The Egyptian Electric Utility and Consumer Protection Regulatory Agency (EgyptERA) has proposed new solar photovoltaic (PV) generation scheme, after aborting the net metering system of up to 300MW.
Sources told Daily News Egypt that the proposal stipulates that the maximum capacity of a solar PV station does not exceed 20MW. In addition, the total installed capacities of the solar PV station linked to the distribution grid based on the net metering system does not exceed 1.5% of the maximum load of the distribution company until total capacities across the country reach 300MW, or for a period of two years from the date production started.
The capacity of each plant should not exceed the maximum load of the consumer’s consumption during the fiscal year (FY) preceding the station’s commercial operation date.
The total installed solar PV capacity associated with the network of one of the distribution companies owned by one of the beneficiaries or one of the eligible companies should not exceed 25MW.
The sources added that the regulatory rules of generating solar energy on the net metering system stipulated that the concerned electricity distribution company shall install the bi-directional meter needed by the subscriber. This meter would allow the installation of a plant with a capacity of no more than 20MW.
The subscriber bears the cost of this meter and the monthly consumption is calculated on the basis of the net energy purchased via net metering.
In case the energy returned monthly by the subscriber to the distribution company exceeds the energy that was fed originally by the company, the amount of energy supplied in the next month shall be amended according to the corresponding segments of the net consumption.
