Customers as power producers
In the future, customers can both produce power for their own consumption, and sell excess power into the power grid of SEV. In that way, a customer becomes a “prosumer”, or in Faroese an elfelagi – meaning a person that cooperates with a supplier of electricity regarding both production and consumption.
Mr. Hákun Djurhuus, the CEO of SEV, noted: “SEV is offering the opportunity for our customers to sell electrical power into SEV’s grid, which in the end will help each individual household save money. Thus, the total electricity bill for a “prosumer” will be reduced”.
He also observed that this kind of cooperation and teamwork with customers could very well play a significant role in the process of making the Faroe Islands 100% green by 2030.
“We invite our customers to become a part of charting the green energy course ahead. Such participation will no doubt help contribute to a sense of ownership in the major project of making the Faroe Islands green by 2030. SEV is owned by all the Faroese people and we have always together solved the problems facing us, and it is our hope that everyone will rally together again to help chart this historic course to a green, sustainable energy future for the Faroe Islands. Together, we stand strong,” observed Mr. Hákun Djurhuus, CEO of SEV.
SEV has recommended the parameters for connecting to the grid be changed, enabling SEV customers to set up their own mini power plants, e.g. rooftop solar panels, small-scale hydropower plants and small wind turbines.
Small-scale power plants produce at most 11 kW. SEV has stipulated new technical requirements for these small-scale power plants that must be met before being allowed to connect to the grid. In addition, all the provisions of the Act on Electricity Production, as well as any other requirements of the government authorities, must be followed.
“Previously, solar energy experiments were undertaken in the Faroe Islands, but now we believe the time is right for solar power to make a real difference, especially during the summer months when the consumption of oil is the greatest because there is minimal wind and rain”, noted Mr. Hákun Djurhuus, CEO of SEV.