Renewable energy platform for prosumers
About this good practice
In order to make it is a popular alternative for energy and consumption conscious residents as well as businesses to become renewable energy users on 1st of October 2019, the world's first nationwide platform Saulės Parkai (Solar parks) has been launched and is available to residents willing to produce solar energy for their homes.
In order to encourage residents to take advantage of new opportunities in the energy sector, state owned company “IGNITIS Group” developed an online platform. Through this platform, the energy users will be able to purchase or rent a part of the remote power plant, wherever its location in Lithuania. A web page has been launched, where potential prosumers can calculate solar power requirements and make a supply order.
The user will be able to cover energy user own electricity consumption with the power produced by the remote solar power plant. The platform acts as independent and neutral to all market players’ entity bringing together solar parks developers and prosumers. As this organisation have high number of clients it is easy marketing and pooling clients, collecting reservations and funds (plants are started being built after certain percentage of foreseen is reserved). After project is finished platform is collecting payments for plant maintenance and sending it to the developer.
Resources needed
No public finance resources are needed.
It should be noted that a political support and mutual work on supporting RES legislation is essential.
Evidence of success
Information on the platform of 10th of January 2020:
• First project of 1 MW solar plant was reserved by 280 prosumers in 2 days.
• Project amounting to more than 6.1 MW finished;
• More than 2.6 MW projects are under development;
• Consumer interest expressed for additionally for more than 10 MW of power.
10,000 individuals are expected to become prosumers via the platform at the end of 2020.
Potential for learning or transfer
Other partners can learn how to encourage residents to take advantage of new opportunities in the energy sector through an online platform so boosting renewable energy use.
Project developer is planning to promote this initiative and the scheme in other countries.