eigenverbruik

Eigenverbruik, or self-consumption, is the share of electricity produced at a site that is consumed there, rather than exported to the public grid. It is most commonly associated with rooftop solar photovoltaic systems on homes and small businesses, but can also involve other on-site generation sources.

The concept depends on the balance between generation and demand at the location. Electricity from on-site sources that is used immediately powers loads in the building; if production exceeds demand, the surplus may be exported to the grid or stored in batteries. A metering system records imported and exported electricity, allowing the self-consumption rate to be calculated as the portion of total consumption met by on-site generation.

Factors influencing eigenverbruik include the generation profile (for example, solar output varying with time of day and season), the building’s load pattern, and the availability of storage or smart load management. Batteries and intelligent controls can shift or defer consumption to periods of higher on-site generation, increasing self-consumption.

Economics and policy: Higher self-consumption can reduce grid imports and lower energy bills. The financial value of on-site generation often depends on how exported electricity is compensated, such as through net metering (saldering), feed-in tariffs, or other regulatory frameworks. Policy directions in many regions promote self-consumption and storage to reduce peak demand and emissions, though incentives and rules vary by jurisdiction.