Self-consumption surpluses refer to the solar energy generated by photovoltaic panels that is not consumed at the time of its production. In other words, during midday hours, when solar energy production reaches its peak, but household consumption may be reduced, surpluses are generated. And these surpluses can be managed in several ways:
- Grid feed-in by injecting the surplus energy into the electricity grid. In this option, surplus compensation becomes relevant.
- Battery storage for later use, such during the night or on cloudy days.
Compensation for self-consumption surpluses is a system that allows users who produce more energy than they consume to receive financial compensation for the surplus energy they inject into the electrical grid. This system is beneficial both for energy products and for the electrical system in general, as it maximizes the use of energy generated from renewable sources.
How does grid feed-in work?
- Measurement: A bi-directional meter is installed that measures both the energy consumed from the grid and the energy injected into the grid.
- Billing: surplus energy is metered and valued at an agreed price, usually regulated by the energy authorities. This value is deducted from the user’s electricity bill, further reducing their costs.
- Net balance: in some systems, a net balance can be implemented, where the energy injected is offset against the energy consumed in different periods of time, allowing for greater flexibility and optimization of self-consumption.
Regarding the second surplus management option, solar storage works by capturing and retaining the energy generated by solar PV systems for later use.
This system, combined with solar PV panels for self-consumption, allows companies to efficiently control the charging and discharging of their storage systems, thus maximizing savings on the energy bills.
The system consists of:
- Battery charging: during the day, when the solar panels are generating electricity, part of this energy is used to charge the batteries or energy storage systems, such as ion battery banks or other types of accumulators.
- Battery discharge: when electricity demand exceeds direct solar generation, the stored electricity is supplied.
- Smart management: allows companies to efficiently control the charging and discharging of their storage systems, maximizing energy bill savings.
Both options offer several advantages:
- Economic savings: by receiving compensation for surplus energy, users can significantly reduce their electricity bills.
- Sustainability: promotes the use of renewable energies, contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
- Energy efficiency: helps to balance energy demand and supply, making the electrical system more efficient and resilient.
- Incentive for investment in PV: the possibility of receiving compensation for surplus energy encourages more people and companies to invest in photovoltaic installations.
In conclusion, at Greenvolt Next, we highlight the compensation of photovoltaic self-consumption surpluses as a key tool to encourage the use of solar energy and other renewable sources. Therefore, we continue to innovate in the Distributed Generation segment with our strategy for Solar Storage as an auxiliary service. This system improves the efficiency in the management of the clean energy generated and reinforces the savings on the energy bill of business customers, which can reach up to 70%.
