The conditions for solar panel installation are changing. Is it still worth it?
Due to the increased demand and the extreme overload of the grid, the government has decided to change the rules for the installation of solar panels. The unfavorable decision for many was announced by Gergely Gulyás at the October 13 press conference.
What's next? Is it still worth installing a solar panel system for those who are about to modernize their apartment? What impact is this likely to have on the real estate market?
Solar panels as a cost-effective renewable energy source. Solar energy is almost unlimited at our disposal. The essence of the system's operation is that the panels collect the rays of light coming from the sun, which arrive in the form of direct current in an inverter and are finally converted into alternating current. Thus, they are already perfectly suitable for operating various electrical equipment and heating systems. Replacing fossil energy sources with renewable energy sources is definitely an environmentally friendly alternative, which is also a budget-friendly solution. The growing popularity of solar systems was facilitated by the amended utility bill, the home renovation subsidies, and the application opportunity launched in 2021.
That's how the rules change
Until the network is modernized and developed, a solar system capable of recharging cannot be installed - for an indefinite period of time. Balance settlement is therefore terminated, and only stand-alone systems can be considered. Exceptions to the amendment are those who already have a built-in solar system, and those who have already submitted their request to the competent electricity provider. It is almost certain that the long-awaited second round of the tender, which was supposed to start in November, will not be held.
The operation of the solar system feeding back to the grid in a nutshell. The solar system feeding back into the grid has been the most economical and popular solution so far. The bottom line is that we get electricity exactly when and as much as we need. If we produce extra energy, it runs back into the system. If we consume more than we produce, the amount of electricity is supplemented. This means that, for example, at night or in winter, even in bad weather conditions, the power supply is guaranteed. The connection between the electric utility network and the solar panels is provided by a special inverter. The annual settlement takes place in the form of a balance - a huge advantage is that we get money back from the service provider in case of overproduction.
What is an isolated network? Up until now, this option has mostly been used in places where there was no mains electricity, such as holiday homes and motorhomes, or where the connection would have been expensive due to insufficient conditions. In the case of an isolated power network, the consumer only produces electricity for himself. Energy that is not used immediately is essentially wasted. And the most important thing: since the operation requires a minimum of diffused light, unfortunately the power supply is not guaranteed at night or in cloudy weather. Being a grid-independent solution, you cannot buy extra electricity from the service provider. Special batteries can be purchased to store energy, but they are extremely expensive (several million forints), and they also need to be replaced every 8-10 years. The new regulation definitely limits the transition to electric heating. Batteries can only store energy for a certain period of time, so it is not possible to use the amount produced in the summer in the winter without purchasing batteries. Another disadvantage is that such a system often reacts unfavorably to weather conditions.
Is it still worth building a solar system? The construction of the stand-alone version can be implemented about 50-60% more expensively than the previously detailed feed-back systems. Those who want to store energy must also take into account the costs of maintenance and battery replacement, which calls into question the raison d'être of the installation (because it is not certain that we will save significantly). With the fact that the government has suspended the feeding of electricity into the grid, the return on the investment is drastically slowing down. Depending on use, compared to the previous 2-5 years, it can increase to at least 10, but even 20-25 years. The latter is almost equal to the average lifetime of the installed solar panel. However, it should not be forgotten that if the retail price of electricity rises in the future, the payback time will be more favorable.
I think the best thing to do right now is to wait it out. Since the government is in the habit of polishing the details after a few weeks after making a quick decision, it is possible that further changes are expected.
Other options for increasing energy efficiency. When it comes to energy modernization, solar panels are not the only solution. For example, if you want a modern heating system, the best possible alternative is an economical and practical heat pump. If your budget is much tighter than this, you can achieve significant energy savings of up to 30-40% by replacing your old, outdated gas boiler with a condensing boiler.
What will be the impact of solar restrictions on the real estate market? It has been obvious until now that an energy upgrade can increase the selling price of the house. How much more we can ask for a property equipped with solar panels is determined by many factors - mainly the age and performance of the system. It is difficult to see into the future and speculate. At the same time, in my opinion, the result of the tightening will be an increase in demand for houses that already have solar panels. Knowing the laws of the market, it can be assumed that all this will generate a price increase that will exceed the value of the previous investment. Anyway, we are waiting for the end...