Companies of all sizes will be able to begin the process of applying for a subsidy to install a battery within 24 hours, through the “Batteries for Businesses” program. According to the program guide, published on Diavgeia, applications will open on 8 January and close on 28 February.
The “Batteries for Businesses” program aims to support commercial consumers in installing batteries and, in this way, increasing the extent to which they use “clean” (and free) energy to meet their electricity needs. For this reason, having a photovoltaic system is a prerequisite for joining the program.
Therefore, only companies that already have a solar system or plan to install one (without a subsidy) can apply for support to install an energy storage unit.
Budget: 153,7 million euros
The program will make 153,7 million euros in funding available, and companies across the country can apply for a subsidy. The budget is divided into 100 million euros earmarked for micro and small businesses, and approximately 53,7 million euros for medium-sized and large companies.
The subsidy rate depends on the size of the company: micro businesses will receive a subsidy of 50%, medium-sized businesses 40%, and large companies 30%. A maximum subsidy amount for the battery is also set.
The cap is 400.000 euros per MWh (for a battery with a capacity of 1h) and 350.000 euros per MWh (for a battery with a capacity of 1h to 2h). Subsidies are also available for the system’s technical study and the cost of grid connection.
The application process
The photovoltaic system’s technical specifications will determine the battery requirements. The energy storage unit must therefore have an installed capacity at least equal to the photovoltaic station’s installed generating capacity for one hour, and no more than that capacity for two hours. So, if the photovoltaic system is 10 MW, the battery must have a capacity of between 10 and 20 MWh.
On the other hand, applications will be accepted into the program based on the order in which they are submitted, following the FIFO (First In - First Out) principle of immediate evaluation.
Applications will therefore be accepted until the budget is exhausted. Once the available funds have been used up, the remaining applications will stay in the system as reserve applications, ranked according to the timestamp assigned when they were submitted.
It is worth noting, however, that if funds remain unused in either of the two categories—that is, part of the 100 million euros for micro and small businesses, or approximately 60 million euros for medium-sized and large companies—the remaining funds may be “transferred” to the other category to subsidize reserve applications.
Charging by 75% from the photovoltaic system
The program also requires the photovoltaic system and battery to operate in a “synchronized” manner, so eligible businesses can meet as much of their energy needs as possible with “green” electricity. The photovoltaic system’s output will therefore be used first to meet the business’s consumption needs, while any surplus output will be used to charge the battery.
When solar generation is insufficient to meet the business’s needs, energy from the battery will be used first, followed by energy from the grid. Electricity will be fed into the grid through the battery only when the photovoltaic system’s output exceeds the business’s needs and the battery is fully charged. The battery must also be charged by 75% from the photovoltaic system over the course of each year.
Source: Insider
Source: Insider
