Selling electricity to neighbours: Technically feasible, but not in practice

(EurActiv, 7 Nov 2019) An EU-funded Interreg project promoting microgrids technology has managed to help consumers produce renewable electricity on their own. But the ultimate objective to enable reselling the power to their neighbour has been hindered by regulatory obstacles.

Although the technology is there, it cannot be fully developed in practice, because EU member states have not yet implemented the relevant EU legislation.

Pegasus, an Interreg MED project, was launched three years ago and ended last month. Its main objective was to test the development of microgrids technology in order for consumers to be able to produce electricity through renewables and create local energy communities, selling it to neighbours or to the grid at a guaranteed price.

“We wanted to promote the efficient use of microgrids in rural areas and islands. Eleven countries involved in the project and all partners were from the Mediterranean region,” Ivana Ostoic, an expert involved in the project, told EURACTIV.

“We managed to prove that the use of microgrids for prosumers has both financial and environmental value, as well as a positive social impact, as local workers were predominantly employed,” the Croatian expert added.

She explained that microgrids are basically local electricity networks, which allows participants to sell the electricity generated from renewables, such as solar, thermal or hydro, directly to neighbours.

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EurActiv, 7 Nov 2019: Selling electricity to neighbours: Technically feasible, but not in practice