VIRTUAL NET-METERING
Virtual Net-Metering is defined as the method where the difference between the energy imported from the grid and the electricity exported to the grid from the PV system installed in a different area from the building is calculated.
This Category generally concerns the installation of photovoltaic systems connected to the grid, to satisfy the electrical needs of residential units, agricultural properties/activities, and wineries.
Who are eligible for the Virtual Net-Metering category?
Beneficiaries for this category may be:
-Residential consumers: Any individual who has been approved resident in Cyprus and are the owners of the residential unit that will be served by the PV system, or if they are not the owners, the consent of the owner of the residential unit has been given.
-Professional farmers who can be: Natural and Legal Persons as well as Cooperatives who carry out full-time agricultural activity and are included in Register A - Farmers and Agricultural Holdings in specific categories and meet specific conditions.
- Existing and new wineries that produce or market the products listed in Part II of Annex VII of Regulation (EU) 1308/2013, producer organizations, associations of two or more producers or interprofessional organizations and fall into specific categories.
Where can Virtual Net-Metering PV systems be installed?
PV systems in this Category are installed in a different location from the serviced property.
The installation of PV systems can be done:
-On the roof of legally erected buildings in accordance with the conditions of the Decree of the Minister of the Interior
-On the ground within a plot where there is a legally erected real estate. It is noted that for the installation of a PV system on the ground where there is a legally existing building, a building permit is required for the PV system in case the area of the PV panels exceeds twenty square meters (20 m2).
-On the ground within a parcel, without any erected building, in an area where the installation of a photovoltaic system is permitted and provided the necessary permits (building permit and/or urban planning permit for the installation of a photovoltaic system).
A separate meter should be installed for each PV system per serviced property electricity bill. The applicant for each PV System should be the person to whom the electricity bill of the property is satisfied by the PV system. Each applicant must obtain the consent of the owner(s) of the lot where the PV System will be installed.
What is the maximum power that can be installed?
The maximum power of each PV system that can be installed within this category is:
-for domestic consumers up to 10.4 kWp per electricity consumption bill
-for professional farmers and wineries up to 100 kWp per electricity bill.
In addition, the maximum permitted power of each PV system is subject to a limitation based on the annual electricity consumption of the serviced property.
What is the electricity netting method?
The netting of electricity will be done by the respective supplier with whom the consumer has contracted, either bi-monthly or monthly (depending on the category of the consumer) for a period of 36 months exactly as described in the Net-Metering Category. The electricity produced by a photovoltaic system will be offset against the electricity imported from the grid (consumption/account) of a single residential unit or building, located in a different place from the PV System.
What will be the duration of the contract with the supplier?
The beneficiary will sign a Contract for Virtual Offsetting of Production/Consumption Measurements with their respective Supplier for a period of 15 years for residential consumers and 10 years for professional farmers and wineries. The contract can be renewed after its end, according to the current legal framework.
What is the procedure for licensing/approval and operation of the PV system?
We undertake the entire licensing/approval process of the PV system on roofs of legal buildings and on land up to 20 square meters where there is a legally existing building. An application is first made to each District Administration/Municipality to obtain the exemption from a building permit and then, we proceed with the application to the EAC as a Distribution System Operator (DSO). In order to be able to submit the application to the EAC for PV systems over 50kWp, the General License have been obtained from CERA. Upon receipt of approval from the DSO, the connection terms are issued and after they are paid by the customer, the meter offset contract form is signed and the project can proceed to implementation.
Will there be charges for this category?
All consumers who will operate a Virtual netting System will pay to their supplier the applicable fees as determined by CERA. It is noted that according to the CERA Decision, the applicable regulated charges are charged to the electricity imported from the grid in the support regimes concerning the production of electricity from RES for own consumption.
Therefore, in this Category, as all the energy produced by the PV system will be fed into the grid, without any part of it remaining inside the consumer's installation and covering the simultaneous consumption of the property, the cost from the regulated charges will be increased.
Will it be possible to set off electricity consumption from electrical thermal units?
Regarding consumers who use electrical thermal units, it is clarified that netting can be done in the same way as described in the net-metering category. Also in this category, PV systems can be installed to cover only the consumption of electricity from electrical thermal units operating in residences.