Responding to the sturdy level of interest being expressed by both households and enterprises for installation of photovoltaic systems, a trend spurred by the introduction of a net metering plan, officials at HEDNO, the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator – locally acronymed DEDDIE – said they are impressed.

The number of applications submitted for installation of photovoltaic systems is approaching 1,000, while numerous other interested parties are calling the operator for further enquiries.

The net metering plan enables electricity consumers who generate their own power from an eligible on-site facility and deliver it to local distribution facilities to offset the electric energy provided by the utility during an applicable billing period.

According to energypress sources, the majority of applications submitted for photovoltaic systems concern enterprises planning to install facilities with capacities ranging from 25 to 50 KW. Most are businesses consuming large amounts of electricity, such as hotels and bakeries.

At this first stage, HEDNO is only accepting applications for consumers being supplied by the low-voltage network. The upper limit is 100 KWp for the mainland and interconnected islands, 50 KWp for Crete and 20 KWp for all other non-interconnected islands. The Peloponnese, a part of Evia, south of Aliveri, as well as the islands of Andros and Tinos are currently limited to 20 KWp.

Although the current level of interest for installation of photovoltaic systems is well under levels achieved by the sector in the pre-recession boom, the trend is encouraging for all professionals active in the sector, from suppliers to installers.