The trend of energy self-production as a means to reduce costs appears to have gained traction in 2023, with a variety of categories engaging in projects to install photovoltaic systems.
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Official data reported by the Albanian Energy Regulatory Entity (ERE) indicates that at least 723 clients attained the status of self-producers during the past year, with the majority being businesses, Monitor reports.
"During 2023, the Distribution System Operator (OSSH sh.a) granted the status of Self-Producer to 723 clients with a total capacity of around 60.56 MWp, demonstrating the positive inclination of Albanian consumers to contribute to the creation of a sustainable and independent energy system," the report states.
The same report assesses that the specific weight of the category of contracts with installed photovoltaic panels on the distribution network, obtaining the status of self-producers according to consumer category and power, is as follows: 27 budgetary entities with an installed power of 790 kWp, residential clients, 430 with a power of 5375 kWp, non-budgetary with a power of 756 kWp, and private clients, 1069 with a power of 146.585 kWp.
According to the Entity, these positive developments encourage a faster transition towards a more sustainable and efficient energy environment in the country.
The trend of installing self-production plants, which according to the law cannot exceed a capacity of 500 kWp, began to emerge during the first phase of liberalization when the first businesses entered the market, which were held for at least two years by OSHEE through the Last Resort Supplier.
This corresponds to 2019 when a specific guideline was also approved to facilitate conditions for this category. While the pace slowed during the pandemic, especially with the emergence of the energy crisis in the second half of the year.
A significant boost, especially for the installation of self-production plants, was highlighted to be provided by the new law on renewable resources approved last year, but this law still lacks some implementing regulations to make it fully applicable.
However, one of the demands of self-producers, which was for the balance to be annual to benefit from the investment they made, was fulfilled through the application of annual net metering.