The idea to build a tenant power system can come from either the landlord or the tenant.

If, for example, a housing association wants to market the electricity from its own system to its tenants, it can install a photovoltaic system on the roof of an apartment building and realise a landlord-to-tenant electricity project. It is important to note that the tenants are NOT bound to the electricity contract and do not have to change their previous contract. This means that the landlords should ensure the interest of the tenants before the construction.

On the other hand, the tenants or flat owners of a housing estate can also discuss the idea of an in-house electricity supply. With enough commitment, this leads to faster implementation and more security for the operators, as it is already clear how much interest there is. You can find various sample resolutions on the information page of the Freiburg Climate Protection Agency.

The operators of a photovoltaic system conclude a landlord-to-tenant electricity contract with the end consumers and supply them with the electricity generated on site.

To ensure a stable power supply, additional electricity is drawn from the public grid if the PV system cannot cover the demand. This results in lower electricity costs for the end consumers and the system operators receive a return for operating and marketing the generation system. It is also possible for tenants and homeowners' associations to act as operators.

In most cases, the existing electricity meter and the public grid are used, which greatly reduces the amount of work required at the house. However, the electricity can also be routed through a private electricity grid, which means that no user fees, concession fees and electricity taxes are incurred.

Since 2017, PV systems up to 100 kWp can be subsidised for 20 years on the basis of the Renewable Energy Sources Act. Depending on the size of the PV system and the current feed-in tariff, financial support is paid out per kilowatt hour. For kilowatt hours marketed in the immediate vicinity, system operators can also receive a landlord-to-tenant electricity surcharge.

You can find the current remuneration rates on the website of the Federal Network Agency.

In addition, a tenant power system can be combined with various solutions. The combination often makes the overall system even more profitable and increases the number of available financial subsidies. For example, a PV system can be combined very well with a public charging station for residents and visitors or a heat pump as central heating.