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Squaring the sunny circle? On balancing distributive justice of power grid costs and incentives for solar prosumers

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  • Kubli, Merla

Abstract

Solar prosumers are about to revolutionize the power sector. Utilities are challenged in recovering the costs of distribution grids, as parts of their revenue basis decreases through self-consumption. Adjusting the grid tariff sets off a reinforcing feedback loop that increases the attractiveness of solar investments, but also leads to a distribution effect between solar prosumers and conventional consumers. The question is: How to recover distribution grid costs equitable without hampering the diffusion of solar power? Can the two criteria be fulfilled at the same time, or is do we aim for squaring a circle? To address this question, I present a System Dynamics simulation model designed to understand the interactions and assess these competing goals. The occurring distribution effect under the volumetric grid tariff with net purchase and sale appears to be rather limited. Simulation experiments reveal that grid tariff designs strongly influence investments for solar power. A capacity tariff can reduce deviations from the cost causation principle of solar prosumers and incentivizes investments in decentralized storage solutions to reduce peak demand. Nevertheless, also the capacity tariff causes a distribution effect.

Suggested Citation

  • Kubli, Merla, 2018. "Squaring the sunny circle? On balancing distributive justice of power grid costs and incentives for solar prosumers," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 173-188.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:114:y:2018:i:c:p:173-188
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2017.11.054
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    6. Castaneda, Monica & Zapata, Sebastian & Cherni, Judith & Aristizabal, Andres J. & Dyner, Isaac, 2020. "The long-term effects of cautious feed-in tariff reductions on photovoltaic generation in the UK residential sector," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 1432-1443.
    7. Apfel, Dorothee & Haag, Steffen & Herbes, Carsten, 2021. "Research agendas on renewable energies in the Global South: A systematic literature review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    8. Sommerfeldt, Nelson & Pearce, Joshua M., 2023. "Can grid-tied solar photovoltaics lead to residential heating electrification? A techno-economic case study in the midwestern U.S," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 336(C).
    9. Hoarau, Quentin & Perez, Yannick, 2019. "Network tariff design with prosumers and electromobility: Who wins, who loses?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 26-39.
    10. Yihsu Chen & Andrew L. Liu & Makoto Tanaka & Ryuta Takashima, 2022. "Optimal Retail Tariff Design with Prosumers: Pursuing Equity at the Expenses of Economic Efficiencies?," Papers 2209.14505, arXiv.org.
    11. Manuel de Villena, Miguel & Jacqmin, Julien & Fonteneau, Raphael & Gautier, Axel & Ernst, Damien, 2021. "Network tariffs and the integration of prosumers: The case of Wallonia," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    12. Collier, Samuel H.C. & House, Jo I. & Connor, Peter M. & Harris, Richard, 2023. "Distributed local energy: Assessing the determinants of domestic-scale solar photovoltaic uptake at the local level across England and Wales," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    13. Kubli, Merla & Puranik, Sanket, 2023. "A typology of business models for energy communities: Current and emerging design options," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    14. Clastres, Cédric & Percebois, Jacques & Rebenaque, Olivier & Solier, Boris, 2019. "Cross subsidies across electricity network users from renewable self-consumption," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 1-1.
    15. Claudia Gunther & Wolf-Peter Schill & Alexander Zerrahn, 2019. "Prosumage of solar electricity: tariff design, capacity investments, and power system effects," Papers 1907.09855, arXiv.org.
    16. Avau, Michiel & Govaerts, Niels & Delarue, Erik, 2021. "Impact of distribution tariffs on prosumer demand response," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    17. Merla Kubli, 2020. "Navigating through the unknown: How conjoint analysis reduces uncertainty in energy consumer modelling," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(6), pages 880-885, November.
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    19. Paul Neetzow & Roman Mendelevitch & Sauleh Siddiqui, 2018. "Modeling Coordination between Renewables and Grid: Policies to Mitigate Distribution Grid Constraints Using Residential PV-Battery Systems," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 1766, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    20. Junhyung Kim & Keon Baek & Eunjung Lee & Jinho Kim, 2023. "Analysis of Net-Metering and Cross-Subsidy Effects in South Korea: Economic Impact across Residential Customer Groups by Electricity Consumption Level," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-14, January.
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