In Spain, photovoltaic solar self-consumption is an increasingly chosen alternative to reduce dependence on the conventional grid and contribute to the energy transition towards <a href="https://quierosol.com/en/blog/fossil-fuels-and-renewable-energies">renewable energy sources.</a>

With this, a provision that has been implemented to encourage self-consumption is the so-called surplus compensation, which allows users who produce more energy than they consume to sell it to the electricity grid and receive financial compensation for it. <a href="https://www.boe.es/buscar/doc.php?id=BOE-A-2019-5089">Royal Decree 244/2019</a> in Spain establishes the regulatory framework for self-consumption with surpluses. According to this decree, those who have self-consumption facilities of up to 100 kW can take advantage of the measure, as long as they meet certain technical and administrative requirements.

When the generation of solar energy is greater than the energy used in the home, the excess energy is turned into the electrical network and the owners are financially compensated. This measure allows users to make their <a href="https://quierosol.com/en/solar-panels/installation">solar panel installation</a> profitable, while contributing to the generation of renewable energy in the electrical system. In addition, self-consumption with surplus compensation also promotes energy efficiency and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Compensación de excedentes con placas solares

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Solar rates with compensation for self-consumption surpluses

The owners can take advantage of the compensation mechanism through the simplified modality or by contracting a specific surplus compensation contract.

In both cases, the user can reduce their electricity bill and, in some cases, even generate additional income by selling the excess energy, saving money as a result.

Having a photovoltaic installation is an excellent option to reduce the costs of conventional electricity consumption while contributing to the transition towards a more sustainable energy model.

The concept of simplified compensation is the mechanism most used by users of photovoltaic solar self-consumption in Spain. In this, the excess energy that is produced is poured directly into the conventional electrical network and is deducted from the household electricity bill.

In this way, the need for electrical energy that is used from the electric company is reduced. Electricity fed into the network is valued at the average wholesale market price at the time it is produced and is deducted from the home's electricity consumption at the same time.

Hiring a contract with the retailer is another option for users of photovoltaic self-consumption in Spain. In this case, users and the electricity company agree on a price per kilowatt hour (kWh) of solar energy that is poured into the network.

In this way, the excess energy produced is poured into the network and is financially compensated at the price agreed with said company.

Which company pays the best for self-consumption surpluses?

Most of the electricity companies in Spain have special compensation agreements for users of self-consumption systems. The value per kilowatt hour of energy produced and sent to the network depends on the company and the selected rate, however we can say that the price of the surplus changes every hour and is approximately 0.05 - 0.06 €/kWh. The best rate for compensation is that of the regulated market or PVPC.

Therefore, it is necessary to compare the different alternatives available in the market to determine which company offers the best compensation for selling the energy.

In general, the term is usually one to three months from the billing date on which the surplus was recorded (that is, the energy that you have not consumed). Even so, it is important to bear in mind that this period may vary depending on the marketing company with which the service is contracted and the number of procedures to be carried out.

Therefore, it is important to find out in advance about the conditions for the sale of energy and the return of surpluses, as well as the terms and requirements necessary to receive the corresponding compensation.

In conclusion, photovoltaic solar self-consumption with surplus compensation is a great alternative to promote the generation of renewable energy in Spain. However, it is necessary to continue working on removing barriers and promoting measures that promote self-consumption and the energy transition towards a more sustainable and efficient system.

Therefore, if you also want to contribute your bit in the transition towards clean energy for a healthy and habitable planet for future generations, from Quiero Sol we help you to <a href="https://quierosol.com/en/solar-guide">understand the concepts</a> of solar energy, photovoltaic self-consumption, and also to <a href="https://quierosol.com/en">get instant quotes</a> so you can compare before buying your solar products or hiring an installation company. <a href="https://quierosol.com/en/contact">Contact</a> us if you have questions!

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Surplus compensation: what is it and how does it work?

Hello once again fellow readers! It is good to know that you are with us and that our blog entries that we lovingly make for you are useful.☀️😍

We know that it is believed that processing self-consumption facilities in the country is a headache since there are different regulations in the various municipalities and it is not always clear what must be presented or what should be known.

But don't worry about it. That's why Quiero Sol is here, to show you the process of legalizing a photovoltaic installation in Spain in a simple way.🗸

We will analyze the regulations that affect solar installations and we will see the different powers that affect them. In addition, while we are writing this article, the Council of Ministers has approved and a day later the Official State Gazette public and <a href="https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2022/10/19/pdfs/BOE-A-2022-17040.pdf">Royal Decree-Law 18/2022</a>, of October 18, comes into force, with 18 new measures of the Plan of Energy Contingency.

Among the most important to accelerate an energy transition with solar energy as the protagonist is the administrative simplification for any small renewable generation installation (up to 500 kW).&nbsp;🙌

What is the procedure to legalize a self-consumption photovoltaic installation in Spain?

The processing and legalization of photovoltaic installations in Spain has been greatly facilitated since the entry into force of <a href="https://www.boe.es/buscar/doc.php?id=BOE-A-2019-5089">Royal Decree 244/2019</a> and together with the <a href="https://www.idae.es/publicaciones/guia-profesional-de-tramitacion-del-autoconsumo">Professional Guide for Processing Self-consumption</a> of the <a href="https://www.idae.es/">IDAE</a> (Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving).

This guide is aimed at the general public, but specifically at authorized <a href="https://quierosol.com/en/solar-panels/installation">installation companies</a>&nbsp;that develop and execute solar self-consumption installations. In addition, it divides the installations into two large groups, depending on whether they are without surpluses (connected to the distribution or transport network and through an anti-spill system, they do not allow surplus energy to be injected into the network), or with surpluses (in addition to supplying energy for self-consumption, they can inject surplus energy into the transmission and distribution networks).

We make a parenthesis here, since we want to emphasize that in order to obtain simple information aimed at citizens in general, the IDAE has produced the <a href="https://www.idae.es/publicaciones/guia-practica-para-convertirse-en-autoconsumidor-en-5-pasos">Guide to becoming a self-consumer in 5 steps</a> that we provide here and we recommend that you take a look at it.👍

On the other hand, it is necessary to take into account that there are still certain administrative procedures that depend on the Autonomous Community in which you are located.

Normally, it will be the installation company that will carry out the necessary technical and administrative steps, in addition to carrying out the installation with all the security guarantees.

Even so, we want to explain below the administrative procedures to formalize your installation correctly. Let's get to it and turn the mode on!🔛

What is needed to legalize a self-consumption photovoltaic installation in Spain 2023?

Administrative requirements vary depending on the location and type of facility. These may include building permits or administrative authorizations, especially for large installations or those located in buildings affected by some type of protection or in environmentally protected spaces.

Fortunately, the new regulations of <a href="https://www.boe.es/buscar/doc.php?id=BOE-A-2019-5089">Royal Decree 244/2019</a> have simplified and reduced the number and complexity of procedures to be carried out, and as we have mentioned, the IDAE has prepared a detailed guide to help installers carry out all the necessary steps.

How to legalize a self-consumption installation?

Before starting the process, it is necessary to check if restrictions apply to the site. For this, you can check if there is any restriction in the Town Planning Department of the City Council to which the facility belongs.

This is relevant if the facility plans to be located in the historic center, and the building may be affected by some form of protection or restrictions that could occur in locations located in environmental protection zones, protected areas or areas of archaeological value.

What steps to follow to legalize a self-consumption photovoltaic installation?

Here we leave you a summarized guide (it is not all the steps), but we do highlight the following:

✔️The administrative procedure may require procedures at the state, regional and local levels, in addition to procedures with the distribution company.

✔️Depending on the power of the installation, the self-consumption mode, the type of connection and/or whether it is going to be an individual or collective installation (several associated consumers), some installations will be exempt from carrying out this procedure.

✔️The authorized installation company will carry out the report or project.

The necessary documentation in the design of the installation depends on the type of connection to the network used and the power planned for the installation.

✔️Both in the report and in the project, all the information and technical documentation of the installation must appear: dimensioning, equipment and its characteristics, materials used, guarantees, maintenance needs, among others.

3. Access and connection permits and endorsements or guarantees. CAU request

✔️The authorized installation company must request the CAU from the distributor. This refers to the code that uniquely identifies self-consumption.

✔️Installations in self-consumption without surpluses of any power will be exempt from requesting access and connection permits, as well as presenting guarantees and warranties for the connection. Why? By not transferring energy to the distribution network, the power of the generation facility is not limited by the maximum admissible power of the connection to which it is connected.

4. Environmental and public utility authorizations

It is important to know that these are procedures managed at the regional level, for which the regulations of each Autonomous Community could indicate some specific restriction or procedure. However, in general, we can mention that:

✔️The good news is that the authorized installation company will be able to advise you if this is necessary.

5. Prior administrative and construction authorization

The request made to the competent body of the Autonomous Community may involve the payment of the corresponding regional fees and include a period of public information and reception of allegations regarding the projects presented.

6. Building license and construction and works tax (ICIO)

The self-consumption facilities must request a building permit according to the municipal regulations in force in the chosen location. Depending on the characteristics of the installation, the municipal regulations will define whether it is sufficient to make a declaration of responsibility for the work and/or a prior notification of the work.

7. Installation certificates and/or end of work certificates

In a few words: the installation company will sign and process the electrical installation certificate (CIE).

✔️Once the installation has been carried out and the verifications and initial inspection have been carried out (if applicable), the installation company must issue an Installation Certificate, signed by a low voltage installer who belongs to the company, according to the procedure established by the Autonomous Community .

✔️This installation certificate will be issued by the installation company executing the installation and it will state that it has been carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Regulation and its complementary technical instructions and in accordance with the technical documentation.

8. We also find the following steps (among others):

✔️Sharing agreement and surplus compensation contract

✔️Registration in the autonomic register of self-consumption

✔️Inscription in the administrative registry of self-consumption of electrical energy

What is the cost of legalizing a photovoltaic installation?

As we have seen so far, carrying out the legalization implies a series of steps with the Administration, for which it may vary depending on the need according to the City Council and the type of installation (the more elaborate and complete the technical project, the more expensive it will be compared to a small residential-type facility).

For this reason, the final amount depends on several factors seen as the power of the installation, the Autonomous Community where it is located, the need or not to carry out a project and request the building license and the percentage or fees of the professional in charge. of the legalization, that is, the fee of the installation company that carries out the procedures.

Don't worry because you can get your quote here.

Many companies include the concept of legalization in their entire offer. Our recommendation is that before making the payment -and if you are not sure- you ask them if it includes it.

Who can legalize a photovoltaic installation?

According to the regulations, only authorized installers or companies with a specialist category can carry out the legalization. In general terms, in the different Autonomous Communities, the private owners of residential or industrial facilities cannot initiate the legalization process on their own.

We have reached the end for today! We hope we have resolved your concerns to legalize your installation in Spain.

If you are thinking of switching to solar self-consumption, from Quiero Sol we will connect you with installation companies and you will be able to find information such as prices, delivery times and guarantees, among others. By simply entering your monthly electricity consumption and zip code, you will receive the necessary information from all the installers in your area so that you can compare and make the best decision for your installation. 😎

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Legalize a self-consumption photovoltaic installation in Spain 2023. Everything you need to take into account

Is the sun tax still existing in Spain? Who has to pay it? What is backup toll? When was the sun tax eliminated? We explain everything you need to know about this tribute that existed for self-consumption in the country.🔆😊

Fortunately, we can talk about what the sun tax was, since this tax has been a current tax in Spain from 2015 to 2018. It was also known as "support toll" or "tax on self-consumption".

This sun tax consisted of a fee that users who had self-consumption with solar panels had to pay, due to they were connected to the electricity grid, and it was justified by the fact that it contributed to maintaining the traditional electricity system. In other words, to ensure that it remained sustainable for consumers who generated their own clean energy, but who would also use the grid when their solar system was not capable of generating power.

The tax was introduced by the Minister of Industry, Energy and Tourism (José Manuel Soria) of the Popular Party (PP) on October 9, 2015 during the government of Mariano Rajoy, through <a href="https://www.boe.es/buscar/doc.php?id=BOE-A-2015-10927">Royal Decree 900/2015</a>, which regulated the administrative, technical and economic conditions of the modes of electricity supply with self-consumption and production with self-consumption.

Users paid this tax through the electricity bill to their marketer and then it later paid what corresponded to the distributor, who was in charge of placing that money in the electrical system.

This tax generated a great deceleration in the self-consumption goals that the country had, also making the process of <a href="https://quierosol.com/en/blog/legalize-a-self-consumption-photovoltaic-installation-in-spain">legalizing a photovoltaic installation</a> very complex. Another factor that has influenced this scenario has been that the users of a solar panel installation did not receive any compensation for the excess energy they generated.

Who should pay the sun tax in Spain? Who was affected by this tax on solar self-consumption?

The sun tax was paid through two concepts that were differentiated in the electricity bill:

✋And here we make a clarification! If you don't remember the concept of kW of power or kWh of energy very well, don't worry, you can always come back to our <a href="https://quierosol.com/en/solar-guide">Solar Guide</a>: Difference between solar energy and solar power!🤓

On the other hand, the following cases of facilities were exempt from paying the tax:

What happens next? When is the sun tax eliminated?

After three years of controversy, the sun tax was repealed in 2018 with the arrival of the new government of Pedro Sánchez through Royal Decree-Law 15/2018.💪

Do not miss this witty <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtGsV0mPsGM">video made by Greenpeace Spain</a> in 2018, made up of several fragments of real phrases by Mariano Rajoy himself, highlighting the meaning of renewable energy and the famous -and controversial- tax on the sun.

In this way, the Minister for the Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera, pointed it out in 2018:

“This measure seeks to alleviate Spain's delay in this matter, since it is not logical that a country rich in sun like Spain has 1,000 installations, compared to the million that Germany has. There's a long way to go."

It has been like this then, as <a href="https://www.boe.es/buscar/doc.php?id=BOE-A-2019-5089">Royal Decree 244/2019</a> of April 5, which regulates the administrative, technical and economic conditions of self-consumption of electrical energy, has given continuity to what is established in Royal Decree-Law 15/2018 , and it is the regulation that we have still today. It has recognized the right of self-consumption without tolls or charges.

Fortunately, this reform and end of the tax has brought some important measures to highlight, such as:

✔️Promote self-consumption and bet on renewable energies

✔️Simplify and reduce administrative procedures for facilities

✔️Eliminate complex barriers that made self-consumption difficult and did not encourage

✔️Compensate small consumers for surpluses

✔️Approve collective and shared self-consumption in neighborhood communities (good news in a country where vertical housing predominates)

✔️Speed up the amortization of the investment in photovoltaic installations

✔️Eliminate the generation counter in installations without discharge

✔️Allow installations with power less than 10 kW and those isolated not to have to request permits from the electricity companies

Surely you have already heard on more than one occasion that Spain is the country with the greatest potential in Europe to take advantage of solar energy, both due to its climatic conditions and the solar radiation it receives. Thanks to the repeal of the sun tax, citizens' confidence in self-consumption has grown and a large increase in photovoltaic installations has been generated.

According to data recorded by the <a href="https://www.unef.es/">Spanish Photovoltaic Union</a> (UNEF), in 2021, 1,203 MW of new photovoltaic power were installed in the country in self-consumption facilities. This figure is an increase of 101.84% compared to the previous year (596 MW). 📈 Of these 1,203 MW, it is estimated that 1% corresponds to installations isolated from the network. UNEF also indicates that most of this new capacity has been installed in the industrial sector (41%), then in the residential sector (32%) and finally in the commercial sector (26%).

If like all these new owners of photovoltaic systems, you too are considering installing <a href="https://quierosol.com/en/solar-panels">solar panels</a> or <a href="https://quierosol.com/en/batteries">batteries</a> for your home or business, we help you compare before you buy solar products and get quotes from installers quickly and easily <a href="https://quierosol.com/en">here</a>.

At Quiero Sol we help homeowners like you, so that they can compare installers but also understand the concept of photovoltaic self-consumption and the different scenarios that have existed and exist in Spain regarding the solar industry.🌞 

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