Page 29 - European Energy Innovation - spring 2018 publication

Spring 2018 European Energy Innovation
participants said that they would not
recommend the subsidy program.
When asked for the reason, most of
the installers said that the fact, that
storage users have to feed in 50% of
the generated energy into the grid,
was not beneficial for the use of a
storage system. Furthermore, they
describe the application form as too
complicated (all in all nine steps are
necessary to receive the funding).
Amongst the other mentioned
reasons, German installers today
largely believe that the storage
subsidy program is not profitable
for their customers. And the fact that
customers need to take out a loan
from the KfW in order to benefit from
the support scheme (even if they have
the necessary money) is deemed as
a further barrier, as this means that
despite having the necessary assets,
home-owners would have to pay the
repayment instalments over a period
of possibly 10 years.
It is therefore not surprising that, when
asked how satisfied the installers
are with the KfW on a scale from 1
(very satisfied) to 5 (not satisfied at
all), only three per cent of the survey
participants answer that they were
very satisfied. More than 50% of the
installers rated their satisfaction with
the subsidy scheme with either a 4 or,
even worse, a 5. In total the satisfaction US with the entire range of qualitative and quantitative research services.
received an average rating of 3.64.
The picture in Italy is significantly
different. As there is no federal subsidy
program like in Germany, Italian
installers may offer their customers a
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29
PV STORAGE
number of storage support schemes, the Italian installers with the offered
for instance like the program in the programs. In total the satisfaction
region of Lombardy. The administrative rating with the programs only reached
region in Northwest Italy launched a € 3.15, however, a higher share of
4 million incentive program for solar installers rated the schemes favorable
storage. The program provide rebates as compared to their German counter
that cover up to 50% of the cost for parts. Around 30% of the surveyed
purchasing and installing a storage Italian installers are satisfied with the
system coupled with a PV system. Only available energy storage support
storage projects combined with PV programs.
installations with a capacity of up to 20
kW are entitled to have access to the These insights into two of the leading
program. sales markets for residential storage
solutions in Europe shows that
The feedback from the installers support schemes can, depending on
surveyed in Italy was nearly the market developments, be assessed
complete opposite as compared to both positively and even negatively
the German installers. 92 percent of amongst the important target group
the survey participants answered that of installers. Whereas a market can
they recommend the regional support benefit from any kind of stimulation
schemes to their customers. Only 4% caused by a support scheme in the
would not recommend any programs, early stages, the number of sceptics
whereas the rest is unaware of any may increase in established markets.
subsidy schemes or has no programs Subsidies generally have a positive
available to recommend. impact for any kind of market entry;
however, it needs to be ensured
A further sign that the regional support that self-supporting structures are
schemes in Italy offer a possible established in order to prepare for the
incentive for energy storage is the phase once the support scheme has
comparably higher satisfaction of expired. l
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