Who is a virtual prosumer?

The introduction of a new photovoltaic settlement system has added a range of new possibilities for harnessing energy from the Sun. In this text, you will learn who a virtual prosumer is, who can become one, and finally – is it profitable?

Until the introduction of the net-billing system, photovoltaics were reserved for owners of single-family homes. Thanks to the virtual prosumer, every resident of an apartment building or tenement can benefit from solar energy. How is this possible? We explain:

• A virtual prosumer is a person who has a photovoltaic installation outside their place of residence, e.g., on a plot of land outside the city.
• Anyone who has the appropriate conditions, i.e., a plot of land, can become a prosumer.
• It is profitable because solar energy is practically free.

Who is a virtual prosumer?

The definition of a virtual prosumer is found in the amendment to the Renewable Energy Sources (RES) Act from 2021. It states that a virtual prosumer is "a final consumer generating electricity exclusively from renewable energy sources for their own needs in a renewable energy source installation connected to the electricity distribution network at a different location than the location where electricity is supplied to that consumer."

In simpler terms, it is a person who has a photovoltaic installation in a location other than their residence. This solution allows city residents, who previously had no opportunity to install photovoltaics, to benefit from solar energy. If you live in an apartment but own a plot of land outside the city, thanks to the new settlement rules (net-billing), the money obtained from selling the produced electricity can be used to pay your electricity bills in your city apartment.

How does a virtual prosumer settle accounts?

Net-billing is a system that focuses on so-called distributed energy and on self-consumption of the produced electricity. Its value is converted into zlotys and transferred to a virtual account. This money is used to pay electricity bills. There is a 12-month period to use the funds deposited in the account. If they are not used within this time for any reason, the prosumer will receive 20% of their value. At this point, one might ask – how is the value of the electricity fed into the grid converted into money?

This is based on the monthly market price of electricity (RCEm). The rates are published by the Polish Power Grid. In June 2022, it was 659.26 zł/MWh. This means that for every 1000 kWh of electricity fed into the grid, the prosumer will receive the above amount. In the following month, the price of electricity was 799.79 zł/MWh, and that is what you will receive if you generate 1000 kWh of electricity and feed it into the grid. It should be emphasized that the above rates apply to the sale of electricity. The energy purchased by the consumer has a completely different rate.

How much can a prosumer earn?

How much can you earn from photovoltaics? Let's assume that you have an installation with a capacity of 8 kWp (kilowatt-peak) on your plot. The panels are facing south. According to calculations by experts from the "Globenergia" portal, it will produce an average of 838.3 kWh over the course of a year. In the summer months, the yield ranged from 1253 to 1538 kWh. From this, we can easily calculate that just in June and July, the installation will earn you between 826.05 and 1230.07 zł. And we must also consider the remaining months, where the yields are lower due to unpredictable weather, but the installation still generates income.

According to our calculations, which we made in the article "What are the costs of electricity and how much energy do we consume?", a 3-person household will consume 1400 – 2100 kWh of electricity per year. It is evident that investing in photovoltaics will reduce bills. By how much? The average price of electricity in Poland is currently 0.94 zl/kWh. The mentioned household will pay for electricity between 1300 and 1974 zł annually.

A few words at the end

Before the introduction of the net-billing system, many experts predicted a collapse in the photovoltaic industry. It turned out that investing in solar energy is still profitable. The introduction of the virtual prosumer is also an opportunity for city residents to benefit from green energy. It is also a chance for those who have to consider the introduction of bans on coal and wood heating in cities.

Currently, such a ban is in effect in Krakow, but other cities intend to introduce similar restrictions. As a result, many residents will face a serious heating problem, as municipal heating networks usually do not cover the entire city. The same applies to gas. The combination of a virtual prosumer with Termofol electric underfloor heating is currently the most profitable solution. Solar energy produced outside the city will also finance heating bills. It should be remembered that electric underfloor heating systems are economical and convenient. It is the only heating solution on the market that is completely cost-free.