New legislation for PV (photovoltaic)
- Written by Colin Reid
New legislation for PV (photovoltaic) Grid Connected Systems (DL 118-A/2010). After a long period of stagnation, due to administrative renewing, the licensing and application process for small grid connections (up to 3,68 kW) has started right in time for the sunny season of the year.
The online registration portal (www.renovaveisnahora.pt) is open continuously for new applications.
For those, who are interested to invest in PV energy, there are a few details to have in mind:
~ You need an electricity consumption contract in your name (recent EDP invoice).
~ Find a certified installer company, which should visit your location free of charge.
~ After the visit, get a full quotation of administrative fees, products (solar modules, inverter, cables and production meter) and possible construction costs.
~ Your installer company will deal with the online registration free of charge (the portal is only in Portuguese language)
~ For a subsidized FIT (feed-in tariff) you need to have a 2 m² warm water solar collector installed and connected, or as an alternative, a biomass heating system (pellets).
~ Administration fee payable within 10 days after confirmed registration is 615,00 EUR (incl. 13% VAT).Inspection is due to be requested within 120 from registration date.
For this year (2011) the Portuguese government set 29,6 MW of installed power (about 8200 installations) for a FIT of 0,38 EUR/kWh of PV production. Everyone installing a system during 2011 will get this FIT during the following 8 years, after which the FIT reduces to 0,22 EUR/kWh for another 7 years.
A production sales contract over 15 years guaranteed will be send by the electricity supplier to the producer after successful inspection.
After the signed contract arrived at EDP, the system will be connected to the public grid within 10 days and starts production metering.
Consumption and production are automatically compared and deduced or added on your EDP invoice. For this you must have automatic debit activated to your bank account.
< To know, what power capacity you are allowed to install, check on your EDP invoice the following value shown on the image to the left.
All contracts with BT, BTN or BTE (low tension contracts) can apply until a maximum of 50% of the contracted power or up to 3,68 kW for higher contracts.
Example: Contracts with 6,9 kVA are only allowed to apply for 3,45 kW (50% of contracted power).
Estimated PV solar production for Portugal on various locations, made by specialized programs such as PV-Syst® and Meteonorm® are shown in the following tables.
Table 1: Fixed roof installation of 3,6 kW, annual production and income.
Table 2: Solar tracking installation of 3,6 kW, annual production and income.
Both systems shown on the tables are for 6,9 kVA EDP contracts.
The fixed system on a south facing roof without shadows allows an investment return within 7,55 years (including administrative costs as well as construction costs).
The solar tracking system, which follows the sun’s daily position, returns the investment within 7,06 years under the same conditions as above.
The costs for tracking systems increase about 15% once, while productivity increases up to 20% each year.
Visual aspects are sometimes an issue; please go to http://ffsolar.com/projectos/index.php?lingua=eng&categoriy_id=3 to see a variety of pictures taken from FF Solar installations.
| Picture 1:Tracking the sun (Silves 2010-06) | Picture 2: Sunny roof (Aljezur 2010-05) | Picture 3: Carport (Silves 2010-06) |
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With double the sunshine hours than Great Britain, Portugal is indeed a great country to invest in Solar Energy for house owners with not only an ecological approach but also for ones with economic skills.
More information and contacts: www.ffsolar.com
FAQ:
Q. Can I use my PV production for my own consumption?
A. You automatically use your production while consuming energy at the same time. But you only pay the normal consumption electricity tariff of about 0,13 EUR/kWh and still sell your production for 0,38 EUR/kWh.
Q. Why is the FIT higher than the consumption tariff?
A. The FIT is higher than consumption tariff to allow each government more and further investments in research and new renewable energy source installations. It is meant as an incentive for new working posts and innovative electricity production.
Q. Can I be client of other than EDP electricity supplier and install a grid connection?
A. Until 2011 only clients of EDP Serviços Universais can have a sales contract for the public utility grid. In 2012, all electricity suppliers must upgrade their databases and IT systems to allow anyone to connect to the public grid.
Q. I live in a condominium, how can I profit from this legislation?
A. Condominiums have a special article in the new legislation, which allows up to 11,05 kW installations on the common electricity consumption contract. To get a license, condominium parties must approve the application 70 days before request online. Instead of solar warm water or pellet heating, the condominium must apply for an energy saving certificate.
Q. I live in a rented house; can I apply for grid connection?
A. If the tenant has a EDP contract in his name, application is possible. We recommend though a separate contract with the landlord to make sure the system will be taken over by the house owner, if the tenant intents to move out.
Q. What maintenance is necessary for PV solar systems?
A. PV solar systems are generally free of maintenance. Roof mounted systems are cleaned naturally on rainy days. Mobil systems owners should check screws once a year or ask the installer for a maintenance contract.
Q. Is my system insured?
A. The new PV system is not obliged to have insurance, though we recommend including or adding the system to your household insurance.
Q. How long do my solar modules produce?
A. Quality module manufacturers usually declare the following power output 90% power output over 12 year80% power output over 25 yearsFree from defects in materials and workmanship for 5 years(p.e.: BP Solar warranty declaration)
Q. What happens after the 15 years of the contract are passed?
A. After 15 years most modules are still working fine (see textbox). Legally you are allowed to feed into the public grid for the same tariff as the then actual consumption tariff.
