Photovoltaic self-consumption after the support period: Will it pay off in a cross-sector perspective?

Abstract

We quantify the cost savings potential of photovoltaic self-consumption by single-family houses with small-scale roof-top photovoltaic (PV) systems in Germany against the background of recent storage applications after the end of the legal support period. We analyze different systems where an already installed PV system is combined with battery storage and/or a power-to-heat solution (heating rod plus thermal storage). A comparison is made in terms of a household's electricity and heating costs under cost-minimizing operation of each system. For this purpose, we carry out comprehensive simulations of site-specific PV production and determine the optimal selfconsumption as well as the optimal charging of the hot water thermal storage and the battery system. We use 25 representative electricity load profiles, which differ only in the temporal distribution of consumption, to obtain a broader picture of the cost savings potential. Results suggest that the major share of the savings potential is due to direct PV self-consumption and thus concerns the electricity costs. A profitability analysis reveals that the inclusion of a hot water thermal storage and/or a battery storage system does not pay off when juxtaposing cost savings and investment expenses, at least at current prices.

Residential photovoltaic and energy storage systems for sustainable development: An economic analysis applied to incentive mechanisms

“…The economic viability of PV systems in mature markets is represented by the percentage of self‐consumption (D'Adamo, 2018; D'Adamo, Mammetti, et al, 2023; Roldán Fernández et al, 2021). Some authors point out that the main obstacle to the profitability of implementing a BES system integrated with a PV plant is its cost (Camilo et al, 2017; Klamka et al, 2020). However, using BES allows for an increase in the percentage of self‐consumed energy (Ma et al, 2022).…”

Cost-Benefit Analysis of Small-Scale Rooftop PV Systems: The Case of Dragotin, Croatia

“…According to Klamkaa et al [14], the cost-effectiveness analysis suggests that most of the savings potential comes from direct own consumption of PV, and therefore relates to the cost of electricity. The inclusion of a heat storage system and/or a battery system does not pay off when comparing savings and investment costs, at least at current prices.…”

A Cost-Effective and Efficient Electronic Design for Photovoltaic Systems for Solar Hot Water Production

“…Such characteristics render photovoltaic technology the preferred option amongst the renewable power sources, as shown in Hernandez-Callejo et al's [24] research. The constant drop in the solar photovoltaic module prices, as shown in Figure 1, including data provided by the Fraunhofer Institute [25], has led different authors such as Ayadi et al [17], Klamka et al [26], and Chung et al [27] to note the interest of heat generation by direct coupling. This avoids the hydronic installation for heat transmission since the energy transformation takes place through an electrical resistance located inside the tank where DHW is produced and stored, as shown by the devices analyzed by Panagiotidou et al [2], Huide et al [15], and Kumar et al [20].…”