How is FairGrid enabling and promoting the operation of PV systems?
By securing a permanently available basic power supply, the customer has the opportunity to operate a grid-connected PV system. Without a storage battery, only with the grid, PV systems can be operated in a technically simpler and more economical way.
The FairBox has an input to connect PV systems or other energy sources via inverters. The FairBox registers the PV-power fed into the grid and takes care of the registration procedure at the electricity board. At the same time, it balances power generation and electricity procurement.
FairGrid also offers the option of feeding surplus electricity to the grid. The public power grid is used as a battery. When fed into the grid, the electricity meter turns backwards thereby lowering the electricity bill. Such financing options for PV systems are called net-metering. They are established in many countries and usually lead to a rapid expansion of PV capacity.
For FairGrid customers with high power consumption, net metering makes PV systems profitable as soon as PV generation costs are lower than electricity from the grid.
How can a progressive tariff counteract social inequality and promote PV growth?
Normally a customer gets quantity discounts: the more he buys, the cheaper it gets. However, if too little power is available, electricity cost should grow disproportionately with consumption to ensure a functioning public electricity supply. A progressive tariff means that the price per kWh is lower for low consumption and higher for high consumption. E.g. the first kWh per day costs 10ct, the second 20ct, and every additional kWh 30ct. Progressive electricity tariffs promote the economical use of electricity and increase the incentive to install your own PV system and thus become a power producer (prosumer).
Link to study on experiences with progressive tariff in Cuba
Which factors promise a high acceptance of FairGrid
Fair Grid offers permanently available electricity for all customers connected to the grid.
- The guaranteed amount of electricity per household depends on the permanently available power generation capacity and can be adjusted with a software update.
- The poorer population may, for the first time, have light and power for the basic needs at lower costs than with kerosene lamps or mini solar panels.
- Even the better-to-do and air-conditioning owners can use Fair Grid to limit the running time of their diesel generators to the times when they want to turn on the air conditioners. The noise and the exhaust gases of the diesel generators disturb everyone.
- The electricity costs can be reduced by installing suitably large PV and wind turbine systems.
The electricity supplier can count on a high utilization of the grid and reliable revenue from the sale of electricity after installing the Fair Boxes. Investors can count on a shorter payback time of such grids with solar PV or wind turbines. This will provide customers with reliable and sustainable power as time goes on. After all, everyone benefits from the start of the energy transition in Africa.