Surplus feed-in

What is meant by feed-in?

Feed-in refers to transferring excess electricity to a grid operator in exchange for financial compensation. Before producing power, you need a PV system connected to the public grid. A PV system typically consists of PV modules, one or more inverters, and standard-compliant safety equipment for emergencies or malfunctions. This includes power optimizers or firefighter safety switches, which shut down the system during a fire or outage to prevent electric shocks and protect first responders.

With this setup, your home is ready to produce electricity for heating, hot water, EV charging, or running everyday household appliances. But what happens to the surplus power you do not consume?

What happens to surplus electricity?

You can feed unused electricity into the grid as a "surplus feed-in generator." Doing so requires preparation with local authorities and your grid operator. First, you must file a building notice with your local municipality and obtain approval to construct a PV system. Next, you apply for a grid feed-in point or metering point with your local grid operator, which determines how much power you are permitted to feed in. Finally, you sign a supply contract with a grid operator of your choice. Alternatively, you can join an energy community.

Why is the feed-in amount limited?

Your grid operator determines your allowable surplus feed-in capacity. In Carinthia, for example, the upper limit has been capped at standard household power demand since September 2022. You can find this exact figure on your electricity bill. Grid operators assume your demand remains constant and expect your PV system to be sized accordingly. Your specific hourly feed-in limit is assigned during the feed-in point application process. Capping feed-in amounts is essential: if every household fed unlimited electricity into the network, the public grid would quickly collapse. Monitoring and control are crucial.

How are electricity production and surplus amounts measured?

Most people are familiar with standard electricity meters in distribution panels, which measure energy drawn from the grid operator. Measuring feed-in requires an additional bi-directional (net) meter. Standard smart meters installed today satisfy this requirement, enabling grid operators to calculate your compensation accurately.

How much will you get paid for your electricity?

This depends on your selected electricity buyer, with whom you contract purchase terms and rate per kWh. Most surplus feed-in generators in Austria choose OeMAG.
OeMAG is a state-run processing agency for green electricity. While it does not generate power itself, it is legally obligated to purchase surplus PV electricity from any provider at current market rates. Tariffs are calculated by E-Control based on market prices minus balancing energy costs.
Energy communities are also becoming an increasingly popular, modern form of electricity trading. For more details, read our dedicated blog article: "Energy Communities – The Modern Form of Electricity Trading."

When do I get paid?

Your grid operator reads your feed-in amounts and transmits the data to your electricity buyer. Meter readings typically occur on a fixed annual cut-off date, with credits issued by the end of the following month. If you have a smart meter, you can request monthly billing from your grid operator.

Conclusion!

Operating a PV system and feeding surplus electricity into the grid requires handling administrative requirements, but it pays off. You can earn extra income while actively contributing to a sustainable energy supply. At Conversio Energie GmbH, we are dedicated to renewable energy technologies and committed to educating the public about photovoltaics so we can make the world a little greener together.