Concrete solutions, opportunities, and possible sources of funding at Petrol's 1st webinar on solar power plants
Petrol has organised its first online training workshop for businesses. The event focused on solar power plants, opportunities for businesses, financial incentives, and concrete first-hand examples. This opened up the opportunity for more than 100 participants to embark on the path of self-sufficiency, especially in the unpredictable times we have witnessed over the last two years, and ahead of the introduction of the new Network Charges Act.
The Network Charges Act, which will enter into force on 1 July this year, brings a number of changes, but also a great opportunity for companies to implement energy solutions to optimise costs while at the same time ensuring a sustainable future. By implementing energy solutions, companies can reduce their dependence on the volatile energy market and contribute to the green transformation of the economy.
Opportunities offered by the new network charge regime
The change in the network charge now includes five time blocks consisting of 15-minute intervals, adjusted seasonal periods (high and low season), and a distinction between working and non-working days. There will now also be a distinction between agreed and excess capacity, which allows for more appropriate cost accounting based on actual consumption and contributes to network stability. "As consumers, we have the opportunity to influence these changes. One of the key steps is the implementation of advanced metering systems. We are encouraged to move from being passive consumers to becoming active consumers, which includes participation in energy communities and investments in solar power plants and battery storage," explained Petrol’s Matic Delalut.
Next, Rok Čepon, also from Petrol, presented innovative energy solutions for cost optimisation. He stressed the importance of risk management in a volatile energy market. One solution is the use of battery storage systems, which allow five typical applications: Reducing capacity – batteries allow us to reduce the agreed capacity as they provide an additional source of electricity, reducing the risk of excess capacity. The second option is to store the excess electricity generated, which increases the use of RES. Thirdly, so-called arbitrage, which is about taking advantage of fluctuations in energy prices on the markets in order to optimise costs. Fourth, system services. The batteries help to regulate the fluctuations caused by the peaks of energy generated. The use of batteries also allows further cost optimisation in other areas, e.g. the installation of additional EV charging stations and the electrification of vehicle fleets. The common goal of Petrol and its customers is to reduce costs and increase the use of renewable energy sources, bringing long-term benefits for all involved.
Atlantic Grupa's solar power plant covers 30% of on-site needs
Atlantic Grupa is one of many companies working to become as energy self-sufficient as possible and to reduce its carbon footprint. The company aims to reduce emissions by 58% by 2030 compared to 2020, in line with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). To this end, they have decided to install a solar power plant on the roof of the bottling plant in Rogaška Slatina. At the event, Matic Javornik presented the company's experience. "We have installed a 975 kW power plant on the roof of the bottling plant in Rogaška Slatina, which is expected to generate 1 GWh of energy per year, covering around 30% of the site's needs. The efficiency of the power plant is also reflected in the final electricity bill, which is 10% to 40% lower depending on the time of year. A big thank you goes to Petrol which, together with its contractual partner, delivered an excellent project in a very short time. There were practically no challenges. The biggest commitment was to prepare the roof for an additional 25 years and to provide additional fire accesse to the building. The spacing between the modules also had to be taken into account for fire safety reasons," explained Javornik, adding that in the nine months since the solar plant was connected to the grid, 22% of the investment has already been covered.
Borzen is launching a new call for legal entities on 7 June
Borut Žnidarič presented the subsidies for the installation of solar power plants under Borzen. "In November 2023, we opened the first public call for solar power plants, and the response was overwhelming. The next public call will be launched on 7 June, with €60 million available. One of the main new features is that consent must be obtained before the application is submitted. In the new public call, we have also added a new sub-type – ground-mounted solar power plants. The call also includes energy storage," Žnidarič said, adding that co-financing will cover up to 65% of the investment, depending on the size of the company.
Given the positive response from the business community, Petrol will continue to offer online training courses in the future. Its aim is to help businesses with advice on how to make the most of renewable energy, optimise business processes, and prepare for energy transformation.