ᐅ Is it possible to sell self-generated electricity to tenants in a multi-family building?
Created on: 14 Oct 2025 20:44
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Heidi1965
I own a house built in 1994 with four rented apartments. So far, heating has been provided by individual gas boilers. Now, I want to add insulation, install a photovoltaic system, and switch to a heat pump. An energy consultant has prepared everything. Only now have I understood that the electricity generated by the photovoltaic system can only be used to operate the heat pump. Any electricity not needed by the heat pump (in summer) must be fed back into the grid for 8 cents per kWh. Until now, I thought I could also sell this surplus electricity to the tenants – for example, at 15 or 20 cents per kWh. That would seem like a win/win situation. However, the tenants keep their own electricity meters and continue to purchase their household electricity from their own suppliers.
I am concerned that, in the end, a lot of electricity will be fed back to the grid at a low rate, since the main electricity production is in summer, when the heat pump is needed the least (only for hot water). Or is there another solution?
I am concerned that, in the end, a lot of electricity will be fed back to the grid at a low rate, since the main electricity production is in summer, when the heat pump is needed the least (only for hot water). Or is there another solution?
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Heidi196517 Oct 2025 17:32Exactly. For example, the thermostats on all radiators need to be replaced.
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Jesse Custer17 Oct 2025 17:35I think it’s now clearer that I would still recommend at most an A rating...
Such a renovation only makes sense if the house will eventually be sold completely, all tenants are driven away, and then some extended family buys the place and renovates it.
Only then can you consider something like this...
Such a renovation only makes sense if the house will eventually be sold completely, all tenants are driven away, and then some extended family buys the place and renovates it.
Only then can you consider something like this...
How much of the 70k is allocated to the actual heat pump plus the new hydraulics? That seems very expensive for a house of this size.
There are also heat pumps designed to replace gas-based unit heaters. Those options are certainly more affordable.
Then you could even consider switching to a split air conditioning system plus a tankless water heater. That would probably be cheaper than this offer.
Photovoltaics should be considered completely separately in terms of whether the investment makes sense or not. Supplying electricity to tenants is probably not worthwhile. Either feed all the electricity into the grid or simply lease the roof space—there are companies that handle that at their own expense.
There are also heat pumps designed to replace gas-based unit heaters. Those options are certainly more affordable.
Then you could even consider switching to a split air conditioning system plus a tankless water heater. That would probably be cheaper than this offer.
Photovoltaics should be considered completely separately in terms of whether the investment makes sense or not. Supplying electricity to tenants is probably not worthwhile. Either feed all the electricity into the grid or simply lease the roof space—there are companies that handle that at their own expense.