Solar surplus
Solar surplus refers to the amount of electricity generated by photovoltaic panels that exceeds the current energy consumption of a given home or building. This phenomenon occurs especially during times of high solar radiation, when PV systems generate more electricity than is needed at that moment to run the household or other solar-powered location.
These surplus amounts of energy can be used in different ways:
- Return to the power grid: In systems connected to the public electricity grid (on-grid systems), the solar surplus can be fed back into the grid. In some cases, PV system owners can receive credit or financial compensation for this delivered energy, known as net metering.
- Battery storage: in homes or buildings with solar batteries, these surpluses can be stored for later use, especially during periods when the PV panels do not generate enough energy, such as at night or on cloudy days.
- Solar surplus can also be used to power other devices or systems that are not constantly in operation, such as electric water heaters, electric car chargers or other energy-intensive applications.
Efficient management and use of solar surpluses is important to maximise the return on investment in PV systems, while contributing to reducing dependence on traditional energy sources and supporting the sustainability of the energy system.