2023-11-28 07:03:27
Grid operator Fluvius has already received 4,878 complaints this year regarding defective solar panels. This already represents 1,887 complaints, or 63% more than for the whole of last year. The June 2023 peak is particularly striking. That month, Fluvius received no less than 1,470 complaints, around four times more than in June 2022. This is revealed by the figures requested by CD&V party leader Peter Van Rompuy.
The problem is not so new and the reason for the breakdowns is well known. When solar panels inject a lot of energy, when there is a lot of sun, the grid capacity may not be enough. This results in an increase in voltage, which can lead to a (temporary) failure of the inverter. The solar panels can then no longer produce electricity and inject it into the network.
Figures show that around 90% of complaints are attributable to the network. “The network is not (yet) adapted everywhere to the energy transformation and the wise investments we are making today in solar panels or electric cars,” explains CD&V MP Peter Van Rompuy. According to him, each complaint is therefore not just a technical problem. “It is also a call to action for a more robust and future-proof electricity network. Fluvius provides 4 billion euros for this purpose.”
According to Mr. Van Rompuy, the increase in the number of complaints can be explained in several ways. For example, the media is more interested in the issue and a compensation system has also been developed in 2022.
But the main reason lies in the ever-increasing number of installations. While there were 747,076 installations recorded in 2022, today there are 845,111. “When an additional installation is placed on a street that saturates the network, previously placed installations in the vicinity may also be affected . So, an additional installation can give rise to several complaints,” said Van Rompuy.
1701159513
#sharp #increase #complaints #faulty #solar #panels
