Effect of the Electricity Metering Interval on the Profitability of Domestic Grid-Connected PV Systems and BESSs

Abstract

Installations of photovoltaic (PV) systems on residential buildings have increased over the last few years, and this trend will continue. PV systems can increase the production of sustainable energy. Many homeowners want to do something to decrease their emissions or increase their energy self-sufficiency. The most important issue in the decision to invest in a PV system is profitability. In the EU, electricity metering practices will be harmonized, and this will affect the profitability of PV systems and battery energy storage systems (BESSs). In many countries, electricity is metered by hourly intervals, but metering will be changed to 15-minute intervals. In this study, the effect of the metering interval on the profitability of PV systems and BESSs was studied has been studied in Tampere area in Finland. A shorter metering interval will decrease the profitability of photovoltaic systems, while the profitability of BESS will increase. However, the change is so minimal that the attractiveness of PV systems will only decrease slightly. Investment in BESSs in addition to PV systems will become more attractive and will benefit the evolution of smart grids, because batteries enable flexibility in the grid.