EFFECT4buildings Prosumerism tool
About this good practice
The Interreg project EFFECT4buildings has developed a toolbox of financial tools and instruments for implementing more energy efficiency measures in buildings. The target group is building managers.
Energy prosumer is an energy consumer that produces energy. The Prosumerism tool helps building managers to produce own solar energy, by (i) introducing legislation frameworks regar¬ding prosumerism in the EU and each participating country; (ii) tackling PV market trends and costs; and (iii) discussing future development and barriers, using case studies and lessons learned from them.
EFFECT4building project has developed a Prosumerism calculation tool that helps building owners:
1. To determine the optimal size of the PV system
2. To find out how much electricity can be produced from a selected area
3. To make financial calculations to identify savings, income, necessary investments, repayment time
and the overall profitability of the system
4. To find out how much a storage system would improve PV systems efficiency
The tool also include templates and guidelines for procurement of PV systems.
Expert opinion
Self-consumption of renewables will be a major part of the roll-out of clean energy, enabling a large number of small investments for individual (and collective) benefit. However, building managers often do not understand the benefits or technical/legal parametres of an installation. This tool, an Excel calculator and accompanying guidance, provides an introduction for building managers, providing information on the potential of self-consumption in terms of energy and cost savings. It could be of interest for building managers across Europe, though it provides the most in-depth information for Sweden, Finland, Norway and Estonia. EFFECT4buildings has developed a number of tools: search the GP Database for ‘EFFECT4buildings’ to find all of them.
Resources needed
Investments in PV solar plants vary depending on size, but using the EFFECT4buildings prosumerism calculation tool does not take a lot of resources.
Using the templates for procurement of PV plants save time and resources.
Evidence of success
The calculation tool was tested in Gulbene municipality in Latvia, which plans to install a solar power plant on a local government administration building. Using this tool, Gulbene calculated the amount of electricity that the planned PV system can produce, and determined that the project would be profitable. Data gathered later using this tool will be used when making procurement.
The templates for procurement of PV plants has been tested by Ludvika municipality in Sweden with good results.
Potential for learning or transfer
The tool has been developed with the aim to make them possible to adapt in all (European) countries. The potential for transferring best practise to other regions is supported by clear guidelines, templates and training materials.
Please visit project website www.effect4buildings.se to explore the full toolbox.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
County Administrative Board of Dalarna
