PowerGreen: reduce your electricity bill with the help of the sun

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PowerGreen: reduce your electricity bill with the help of the sun

Now you too can easily become electricity producers and utilize the free energy of the sun, and therefore significantly reduce on your electricity expenses.

Since the simplest way of exploiting the sun is the classic solar water heater, modern photovoltaic systems come in to help us approach the use of solar energy from a different angle, with the - on site - production of electricity. And this is particularly important, at a time when the term energy crisis is coming up more and more often on the news and consumers are experiencing the effects of this new predicament on their family budget. And, of course, we must not forget the contribution of this process to tackling climate change, as this is an eminently renewable form of energy.

Free Energy from the Sun

The sun is an inexhaustible source of energy for our planet, providing, through its radiation, 171,300 TW of power - and to help you better grasp this kind of magnitude, consider that 1 TW equals 1 billion kW! Now, in the case of Greece, and based on the total monthly radiation in Athens - at a horizontal level on the surface of the earth - the energy offered by the sun can reach 1,624 kWh/kWp. It is worth noting that production is usually measured in kWh/kWp (where kWp is the unit of installed power of photovoltaic panels).

The Common Good Is Personal Gain

The use of photovoltaics is not only beneficial for society, mankind, and ultimately for the entire planet, but also for the person who has them installed. The interesting fact is that this does not only have to do with facilities of energy production companies or industrial facilities, but also ordinary home consumers who are able to take advantage of what is known as "Net Metering" or otherwise "energy offset".

The logic of energy offset (Net Metering) is simple: after installing the appropriate photovoltaic system at their home or business, consumers can produce their own energy, which they consume directly, while channeling the excess amount to the grid for future use. In this way the electricity supply charge is significantly reduced - even down to zero - making the final billed amount to be paid also significantly reduced. The benefit is such that in a relatively short period of time the cost of the installation is written off and its owner enjoys a financial benefit throughout the 25 year-duration of the Net Metering agreement. And the good thing is that they not only save money from the electricity supply charge, but they also save money from part of the regulated and other charges.

From a technical point of view, in addition to the photovoltaic panels that convert solar energy into electricity, the system also includes an inverter that converts direct current into alternating current, ready for home use. Whereas a bidirectional meter registers both the energy absorbed - on behalf of the consumer/producer - by the network and the energy offered to it.

What has the energy offset (Net Metering) to offer?

In a house of 100 sq.m. with an annual consumption of approximately 8,000 kWh, the total charge for the supply of electricity will be of the order of €1,280, (a total charge per unit of €0.16/kWh based on Eurostat 2021-S2). With the installation of a photovoltaic system having a capacity of 5.5 kWp, with a total cost of €8,000 (including VAT), the annual energy produced will be equal to 8,250 kWh[[1]] . Consequently, the energy supply charge will be zero (€1,280) and an additional profit will arise from regulated and other charges, which will be approximately €135. So the depreciation of this particular system will have been completed in about 5.5 years.

 

Here's why the consumer gains

One kilowatt (kWp) of installed capacity of a photovoltaic (PV) system (which translates to about 5 square meters of photovoltaic panels, depending on their type) can produce, in some cases, even over 1,600 kWh per year. A PV system can, therefore, contribute to up to a 70% reduction in the final consumer's energy costs and in some cases zero energy supply costs. How this reduction results is not as complex as one might think looking at the detailed electricity bill.

Please note: When I have a PV system, the energy I produce (P) is subtracted from the energy I consume (C) and I only pay the difference as the energy supply charge if there is any. And of course, if there is surplus production of energy, it is not lost, but rather transferred to the next bill. After the installation of an energy offset system (Net Metering), the figures measured by HEDNO are the following: Absorbed (A) from the energy network, i.e. that which is "drawn" by the consumer - and not the total Consumed (C) -, Produced (P) and of energy Injected (I) into the network, by the installation’s consumer/producer. How energy offset (Net Metering) is done is shown in detail in the table below.

Type of Consumption

Consumption Calculation

Type of Charge

Maximum Power Demand (MP)

MP = A – I

Energy Supply Charge

Absorbed (A)

From HEDNO Measurements

Regulated charges

Consumed (C)

C = P + A – I

-

What is known as simultaneity also plays its own special role in saving money through energy offset (Net Metering). What does this mean; The greater the simultaneity, the greater the amount of produced energy that is consumed directly, at the same time, by the consumer, resulting in the reduction of absorbed energy, which in turn means a reduction of regulated charges.

The correct study of a system ensures that installing a system that would be too large and which would produce more energy than is required will be avoided. It is very important for the end consumer to understand that more energy produced does not mean more savings, as excess energy is not compensated.

PowerGreen by Elpedison

The choice of Elpedison's PowerGreen ensures an inspection of the installation site and the preparation of a techno-economic proposal by the company's highly trained staff and associates. Elpedison is assigned the project from its tender / licensing / construction stage (through associates) and completes it by offering top technological and quality equipment.

Please note that if for a period of a actual bill the amount of energy sent to the grid is greater than that absorbed, then the total of competitive charges will be zero. While the excess energy generated will not be lost, but will be carried over to the next clearing period for possible future use (final clearing every three years).

Note, finally, that an additional benefit resulting from the installation of photovoltaics and energy offset (Net Metering) is the increase in the value of the property and the upgrade of its energy category

Why PowerGreen?

This is where Elpedison comes in to offer PowerGreen, the most integrated energy offset (Net Metering) service, providing not only an inspection and feasibility offer, but also top equipment, both from a technological and a qualitative standpoint. It is an integrated solution that includes both licensing and construction (through associate installers), as well as maintenance and installation monitoring, therefore relieving consumers from all worries[2].

The process begins with the inspection of the installation and the study of the energy data and continues with the dispatch of an offer. Then, after the customer has agreed to the offer, we proceed to collect the supporting documents and the application to HEDNO; provided that the application is accepted by HEDNO, we receive an offer by HEDNO to provide a connection to the customer and sign the corresponding agreement, which is followed by the installation of the system and the signing of a Net Metering agreement. So, the only thing remaining after that is connecting the photovoltaic to the grid and commencing its operation which, with the energy offset (Net Metering), will offer a reduction in energy costs, which is the ultimate goal.

 


[1] Based on statistics of the number of hours of sun a day, from 37 stations of the Hellenic National Meteorological Service (HNMS), with precise measurements using Campbell-Stokes heliographs
[2] 5.5kWp*1,500 kWh/kWp (an average sunshine value) = 8,250 kWh
[3] a monitoring maintenance contract with our network of associates is required.