While Germany introduced a feed-in tariff system for renewable energy in 2000, and the adoption of photovoltaic (PV) power has increased, consumers have seen higher electricity bills every year, along with a lower feed in price for surplus solar power. Germany is seeking solutions to this by deregulating its energy market, separating power generation and transmission, and independent power providers can now participate and deliver electricity.

Toshiba’s a new on-site consumption model will operate independently of the feed-in tariff system, which could reduce the burden on the regional grid and the environment.

Toshiba will initially install 3MW solar power systems serving 750 apartments and then increase it to more than 100MW in Germany by 2016. Going forward, it will also install stationary batteries and integrate a micro energy management system, μEMS. Toshiba’s goal is to develop a self-sufficient model for on-site consumption that delivers solar-power electricity day and night, and apply it to a service business that supports energy management on a real-time basis.