- 117 householders and businesses with solar power are selling their surplus to Zesa Holdings as net metering is being speeded up.
- The customer’s proportional electrical power units are credited to their ZETDC account, not in monetary value.
So far, 117 householders and businesses with solar power are selling their surplus to Zesa Holdings as net metering is being speeded up, allowing those generating renewable energy to sell when they have a surplus and buy when they need power from ZETDC, usually at night. Those with solar power, a grid-tied inverter and a smart meter can sell electricity into the grid in return for electricity credits they use when they do not have sufficient renewable supply.
Places like universities and schools with solar installations are encouraged to apply for net metering to sell at weekends and during school holidays and cut their bills at other times. Any existing customer with a grid-tied solar system, up to their rated power from ZETDC, qualifies for net metering and can apply to connect to the grid. By January, 117 connections had been made out of the 175 successful applications received, with the remaining applications still being evaluated. The connected installed capacity stood at 4,9MW, while the total capacity for all the applications received is 12.5MW, ZETDC said.
Dr Manyaya said, “The system starts with solar panels that convert energy from the sun into electricity. An inverter then converts the electricity produced by the solar panels from direct current to alternating current for use in your home, school, or business. Finally, the installed bi-directional meter measures the energy used and excess energy produced, which is passed on to the grid. The customer’s proportional electrical power units are credited to their ZETDC account, not in monetary value.”