In Germany, the focus of self-consumption projects (other than classic rooftop solar plants in the private sector) used to be self-consumption models at industrial facilities with high levels of electricity consumption and/or CHP requirements. Also important were contracting models for the provision of heat, electricity and often also cooling from plants operated on site by a professional contracting company.
An important incentive behind these models has often been to avoid network levies and other charges levied by grid operators; energy tax savings, and the avoidance of the renewable energy surcharge. However, opportunities for both energy tax-saving and avoidance of the renewable energy surcharge have been significantly reduced over the last ten years due to legislative changes and jurisprudence. This has led to a shift in incentives and the drivers behind self-consumption models.
There is currently more focus on self-consumption models using renewable energies for a “green” footprint and in order to benefit from renewable energy surcharge reductions. Another driver is the push for local behind-the-meter projects for electricity and heat supply in new housing developments, blocks of houses or even entire city districts. As the government plans to abolish the renewable energy surcharge as of 1 January 2023 other drivers will gain further in importance.
