Virtual net metering program for businesses on the way

A special program to boost energy efficiency, which will include "virtual net metering" for businesses, amounting to 1.259 billion euros of public spending, is coming within the year. Virtual net metering can be a way out of the energy crisis for the business world as it is permits the offsetting of energy injected into the power grid from a photovoltaic power station with that absorbed by one or more consumption plants of the self producing unit, without the restriction that applies to simple net metering in terms of the location of the production facility.

In virtual energy offset, the photovoltaic does not have to be in the same (or adjacent) space as the consumption installation and be electrically connected to it (grid connection through the same supply), as is the case in conventional energy offset. Thus it serves business units that do not have the necessary space.

Thus, as mentioned in a document (No. 29995 / 21-3-2022) of the Special Secretariat for the Management of Programs of the European Regional Development Fund and the Cohesion Fund of the Ministry of Development and Investment, which was forwarded to Parliament, the new program " Environment and Climate Change 2021-2027 ", with a budget of 3.606 billion euros of public expenditure (part of the Partnership Agreement 2021-2027) was formally submitted to the services of the European Commission in October 2021.

Following the relevant comments of the Commission, in previous days (April 2022 will follow its second official submission for approval). According to the Special Secretariat, it is estimated that it could be approved within the first half of 2022, allowing its activation with the issuance of first funding calls.

In the context of the consultation with the bodies that...