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Initiative

ESCO - A new model of energy services for the Greek energy market

ESCO - A new model of energy services for the Greek energy market
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Survey Digital Photovoltaics SA

With over a decade of know-how and experience, Survey Digital Photovoltaics is today a recognized company for the development, design, supply, construction, operation, maintenance and cumulative representation of industrial-scale photovoltaic parks. It is a certified contractor for the construction of PV parks by all the Greek banks, having already built a very large number of projects, and is considered one of the most specialized contractors for the maintenance of PV systems, with vast experience in solving technical problems in power electronics (inverters).

The company responds to the full range of services required for the successful completion of a PV investment, with the logic of a "one-stop service". Therefore, all tax, legal, licensing, technical and real estate services are offered by the company's in-house staff, which is, among others, a Cumulative Representation Entity (CSE), holding a 500MW license.

What makes Survey Digital Photovoltaics stand out is its innovation in adapting quickly to new data, finding solutions and establishing partnerships, even without previous experience in the industry. A typical example is the fact that for the first projects of its proprietary portfolio (130MW), Survey Digital managed in late 2021 to sign a bilateral electricity sales contract directly with large consumers in Greece. It should be noted that this is one of the first such contracts concluded between third-independent parties, which received financing approval from Greek banks.



Objective Action

The heavy industry in Greece faces significant challenges when it comes to meeting its energy needs. One of the primary hurdles is the reliance on expensive black energy sources, such as coal and oil, which drive up production costs. The lack of widespread renewable energy infrastructure further exacerbates the problem. Greece currently has limited capacity in terms of renewable energy generation, which means heavy industries are left with limited options for affordable and sustainable power.

This unsustainable reliance on costly energy sources not only hampers the competitiveness of the heavy industry sector but also contributes to environmental degradation and carbon emissions. Urgent attention and investments in developing renewable energy infrastructure are crucial to addressing the energy needs of the heavy industry in Greece and mitigating the sustainability problem caused by high energy costs.

While the traditional energy suppliers are shifting their electricity production to renewable energy sources, as this shift will take at least a decade, most businesses are considering nowadays to invest in their own photovoltaic production systems, mainly in the rooftops and open spaces of their facilities, in a way to produce directly some of their energy needs.

But these businesses are not affiliated with the energy markets, so the owners feel stressed to invest in businesses they do not totally understand. This fact is creating a goal to be fulfilled, which is to provide to such business owners a direct energy saving in their electricity bills, while in the same time to invest in their own photovoltaic energy saving systems, without spending any CAPEX amounts.

 

Target Audience

In the heavy industry sector, there are many players that are not directly affiliated with the energy markets but still find themselves in urgent need to reduce their electricity bills. These companies, ranging from manufacturing to construction, rely heavily on electricity for their operations and often face significant energy costs. The high electricity bills can erode their profit margins and hinder their overall competitiveness. To address this challenge, these industry players need to explore various strategies and solutions to increase energy efficiency, optimize energy consumption, and integrate renewable energy sources wherever possible.

These types of businesses are the target audience of Survey Digital Photovoltaics operating as an ESCO (Energy Service Company). With this newly introduced service for the Greek market, Survey Digital Photovoltaics is implementing energy management systems, adopting energy-saving technologies, and engaging in energy audits that can all help identify areas for improvement and cost savings. Additionally, exploring energy procurement options, such as entering into power purchase agreements or exploring group purchasing arrangements, offer opportunities for reduced electricity costs. By taking such proactive steps to minimize their energy expenses, heavy industry players can enhance their financial sustainability while also contributing to a more sustainable energy future.

 

Duration

The duration of the cooperation by the ESCO, is long term, typically between 12-18 years. During that period, the photovoltaic system is owned by the ESCO, while the industry (offtaker) is purchasing electricity through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). The photovoltaic system’s ownership is passed to the industry after the expiration of the PPA free of charge. And it is important to mention that the system has a lifetime of 25+ years of operation, meaning that the system has still many years to produce electricity for the offtaker.


Description

Survey Digital Photovoltaics, as a pioneer company in photovoltaics in Greece, has caught this trend and developed a new business model to license and equip an industry for a photovoltaic system, but purely with its own funds. Essentially, Survey Digital Photovoltaics operates as an Energy Service Company – (ESCO), signing an Energy Performance Agreement (EPA), which is used as a financing tool for energy projects. The industry essentially utilizes a photovoltaic system in a form of long-term lease, essentially producing electricity that is consumed on-site, without the need for that amount of energy to be purchased from the energy suppliers. This opens up a new avenue for revenue generation and provides additional benefits. Because by applying this approach, not only does the industry reduce its energy costs, but it also positions itself as an energy provider, without even investing any capital of its own.

In addition, the long-term lease of the system ensures a substantial saving on electricity bills for the industry from the very first day of operation, without a single euro being invested. At the same time, through this saving, the industry also indirectly invests in the photovoltaic systems, because the ownership of the equipment passes free of charge, as a fixed asset to the industry after the end of the lease period. With this new business model, an immediate reduction of an industry's electricity bill is achieved from the very first day of operation, without spending a single euro, with a parallel investment in the photovoltaic system, the introduction of a green culture by the industry, making its product and services more competitive, achieving its desired sustainability.


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Impact on Society

The most immediate measure is the energy savings, estimated between 10%-20% of the traditional energy bills, from the very first day of the system’s operation. But another significant benefit is that the Organization owners, do not need to be educated on new business models and technologies, focusing in their traditional business and know-how.



Initiative Location

ESCOs may install photovoltaic net metering and zero feed in systems in various locations, depending on the specific context and requirements. Here are a few common places where photovoltaic systems can be installed by an ESCO:

-Commercial Buildings: Businesses, offices, and commercial establishments can install solar panels on their rooftops or open spaces to generate solar energy. Net metering allows them to offset their energy usage and potentially reduce electricity costs.

-Industrial Facilities: Manufacturing plants, warehouses, and other industrial facilities can implement photovoltaic net metering systems to generate renewable energy and offset their electricity consumption. This can help reduce operational costs and environmental impact.

-Public Buildings: Government buildings, schools, hospitals, and other public facilities can install photovoltaic systems and utilize net metering to reduce energy costs and promote sustainability.

-Utility-Scale Solar Farms: In some cases, large-scale solar farms can be developed by utility companies or independent power producers. These solar farms feed the generated electricity directly into the grid, and virtual net metering allows for the measurement and compensation of energy produced for a specific consumer.


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Working with Organization

Not required.


Workers Participation

Not required.


Benefits for Οrganization

By proposing a partnership that enables them to reduce immediately their electricity bills via leasing photovoltaic net-metering or zero feed in systems, and also keep the systems after the expiration of the cooperation, is a win-win situation for the heavy industry. The offtaker does not need to become expert/knowledgeable in the energy market, achieves a significant percentage discount in the electricity bills from the very first day of operation, while in parallel it invests in the future ownership of the system




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