October 30, 2020
19:04
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The Flemish government is paving the way for the direct sale of solar power between private individuals. Local residents will also be able to jointly install solar panels or neighborhood batteries.
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Flemish Energy Minister Zuhal Demir (N-VA) received approval in principle on Friday in the Council of Ministers for an important amendment to the energy regulations. Due to an amendment to the energy decree, owners of solar panels will be able to sell their surplus electricity directly to their neighbors. Now that is not yet possible because only recognized energy suppliers are allowed to trade electricity.
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Private individuals are not yet allowed to exchange electricity surpluses. Only recognized energy suppliers are allowed to trade electricity.
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Citizens and businesses can group together to respond to fluctuations in electricity prices and, for example, charge electric cars during the day when the sun is shining and not in the evening when the electricity consumption in the district peaks. Or they can deploy a cluster of electric cars as storage capacity to inject electricity into the grid when it is in high demand.
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The new rules also allow someone with a large roof to install extra solar panels to supply power to someone without a south-facing roof, or for apartment residents to install a solar installation together.
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It is not yet clear when the new rules will come into effect. It concerns a preliminary draft amendment of the decree on which several councils, de regulator VREG and the Council of State must issue an opinion.
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