and the grids are unable to handle the excess. Zero Feed-In systems solve the problem of grid saturation and allow energy production that is used exclusively for the self-consumer's needs, without any energy being injected into the grid. Therefore, photovoltaic systems with Zero Feed-In allow production plants to be connected to saturated grids, as long as the saturation is due to exceeding the grid's rated power or voltage limits at grid nodes. The equipment for a Zero Feed-In Self-Generation system is identical to that of a Net-Billing or Net-Metering system, except that it includes an energy analyzer, which prevents energy injection into the grid.

 

 

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