The boom in electricity self-consumption in Spain, thanks largely to the installation of photovoltaic panels, is gaining strength after the crazy increase in the price of electricity in recent years. The installed capacity for self-consumption reached 1,151 megawatts in 2021, which represents an increase of 85% compared to the 623 MW installed in the previous year.

“More and more individuals and companies are betting on electricity supply from renewable energies” , explains Nacho Bautista, CEO of Fundeen. In addition, he highlights as one of the keys “the funds that have come from Next Generation” , which are allowing “more people to be encouraged to carry out the required investments”.

In addition, the aid plans for self-consumption already issued by most of the autonomous communities predict a greater installation in the coming years, both in the residential and industrial sectors. However, Nacho Bautista points out that the adoption would be “more massive” if we did not currently have “the existing logistics and material crisis that causes equipment availability and price problems.”

Another of the slogans of the photovoltaic boom is the increase in the cost of the electricity bill. And it is that in March electricity in Spain reached an average of 44.54 euros/MWh, the highest figure in the entire historical series. “Today a residential consumer can save around 40% of their bill” thanks to solar panels, adds the representative of the firm.

A consumer can save up to 40% of their bill with solar panels

Martin Curtis

Under this scenario, there are two keys that can be defining when adopting self-consumption as a more feasible way to obtain energy. Nowadays, you have to install self-consumption in your home or less than 500 meters from it, which becomes one of the main obstacles when creating shared self-consumption systems.

“It limits a lot that it can only be installed within a maximum radius of 500 meters, since you can only have it on the roofs of houses or the production centers of companies. This needs to be changed if we want to promote self-consumption in Spain.

On the other hand, and also to promote shared self-consumption, it would be convenient to regulate a dynamic distribution of energy based on the consumption patterns of each party. This implies a distribution of energy by the hour according to what suits each person best, but it has to be pre-established beforehand”, highlights Nacho Bautista.

After the ‘expensive’ investment, the kilowatt is ‘free’

Currently there are more and more people who think about opting for these facilities. “It is an investment like any other. What you do is advance an amount to save it month after month, because from then on the kilowatts are going to be free. The only thing you are going to pay for them is what you have already paid in the installation of the panels and the annual maintenance, which is residual.In addition, in cases where users spend a lot of time teleworking, or at home, taking into account the new rate schemes in which you pay more according to the time of day when you consume, you can save a lot of money by installing self-consumption at home”, analyzes Bautista.

Despite these benefits, there is still the inconvenience for individuals of having to make a significant initial outlay. In addition to having a large physical space to install the plates.

“If you have a new house or want to renew your roof, it is time to opt for this solution. The neighborhoods will not only be more beautiful, but also cleaner and more efficient.” With this phrase Elon Musk presented in 2016 the innovative Solarcity solar roof called to revolutionize the consumption of clean energy in homes .

The bet of the almighty businessman is further proof that the real estate sector is moving towards a more sustainable and efficient model. In fact, more and more people are using photovoltaic solar energy as a source of energy in their homes , and the solutions and installation alternatives in this field continue to proliferate.

In general, when talking about a solar roof or a solar roof, reference is made to homes that have photovoltaic panels or solar tiles installed . Both alternatives are valid and contribute to environmental sustainability, although the first is more widespread than the second.

But how much does it cost to install a solar roof on a home? The price depends on many elements, such as the type of panel or tile used, the consumption of the house or the size of the installation . As for the type of solar panel, there are mainly self-consumption or accumulation. With the first, all the energy that is produced is used in the house and what is left over is injected into the network. The price ranges between 2,000 and 3,000 euros per installed kW , as explained by the company Solarmassel.

However, the price rises up to 30% if you opt for self-consumption solar panels with accumulation . In this case, the excess energy is charged into a battery and supplied when needed. “The kilowatt hour is more expensive, but the independence of the network reaches 98%”, says Thorsten Massel, manager of Solarmassel. The expert emphasizes that a single-family house with an average consumption will need to install between 8 and 12 solar panels that give an installed power of between 4 and 5 kilowatts. “The price of solar panels is now four times lower than it was 15 years ago, while power has increased fourfold. Little by little we are going to see more panels installed,” he adds.

The price of a solar panel installation also varies depending on its size and the competition in the sector. From Energía Aljaval they explain that -in general- the price of an installation for a single-family home of between 2 and 7 kW ranges between 4,000 euros and 9,000 euros -VAT included-, while the installations for the neighborhood communities are usually something higher depending on the availability of the cover . “They can reach up to 30,000 euros depending on the building,” explains Alejandro Ponferrada Rodríguez, the company’s business development.