Commercial real estate and photovoltaic systems – that fits together. Comparatively large and often flat roofs and an increased demand for electricity, which usually occurs during the day in line with use, favor the solar panels.
The companies benefit from a more self-sufficient and more economical power supply and at the same time actively protect the climate with the associated image advantages. So it is not surprising that 18 percent of entrepreneurs in Germany have already installed a photovoltaic system. This is according to a representative survey published in July 2021 by the opinion research institute Civey for the E.ON Energy Atlas. This article explains what other advantages electricity from your own roof brings to companies.
Photovoltaics on the roof: The higher the self-consumption, the better the economy
With solar power from your own roof, companies can significantly reduce their electricity costs. Even the sale of the electricity generated by feeding it into the public grid brings financial advantages (feed-in tariff). In particular, however, photovoltaics are worthwhile for self-consumption, because then electricity procurement costs, ie the labor and basic price as well as the network charges, are saved.
Photovoltaic systems have a service life of decades and pay for themselves within a few years. The following applies: the higher the self-consumption rate, the higher the return. Unlike private households, companies usually have one during the day constant power requirement. In this way, high self-consumption rates can be achieved even without energy storage.
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Subsidies for photovoltaics make the investment easier
Diverse subsidy programs and ever lower construction costs make investment decisions easier for companies. The federal government remunerates the feeding of solar power into the public grid via the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) and also offers low-interest loans through the public credit institution for reconstruction (KfW). The federal states and municipalities have also launched corresponding funding programs to implement the energy transition.
Selling solar power to tenants: this is important to consider
Some companies are currently receiving a tempting offer from their landlords: the purchase of solar power generated on their own roof by an existing or yet to be built photovoltaic system. The green electricity is offered under the conditions of the current electricity supply contract and is linked to the promise of price stability, which seems attractive in view of the currently rising energy prices. In addition, there is the sustainability aspect or the possibility of advertising the direct use of solar power.
Tenants who are offered solar power from their own roof should first obtain detailed information. In some cases, not all price advantages are passed on, for example, or people forget to check whether the contract period for direct solar power delivery matches the rental agreement and the existing electricity supply contract.
Despite the photovoltaic system on the roof: consider operator obligations
Landlords have to be careful too. The mere “passing on” of the generated solar power has the consequence that you get the formal role of an electricity supplier – with all the associated legal consequences. If these operator obligations under the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) are not met, there is a risk of the loss of funding, for example.
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