Self-consumption means that a power producer consumes the electricity generated in his own power plant, usually a PV power plant, small-scale wind turbine or CHP plant, mainly for his own purposes and only excess electricity he does not need is fed into the public grid.
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This review paper has summarized previous research in the field of self-consumption of electricity from residential PV systems. Self-consumption is in this review defined as the share of the PV production that is consumed in the household.
Legal entities that produce and consume the electricity based on the self-consumption model are also called „prosumers”. The illustration below shows that the electricity generated in the PV power plant is consumed in the first place for the power producer's own purposes and only the excess electricity is fed into the general supply network.
How can self-consumed electricity be increased?
In addition, the amount of self-consumed electricity can be increased by smart electricity consumption (load shifting), i.e. by switching on electricity consuming devices during the day or at times when the sun is the strongest.
Can self-consumption increase the hosting capacity of local electricity distribution grids?
Self-consumption should be further studied as one possible way to increase the hosting capacity of local electricity distribution grids. More comparative studies, both for energy storage and DSM, to make it possible to evaluate where possible similarities and differences originate from.
What is self-consumption solar & home storage?
Self-consumption: What you... One concept gaining importance in the world of solar and home storage is self-consumption: producing and consuming your own electricity at your home or business. As net metering policies start to shift in the coming years, a self-consumption setup may be the key to maximizing your solar savings.
Is solar self-consumption a viable economic model?
Solar self-consumption is becoming the preferred economic model for several reasons: It reduces reliance on external energy sources, lowers electricity bills, and increases energy independence. Additionally, self-consumption solar promotes efficient use of generated power, minimizing wastage and enhancing sustainability.