Energy and economic savings

Either way, this is a very simple operation, as long as you know: To whom to apply The data you will have to provide The necessary documents The timing and costs   Who to ask for the light connection? The electricity connection must be requested to the provider you decide to rely on for your electricity offer. You can do it in the following ways: By contacting customer service at the toll-free number provided by the supplier By physically going to one of its stores and interacting with an employee – Normally, you can find the list of all the physical stores in the various official websites of the supply company Connecting to the official website of the company – Here you can download the appropriate form, fill in all its fields and send it to the company by mail, PEC or fax.   Data required for light connection The data you will need to provide during the application process are: Your personal information, such as your first and last name, social security number, phone number and email address The identification data of your company if you are requesting the connection for a business offer Cadastral information on the property The contract that certifies your ownership of the property The power and voltage you will need for your supply The IBAN code if you decide to pay your bills directly by automatic bank debit   The necessary documents for the light connection In addition to the data, some documents will need to be submitted. Specifically: The Membership Form – This is a sheet that you will receive after applying for connection. The Safeguard Regime Declaration – This is a form only required if the property is a business and not intended for private or domestic use. A copy of your valid ID.   The timing and costs of the light connection The time required to complete the electricity connection is 12 working days. In fact, the supplier to whom you will make the request will have 2 days to transmit it to the local distributor. The latter will then have to activate your meter in a time limit of 5 days. At this point, the electronic meter will be usable within further 7 days. However, the transaction is not free, and you will be required to pay: 27,59 € administrative fee 23 € fixed contribution 16 € stamp duty In addition, you may also have to pay a security deposit. For this item, each operator has full freedom of choice. So, its value varies from company to company, but it may also not be provided for. However, the tendency is to always include it, except in cases where the payment of bills is made through a bank account. In this case, releasing the IBAN is considered sufficient guarantee. If you want to stay up to date on electricity, at this link you will find the official website of ARERA.  

Each country can offer a service to citizens and small businesses with a photovoltaic system that allows them to feed surplus self-generated energy into the electricity system, with an economic return. But is this the best deal? Are there other, more efficient solutions to increase the yield of your photovoltaic system? Let’s consider the various aspects to understand which is the best solution.   Payment for energy fed into the grid Economic considerations are essential when evaluating the benefits of net metering. In Italy, the economic return for energy fed into the grid is known as a net-metering contribution and is issued yearly by the National Operator (GSE) in two instalments, an initial payment and a balance, paid at six-month intervals on the basis of monthly monitoring of kWh issued. This amount is calculated considering various factors, including the difference between energy input and withdrawn, the times at which energy is input and the location of the system. The net-metering contribution is between 30% and 40% lower than the actual value of energy that you feed into the grid because a significant portion of system charges and taxes are not applied and the prices used for calculation are set by the Operator. In the UK and Australia, the amount paid depends on the individual energy company which you decide to use, both in terms of tariff and frequency. The differences between the two are: the UK has established a Government obligation to provide a minimum tariff greater than 0. This is not the case for the Australian federal government, which instead leaves individual jurisdictions to decide in Australia, the obligation to make a tariff offer is only valid for electricity companies with more than 150,000 customers. Smaller companies may can decide whether to follow the scheme or not, on a voluntary basis In the UK, the majority of SEG (Smart Export Guarantee) tariffs currently offered are fixed, but flexible versions are also making ground, offered by certain “agile” retailers. Fixed tariffs, whilst stable and guaranteed, are around 50% lower than the cost of energy. Meanwhile, in the case of flexible tariffs, it is very important to pay attention to the time periods at which energy is fed into the grid, and therefore your energy-consumption style, otherwise the economic return will be lower than with a fixed tariff. In Australia, the situation varies from state to state. The Feed-in Net tariff, equivalent to the UK’s SEG, is significantly more widespread than the Gross version because it offers a better deal. The Gross tariff features input of all energy produced into the national grid, and consumption of energy supplied from it. However, the Net tariff system is also lower than the value of energy input, by around 30%–60% depending on the state and the company’s specific offer. All of this information helps us to understand the value assigned to these payments and therefore to your clean energy. From this brief assessment, it is already clear that individual and collective self-consumption are preferable, and even more so with the addition of storage systems, as they guarantee immediate and significant savings on bills. Firstly, self-consumption allows you to avoid spending money on the energy that you consume, particularly if your installation is equipped with a storage system. This solution allows you to increase your average instantaneous self-consumption to up to 70%, and even up to 100% at certain times of the year. Above all, collective self-consumption allows you to pay for the energy you receive from other members of your energy community at honest, fair and competitive prices, as the purpose of energy communities is not profit but collective environmental, social and economic benefits.   Energy wasted by net metering This input of energy into the national grid can be considered a form of non-instantaneous self-consumption, as if you were using a virtual storage system. Yet in reality, traditional energy purchased from the grid reaches your homes after travelling long distances, with losses and therefore energy wasted during transport. Similarly, the energy fed into the national grid does not have a pre-destined use, but is stored within the grid, with greater wastage compared to instantaneous self-consumption. So, whether energy is entering or leaving the national distribution grid, wastage will always be greater compared to energy produced and consumed in the same location. Also in the case of collective self-consumption of energy communities, energy losses are minimal because self-consumption is instantaneous even though it is deferred: the exchanges of energy with other citizens via a smart grid is possible due to the different energy profiles of the energy-community members, which allows real-time balancing of consumption and a reduction of energy losses. In addition, exchanges always occur within the scope of the same transformer substation, and therefore within a limited range that ensures losses can be avoided. To learn more about the energy savings of a solar-panel installation, we recommend reading this article.   The source of energy consumed via net metering Where does energy come from if it is drawn from GSE, as in the case of net-metering agreements? The Operator does not allow you to manage your energy freely and independently: net metering certainly does not guarantee consumption of renewable energy, such as that produced by your system, or that drawn from an Energy Community. In all probability, the energy you draw from the grid will originate from traditional sources, using raw materials that are not eco-sustainable in the medium or long term.   The best alternatives By now it should be clear which is the best alternative. The choice that can genuinely revolutionise your energy spending, in terms of both consumption and costs, is combining a solar panel installation with storage system and membership of an energy community. This will guarantee maximum value for energy fed into the grid and ensure you always have a supply, through instantaneous collective self-consumption. Participation in the energy community model is also beneficial for those that haven’t (yet) installed a photovoltaic system: you can decide to purchase a storage system alone and play a role in the community by purchasing and storing energy in the role of storer, or you can simply be a consumer and purchase energy from members who produce it (prosumers), helping to maximise collective self-consumption. Whatever your choice, you will finally be consuming clean energy, without wastage, and with a tangible saving on costs.

A smart grid is literally an “intelligent” electricity grid. In fact, its primary feature is to automatically gather information on variations in operating conditions and parameters such as voltage and consumption for different nodes connected to the grid. This is enabled by cutting-edge digital technology that not only allows the grid to gather information but also to process it and react accordingly via distribution of energy between the various nodes connected. This is the second key feature of a smart grid: the ability to automatically redistribute electricity amongst the various nodes as required. The advantages of this type of solution are clear: management of resources is immediately more efficient and optimised, as the grid is capable of preventing overvoltages, voltage fluctuations and supply outages, reducing load when necessary.   Smart grids and renewables Smart management of energy with smart grids becomes essential with the expansion of green energy that often requires specific measures to achieve correct management of resources and avoid unnecessary energy losses. Consider solar panels and their function: generation of electricity depends on the presence and intensity of the sun’s rays. On very sunny days, solar panels can achieve their maximum capacity in terms of energy production. However, when it is cloudy, this capacity is reduced and at night electricity production drops to zero. It is therefore clear that there are times when panels produce more energy than needed and others when there is no production at all: balancing out this situation is fundamental to avoid energy wastage and to always have the right amount of energy available to power your property or business. This is where smart grids come into play, enabling the correct allocation of excess generation and management of under-generation.   From centralised energy to distributed energy To understand the full potential of a smart grid, we need to consider the difference between a centralised grid and a decentralised grid. Traditionally, electricity is produced by power stations, that may use fossil fuels or renewable sources, and then distributed via pylons, cabinets and cables across the country. The flow of electricity is unidirectional: energy passes from the power station towards peripheral nodes but does not travel in the other direction, creating what is called a “centralised grid”. In this scenario, production of electricity is planned beforehand and continually issued to consumers (dispatching) at certain levels regardless of their actual energy requirements and consumption. This type of system obviously generates wastage: where does electricity go that is produced by power stations but not consumed by recipients in their homes? To put it simply, it is dissipated within the grid, often travelling significant distances, and therefore with significant losses, without any way to recover it at a later stage.   From passive consumer to Prosumer With the traditional energy-management system, we can clearly see the lack of an exchange between producer and consumer, as power distribution flows are unidirectional down through the system structure. Meanwhile, a decentralized grid is the complete opposite. This solution is only possible when the grid is managed with intelligent systems, using a smart grid equipped with necessary sensors and tools, and above all with algorithms powered by artificial intelligence. In this scenario we talk about a decentralised market because we no longer simply have a large power station providing consumers with energy, but also individual citizens and families who are themselves energy producers through their solar panels and the possibility to store and redistribute energy provided by the smart grid. With this model, we really begin to see the exchange of energy between different parties: when the consumer generates energy directly, this can be injected into the grid and made available to third parties, transforming the “passive” consumer into an active player, capable of directly participating in the system of generation, storage and distribution of energy. This gives rise to the category of “prosumer”, a hybrid figure that is both a consumer and a producer. Another important distinction in this sector is between a “standard” prosumer and prosumers that are equipped with a storage system, (we call them “proconstomers”). These figures are active, central players in smart grids. Yet simple consumers can also play a role by being more aware of their consumption (and wastage) and above all identifying when consumption is cheapest.   In conclusion, what are the advantages of smart grids? The advantages of smart grids are easy to imagine. Considering the individual, the primary benefit is certainly lower energy costs, which decrease exponentially both due to less energy withdrawn from the national grid in the case of domestic generation and storage, and due to trading within local grids, with lower transport losses and improved dispatching capabilities. Greater savings and greater energy efficiency for individuals… but it doesn’t end there: the environment also benefits, as smart grids are essential to drive increased use of renewable energy, which is by nature more difficult to programme. Today, it is increasingly important to take action to protect the environment and consider how we can contribute with each little decision in our daily lives. A decentralised and distributed system based on efficient management of generation and distribution of renewable energy has lower environmental impacts: there will be lower wastage and lower damaging emissions, e.g. CO2. And just imagine if all of this was scaled up. Solar panels on rooftops are now a common sight, but imagine a future where all buildings were entirely covered in solar panels, even on the walls. And imagine a future where each building was perfectly integrated into a grid that connected all citizens: a gird in which everybody could input and withdraw clean energy, without waste, in a virtuous circle that benefits everyone… and above all benefits the environment.

Thermal insulation is essential for the health of your house: it provides comfort assuring a proper temperature and it has a positive impact on energy and cost savings related to domestic heating, avoiding any thermal bridges, the so-called cold spots in the house. Thermal insulation consists of an insulating surface placed on the outer wall, sometimes also on the inner walls, of the building. If the insulating layer is placed on the outer walls we can talk about a real insulation coating, protecting the house from the external temperature. The insulator can be placed during the house construction. It can be a cavity wall insulation or an interlayer of the wall, or a false wall or a false ceiling. All these solutions avoid heat loss.   How to recognize a thermal insulation material There are several factors that determine the thermal insulation degree of materials and they must be considered while choosing the most suitable one. Thermal conductivity: materials that conduct heat very well have a low insulation capability. A material can be considered as insulator if its conductivity is less than 0,14 W/mK (watt per meter-kelvin) Thermal displacement, meaning the time heat takes to get through the insulator.  In this case this value must be high since it means that the heat takes a long time to get through the wall. A low thermal conductivity corresponds to a higher thermal displacement. Resistance to steam diffusion, namely the breathability of the insulator material: the lower this value is, the more breathable is the material. This feature improves the insulation, since it prevents condensation, enemy of air insulating property. Other important aspects are for example the fire-resistance, reducing the propagation in the event of a fire, the durability, namely the resistance to mould, and the toxicity. These features must be considered in relation to the particular needs of the house, especially the peculiarities of the climate zone, the usable space for insulation and the economic availability.   Different types of insulator material Insulants can be natural or synthetic. Natural ones stand out for their origin, they can have vegetable/animal or mineral origin. Among the first ones we can name wood or hemp fibre, cork, wool and linen. These materials work perfectly as thermal or acoustic insulator, they are breathable and durable, they have a good level of thermal displacement and most importantly they are recyclable, bio-degradable and non-toxic. That’s why they are suitable for inner walls, false ceilings and attics. Due to their great performances, they are the most expensive materials and sometimes they are even difficult to lay. Among the mineral materials we can mention glass wool, rock wool, clay and perlite aggregates. Since they are natural these too are renewable and recyclable; furthermore, they are durable, fireproof and resistant to mould. They are often used for thermal insulation coating, ventilated covering and underfloor. Synthetic insulators are chemical materials derived from oil processing, such as EPS (sintered expanded polystyrene), polyurethane foam and polyester fibre. They are excellent external insulators, they are very cheap, easy to lay, waterproof and moisture resistant. To fill the gaps, they are used in foamed form; insulating panels are used on walls and attics, instead. Which insulator has the best thermal conductivity? The best one is aerogel, a soft material composed of air and silicon, manufactured as sheets, with a 0.014 W/mK conductivity. Then we find autoclaved aerated concrete (0,043 W/mK), a mineral natural material, wood fibre and hemp fibre (0,038/0,043 W/mK) – both organic – and rock or glass wool.   Solar panels: an unexpected help for roof insulation Properties and origin of different insulators offer a good range of possibilities to find the best solution for our needs, considering also the economic aspect. If you are oriented towards a green choice, started for example with the installation of PV panels, you have probably found out that natural insulators material, especially the organic ones, are eco-friendlier and they can be installed indoor, in direct contact with people living in the house. Maybe you don’t know that PV panels themselves work as external thermal insulation for the roof and they help to improve the heat consumption. According to a study carried out by Jan Kleiss and his team, working at UC Jacobs School of Engineering, the absorbent nature of panels makes them good insulators, preventing sun rays from directly reaching the roof. They thus guarantee a lower temperature (almost 38%) than an exposed roof. Solar panels turn to be useful also in winter time, by releasing during the night the residual heat from the daily activity. Combining a good PV system with a good insulating system you will reduce the house thermal waste and you will optimize your consumption. You will nonetheless help the environment by decreasing your CO2 emissions.

PV panels installation is an increasingly popular choice. Beside the proven reliability of these systems, our awareness towards environmental issues is growing and it represents an important lever for choosing photovoltaic panels to provide electricity to houses or condos. We should also consider the financial side: installing PV panels allows to significantly cut the costs of your electricity bills. Let’s analyse in detail the savings and all the arguments in favour of photovoltaic for our energy supply.   Self-consumption: a winning choice to save money on your bills Installing a PV system on your rooftop or on the rooftop of a condo is particularly convenient when solar panels can provide energy to satisfy the domestic demand of electrical power. Self-consumption has several important advantages in terms of costs saving. By self-producing your electric power you will save on consumption costs. Each kilowatt-hour taken from the energy supplier has a cost (which includes taxes and system charges). A PV system, sized basing on your domestic needs, will allow you to reduce the energy taken from the grid, thus saving money on your bills. Surely you have to face an initial investment (nowadays lower than in the past), but it will be paid back in a reasonable time through a big energy saving. To give a concrete example, a family of three living in a medium size house will probably choose a 3kWp solar system to have an efficient power supply. This kind of system costs between 5.000 and 8.000 euros, plus 2.000 euros for maintenance, spread over the panels lifespan: 25 years. As you can see, the initial investment is not that high, since costs will be amortized in 25 years. Furthermore, the cost of the energy produced with photovoltaic is much cheaper. The gross price per kilowatt-hour for traditional energy proposed by free market suppliers rates between 0.19 and 0.27 €/kWh. The cost of photovoltaic energy and self-consumption rates between 0,12 and 0,16 €/kWh.   Selling energy back to grid, is that really convenient? A PV system installed on our own rooftop can generate energy depending on several factors, such as size and technology of the panels and the latitude where we live. Electricity generation with a PV system depends on the day: the system works at its full capacity on clear sunny days, whereas on cloudy days it will get more difficult to generate solar energy. Despite this, keep in mind that even on cloudy days a PV system can generate electricity. In the night only, it has no production capacity: the total absence of sun doesn’t allow the generation of electricity. This can cause an imbalance: during sunny days the system will generate a high quantity of electricity, which will not be used immediately; during the night the panels will not generate electricity at all, although power will still be necessary to light up the house or to keep some appliances running. A waste of energy during the day, a lack of energy in the night, forcing people to take energy from the grid when it gets dark. Feeding energy back into the grid is a solution that partially solves the problem. It’s an agreement with the supplier that allows you to feed the generated but not used energy back into the grid. This is possible as long as the production energy centre, your house with the PV system, is connected to the grid. This way, the self-produced energy is actually sold, meaning that each Kwh fed to the grid will be paid. Please notice that nowadays, with no incentives, what you get back for each energy unit will be lower – almost 60% – than the price you pay to buy a Kwh from the grid, which is not particularly convenient.   PV system with battery storage: storing in order to use all the energy generated from solar panels A remarkably interesting solution is the PV system with battery storage. In other words, a PV system equipped with a battery to store the surplus energy produced during the sunniest days and use it when the system can’t supply energy (when it gets dark or on cloudy days). The major advantage of a PV system with storage is to be able to self-generate clean energy and store it to improve self-consumption: this results in a lower withdrawal of energy from the grid, reducing the costs of your bills.   How to maximize energy saving from PV systems? To take full advantage from your PV system you should become part of an Energy Community. This way you could exchange your surplus within a community of people like you, and also buy energy from it when your own production is not sufficient. This so-called collective self-consumption will help you to minimize, or even bring to zero, the energy bought from the provider, thus cutting your bills.