Due to the lack of electrical space in DADDI network the efforts of citizens, businesses and local governments to address RESusing the institution of energy communities to reduce energy costs.

While applications for virtual energy grid projects from energy communities have increased more than fivefold in one year (November 2021 – November 2022) and the corresponding requested capacity has increased from 18.9 MW to 86.9 MW ( +358%), the lack of electrical space in the network hinders their implementation. development. According to data published by Green Tank, 49% of applications for such projects were rejected by DEDDIE, leaving their total installed capacity capped at just 3.6%. “The lack of available electrical space is a major impediment to the development of energy communities, limiting the ability of citizens to participate in the energy transition,” says Green Tank.

First, it is Western Macedonia.

In November 2022, the number of energy villages in the territory grew: 1,406 active energy villages (an increase of 36% compared to November 2021) and projects with a total installed capacity of 802.71 MW. A significant share belongs to the lignite regions of Western Macedonia, where there are 261 energy communities and a total of 101 projects with a capacity of 63.03 MW. On the contrary, the dynamics of energy communities in RO “Arcadia” is clearly weaker. In total, by November 2022, 21 energy communities were created in Arcadia and only two in Megapolis, while nine energy community projects with a capacity of 5.29 MW were operating.

Most energy community projects sell their generated energy to the low and medium voltage grid. In November 2022, 799.54 MW of installed capacity of such RES projects were recorded in the territory, which is 71.4% more than in November 2021 (466.5 MW). At the same time, the installed capacity of virtual RES projects of energy communities aimed at meeting the needs of citizens for electricity is much less – only 3.17 MW. Therefore, until now, the tool of the energy communities is mainly used to profit from the sale of electricity to the grid, and not to meet their own energy needs.

However, data on own generation projects in general allow us to conclude that the current energy crisis has pushed citizens, businesses and local communities to use renewable energy to cover their energy needs, either through their own generation at the individual level, or through collective self-production using energy communities.

In particular, application capacity for virtual grid metering projects from energy communities increased from 18.9 MW in November 2021 to 86.9 MW in November 2022 (+358%), and application capacity for virtual grid metering projects in in general (from the energy communities and other departments) increased respectively from 90.78 MW to 218.18 MW (+140.3%). Even greater was the jump in individual projects of our own production. The capacity of eligible applications increased from 260.27 MW in November 2021 to 779.4 MW in November 2022 (+199.5%).

In November 2022, DEDDIE turned down 46.6% and 49% of requests for low-medium voltage connection and virtual energy compensation, respectively, due to lack of electrical space.