Rules for electricity exchange for photovoltaic residential systems

Decreased prices of photovoltaic system components in the last years have led to electricity generation cost reduction, obtained by photovoltaic systems to the level of electricity price offered to the distribution consumers. Still, compared to the other type of generators, the energy output from photovoltaic systems is generally low in amount and with varying power profile. Hence, they cannot reach adequate price at liberalized markets. One approach for supporting these systems is the introduction of rules for net metering within the distribution systems. In this paper, technical and economic aspects for installation of photovoltaic systems in households in the Republic of Macedonia, in cases with possibility for net metering, are analyzed. Several rules for net metering are elaborated, and using realistic examples, their influence to technical acceptability and cost effectiveness for the electricity consumers, the suppliers and the distribution grid, is estimated. (author)