There has been a significant shift concerning off-grid electrical generation over the last three years. An important contributing factor to this is the technology now enabling the feeding of electricity back to the grid. One advantage of this is that it removes the need for large, expensive battery back up systems, by using the utility for back up power.
There are now a number of government incentive programs rewarding the residential use of a wind turbine, this contributing to the economic viability of a wind power system both for small-scale and large-scale producers. These incentives include:
- Net metering has been introduced in many countries around the world, such as Australia, the United States and Canada. The specifics of the program vary from country to country, however in general net metering requires the electricity utility to buy excess power from the consumer at retail prices, rather than wholesale.
- This system rewards individuals and businesses for each kWh they produce past their own requirements. In such a case, one’s power meter will run backwards, sending the surplus of electricity to the power grid. Usually one will then receive credits for this excess electricity and if power from the utility is used during times of lessened home power generation, these credits count as payment towards the electricity used.
- Renewable energy credits apply to states which have implemented renewable energy quotas for power companies. This means power companies must buy up to a certain quota of their electricity from renewable sources. States that implement a “green energy credit program” allow a consumer to receive credits for each megawatt-hour of energy they produce from their sustainable systems. These credits are can be traded; they can be sold to conventional energy companies seeking to comply with their state or federal renewable energy quota.
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