Collective self-consumption

What collective self-consumption is, the available modalities, and the steps you must follow to set it up, whether for a small installation or a higher-capacity one.?

We answer any questions you may have about collective self-consumption
  • What is collective self-consumption?

    • Collective self-consumption allows multiple users to share the energy generated by a single installation, for example, in a residential building or community.

  • What types of collective self-consumption exist?

    • There are two modalities:

      • Collective self-consumption without surpluses, featuring an export limitation system.
      • Collective self-consumption with surpluses, where excess energy is fed into the grid.

  • What do you need to start collective self-consumption?

    • To begin, you must meet these basic requirements:

      • An energy-sharing agreement between the participants.
      • All participants must adopt the same self-consumption modality.
      • The contract adaptation is requested via the supplier or the collective self-consumption manager

  • How is the generated energy shared?

    • The sharing arrangement is defined via a formal agreement between the participants.

      We provide you with:

      • A  guide outlining the format of the sharing file.
      • A validator to check the file is correct before submitting it.

  • Installations up to 100 kW

    • Collective self-consumption installations up to 100 kW follow the same administrative procedure as individual self-consumption installations.

      • Installations without surpluses or up to 15 kW on urbanised land are exempt from requesting access and connection permits.
      • In buildings subject to the Horizontal Property Act, approval by the owners' association with a two-thirds majority is required

  • Who is involved in the process?

    • Prior installing

       

      infographic of agents before installing
       
      • Local authority: building permits.
      • Regional authority: administrative authorisations.
      • Distribution company: access and connection permits where applicable.

       

      During installation

       

      infographics construction installationThe installation must be executed in accordance with applicable technical regulations and the distribution company's specifications.

       

      Post installation

      infographics after installation

       

      • Local authority: operating licence.
      • Regional authority: installation certificate and operating authorisation.
      • State administration: registration in the administrative register.
      • Supplier: adaptation of the supply contract.
      • Distribution company: verification or installation of the generation meter

  • What is the process to activate a collective self-consumption≤ 15 kW and it is on urbanised land or without surplus?

    • 1. Legalisation of the installation

      infographic legalisation of installations greater than or equal to 15kw

      If your installation has an installed power generation capacity of ≤ 15 kW and is on urbanized land or installations without surplus, you have to proceed as follows:

      • The installer must request the Self-consumption Code (CAU) from the distributor before legalizing the installation in the Autonomous Community. In Catalonia, when applying for the CAU, the distribution agreement and the TXT file of coefficients must be provided. For more information, please visit our private area.
      • You can do this from the CAU Request service in our private area.
      • You will then proceed to legalize the installation in the Autonomous Community and obtain the sealed CIE of the installation.

       

      2. Adaptation of the Third Party Network Access contract (ATR)

      infographic adaptation ATR

      • Individually, each participant in the group will request, through their supplier, the adaptation of their supply contract for self-consumption.
      • Alternatively, all participants may agree to delegate the adaptation request to the figure of the Collective Self-consumption Manager (see IDAE Guide).
      • The distributor will proactively adapt the access contract to self-consumption 10 days after having informed the supplier.

      You can consult the IDAE guide for more information.

  • What is the process to activate a collective self-consumption of >15 kW on developed land or for any power on undeveloped land?

    • 1- Access and Connection Request

      infographic of the access request

       

      If your installation has an installed generation capacity >15 kW on developed land or for any capacity on undeveloped land, you have to proceed:

      You can make your application from the Self-consumption/Generation Application service in our private area. 

      Once the application has been formalized, e-distribution will communicate to the owner of the generation facility the previous proposal with the Technical and Economic Conditions (CTEs).

      Important: In those cases where the economic conditions are free of charge, acceptance must be formalized by accepting the technical and economic conditions via the website or by e-mail to the following address: conexiones.edistribucion@enel.com.

      The technical and economic conditions are valid for 30 working days, after which time they will cease to be valid, releasing the reserved network capacity, and a new request will have to be made.

       

      2- Processing of the Technical Access Contract (TAC)

      infographic of the processing of the CTA

       

      Before commissioning the installation, the customer must sign the CTA with the distributor, which can be managed via the CTA request serivce in our private area.

       

      3- Legalisation of the installation (in parallel to the signing of the CTA).

      infographic of the legalization of the installation

       

      The installer must request the Self-consumption Code (CAU) from the distributor before legalizing the installation in the Autonomous Region. You can do this from the CAU Request service in our private area.

      In Catalonia, customers who have signed the CTA do not have the CAU from the distributor if they have not expressly requested it.

       

      4-Adaptation of the contract with your trading company

      adaptation of the contract with the supplier

       

      You will have to provide the distribution agreement signed by all the self-consumers of the group and a file in TXT format with the distribution coefficients (except in Catalonia).

      The application is submitted to the supplier and sent to the distributor, who activates it, if everything is correct, within the regulated deadlines.

      The distributor carries out the verification or installation of the generation meter. It will also be able to check the link installation to verify that it complies with the regulations.