While E.ON the German electricity company urges its users to self-consume and will implement a system called SolarCoud that allows generating and saving electricity, other countries in Europe, how Spain, Poland and the Czech Republic continue to fight the use of renewable energies.
Unlimited German self-consumption E.ON proposes to its customers in Germany that under the so-called SolarCloud system, as of April they will be able not only to generate electricity from renewable sources in their homes, but also to store it virtually and use it when they deem it necessary. This proposal is part of the German country's plan aimed at the use of renewable energies, with special emphasis on the self-consumption of the solar. Future plans will allow Germans to share self-generated power with their neighbors and friends or to recharge electric vehicles.
Meanwhile in other parts of Europe ... Spain is one of the member states of the European Union that has dedicated itself to combating self-consumption proposals of solar energy that today are contained in the package "Clean energy for all Europeans", for the period from 2021 to 2030. The Spanish administration, which is ideologically opposed to renewable energy and has tried to hinder its progress during the last five years , it could have to change course if the proposal of the majority of the parties repeals the "Tax on the Sun".
Other Member States that may object to various points of the 'Winter Package' geared towards renewables include the Czech Republic and Poland, which are highly dependent on native coal, and possibly the Netherlands, which has large gas reserves. The proposals of the "winter package" for families and communities to produce their own renewable energyWhat Greenpeace calls measures for "energy citizens" are one of the strongest points of the thousand-page legislative package.
However, the measures are expected to prove unpopular in some of the European nations most dependent on coal, natural gas or nuclear power (such as France) and focused on profits. They will be a particular concern for the Spanish government because its energy legislation does not currently cover the development of microgrids. (smart grids) and because the government party opposes self-consumption due to fear of a loss of tax revenue from current electricity prices.
After Brexit, it is uncertain what role it will play Great Britain regarding its intervention in the debate of these measures in the future and given that its great ally the USA hardened its position on renewable energies"It would be better if they weren't at the negotiating table", says Greenpeace; As for the position of France, they predict that it will depend on the result of the next elections.
SolarCloud project
E.ON, announced this week that starting in April, its customers will be able to produce their own solar energy and store it without limit to use it later when they want and how they want. It will be what the SolarCloud service offers: solar energy producers will be able to store an unlimited amount in a virtual electricity account and then consume from it when they need it.
For now, this service will only be available in Germany, as an extension of other storage services that the company already offers in that country, but plans to expand it are already underway as announced by E.ON. One of these plans contemplates the possibility of recharging the battery of electric vehicles from the electricity generated by the same customer and even selling the surpluses to your neighbor or sharing them with your friends.
With this, E.ON lends a hand to self-consumption, helping those who opt for this option to make the most of their ability to generate electricity even if they do not have a battery or other storage modes. However, its full effect will largely depend on the details. For example, the company has not made public whether this storage will take place in the form of kilowatts generated or in the form of the euros that those generated kilowatts represent.