Homeowners in Kyrgyzstan can now sell surplus electricity generated by solar panels. Under the new law, owners of residential solar systems with a capacity of up to 15 kilowatts are allowed to feed excess power back into the grid.
The concept is simple: if your solar panels generate more electricity than your household consumes, you can sell the surplus to the power grid.
The goal of the new system is to reduce the country’s dependence on electricity imports and ease pressure on the power grid during peak demand periods.
The initiative focuses on distributed generation, meaning electricity is produced directly where it is consumed. Residential rooftop solar systems will be able to operate both independently and in conjunction with the national grid. To participate, homeowners will need a bidirectional electricity meter and a contract with their local utility company.
The new rules make it easy for households and small businesses to get started. Solar installations with a capacity of up to 15 kW are exempt from licensing requirements. Larger systems will require permits, while commercial solar and wind power plants must be equipped with energy storage systems with a capacity of at least 30% of the plant’s installed capacity.
To move beyond theory, the Ministry of Energy has already installed a 100-kilowatt pilot battery storage system at its headquarters. The project will collect data on how energy storage performs under real-world weather conditions.
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