With the strong concern about the rate of the light that we currently live in Spain, one of the trends that is experiencing a greater interest on the part of the population is that of energy self-consumption.
This novelty for many, or already customary for many others, is moving towards the use of renewable energy and self-consumption of electricity through installations such as solar panels or mini-wind power.
The rise of this type of self-consumption also focuses on the fight against climate change that worries us so much today and that we are already beginning to experience with extreme temperatures, floods, tornadoes… etc.
That is why we combine the high concern for our economy and planet Earth, together with great advances in technology that allow lower prices for the components necessary for these installations, national aid and bureaucratic reduction.it seems that energy self-consumption does not seem like such a bad idea.
let’s explain what this concept consists of, how we can carry it out and what are its advantages and disadvantages, in this report.
What is energy self-consumption?
Energy self-consumption is the process by which an individual or company consumes the electricity generated in its own power station, usually photovoltaic or small wind, mainly for its own purposes and only the excess electricity it does not need is fed into the public grid.
These people who carry out this process are known as “prosumers” and in many cases, if you can afford it, we speak of privileged, since Reductions in rates and taxes are offered for this type of electricity.
Regulations and laws regarding energy self-consumption: Spain
In recent years, governments around the world measures have been introduced to lighten the bureaucracy associated with self-consumption and offer economic aid to users who launch into this new system.
The UK and Germany, for example, pay prosumers for every kWh they export to the electricity grid. Italy reduces the bill of its customers in an amount proportional to the kWh supplied to the electricity grid.
In the case of Spain, the repeal of the so-called sun tax in 2018 and a new Royal Decree in 2019 marked the beginning of a new era in this regard.
The tax al sol was a “toll” (from 2015 to 2018), introduced by José Manuel Soria, belonging to the PP (Government of Mariano Rajoy), which was applied to the bills of energy producers for self-consumption through solar panels and that it was an impediment for them. This tax made the electricity bill even more expensive.
The new Royal Decree included benefits such as the promotion of collective self-consumption, which can take place in residential buildings, the simplification of bureaucracy, which It establishes that installations of up to 15 kW or not exceeding 100 kW will only have to electronically notify the electricity production installation in their city.
On the other hand, we have the introduction of the so-called “simplified compensation” for the surplus. And it is that, when you have left over and you do not use it, it circulates through the meter and is poured into the electrical distribution network, counting on the meter in one-hour increments.
Two systems apply here:
1. The hourly net balance: is the difference between the surplus discharged into the network and the energy used from the network in the one hour period. That is to say, each kWh that you pour as a surplus deducts one kWh of consumption from the network, within that same hour. Here you will see the difference and, if it is in your favor, we move on to the simplified compensation.
2. Simplified compensation: the energy you generate, you have left over and on top of that you don’t use, is discounted in the hourly net balance, It is recorded in the accountant and each marketing company establishes an economic compensation.
The average compensation of the surplus is 5 cents per Kwh. In this way, on your next electricity bill, depending on what you have generated, you may only have to pay the minimum rates. Of course, it is necessary to clarify that this cluster is monthly.
We leave you the following example for a better understanding (time of 1 month):
Power generated by the panels | Energy generated and used | surplus energy | Energy used from the network |
---|---|---|---|
400 kWh | 210 kWh | 190 kWh | 185 kWh |
Cost of energy used from the network (€0.200 per kWh) | 185 x 0.200= €37 |
---|---|
Simplified compensation for surplus (€0.080/kWh) | 190 x 0.08= €15.20 |
Total cost | 37 – 15.20= €21.80 |
Self-consumption with surpluses and Self-consumption without surpluses
Although there are various types, the most common are those that precisely refer to this surplus. Self-consumption with surpluses, as we have already explained It allows exporting surplus energy to the transmission and distribution network. Users can sell the energy to the network or benefit from the so-called net balance in which the energy exported to the network is compensated in the bill.
On the other hand we have the so-called self-consumption without surpluses, which is intended solely to cover the energy needs of the home. You will only need an access and connection permit for your consumption facilities.
The characteristic of these installations is that They have an anti-waste system that prevents exporting excess energy to the network. Batteries can be added, as in surplus self-consumption, to store excess energy and use it, for example, at night or on cloudy days.
What is needed to have electricity self-consumption?
One of the biggest doubts about electricity self-consumption is about the infrastructure necessary to generate your own energy. Usually Having all the necessary infrastructure requires a significant investment, although, of course, in the medium term, it is amortized.
Among the most common needs, if we stick to photovoltaic energy are:
- Solar panels: it’s obvious. We are talking about a device created to convert the light that is reflected in them into electric current, which will be installed on the roofs of small houses (they must be suitable). It goes without saying that the advantage of living in Spain is precisely the large number of hours of sunshine that we have. In addition, and thanks to technological evolution, it is becoming a more affordable system.
- Charge regulator: This device is responsible for controlling the current collected by the battery to avoid a dangerous overload. In the case of not having batteries, the charge regulator would not be necessary.
- Investor: The inverter or converter transforms the generator’s direct current into alternating current. Solar panels produce continuous energy, so the inverter transforms it since alternating current is used in most houses.
- Batteries: These store the energy generated by the solar panels during daylight hours to use it when no more energy can be generated.
- Switch: the commutator is a switch that allows switching from one power source to another.
What is the difference between living off the grid and self-consumption?
Self-consumption and disconnection from the network share certain characteristics, but they differ in something very important and that is that Disconnecting from the network necessarily implies self-consumption, but not the other way around.
In other words, any house that decides to go off the grid must be totally self-sufficient in terms of its energy needs, since all physical connections with public services have been cut.
With this, You can now be 100% sure that your power generation system is totally robust and reliable. because you’re not going to be able to flip a switch when your power runs out.
Therefore, it is not necessary to disconnect from the network to use the electricity produced by the energy provided by your solar panels, for example. By synchronizing the photovoltaic system with the grid supply, the electrical installation can be powered by both.