ᐅ Zero Feed-in Rule for Combined Heat and Power Units – Costs?
Created on: 18 Feb 2020 10:10
R
REH63110Our developer is installing a combined heat and power unit for our three-unit condominium community. This unit will supply all the electricity generated exclusively to the common areas, while any surplus is fed directly into the electricity grid and compensated accordingly by the operator.
Unfortunately, at present, there is no provision for the owners to use the electricity generated for their individual units.
Is it possible to retrofit such a system, and if so, what costs should one approximately expect?
Unfortunately, at present, there is no provision for the owners to use the electricity generated for their individual units.
Is it possible to retrofit such a system, and if so, what costs should one approximately expect?
In general, this is possible and is referred to as your tenant electricity model. The issue is that the operator of the combined heat and power plant, in this case the homeowners’ association, becomes the electricity supplier for the three units and must take on certain responsibilities or outsource them. One of the main tasks is billing. Each unit needs its own load profile meter to accurately measure electricity consumption. It might be possible to use a standard meter if it can be ensured that only electricity generated by the combined heat and power plant flows through it, and no electricity from the general grid.
Are you as the owners truly operating the combined heat and power plant? You will likely need to find a company to handle maintenance and servicing. What about gas procurement? Even without self-supply, combined heat and power plants are subject to a significant amount of reporting requirements to authorities such as BAFA and the grid operator. Will a service provider take care of this?
For three residential units, the combined heat and power plant will probably have an electrical output of 5–10 kW. Whether this is truly practical (also, for example, due to noise emissions) is something I prefer not to assess.
Are you as the owners truly operating the combined heat and power plant? You will likely need to find a company to handle maintenance and servicing. What about gas procurement? Even without self-supply, combined heat and power plants are subject to a significant amount of reporting requirements to authorities such as BAFA and the grid operator. Will a service provider take care of this?
For three residential units, the combined heat and power plant will probably have an electrical output of 5–10 kW. Whether this is truly practical (also, for example, due to noise emissions) is something I prefer not to assess.