This is a study on how the profitability of a photovoltaic systems owned by small house residents could be affected by the introduction of power-based tariffs in the regions around Mälaren, Sweden. This tariff is based on the customers highest power usage per month. During the time of this study, the most common type of tariff that distribution system operators use is based on a summation of the amount of electricity used by that specific customer. More recently, companies have started to battle the shortage of net capacity and lack power in the Swedish grid. One of the methods used to fight this problem is to introduce another type of tariff with the intent to make customers more aware of their behavior related to electricity usage.
By calculating the contribution, the photovoltaic system has in lowering power peaks, as well as using a LCOE-method and payback period, the overall profitability can be evaluated. An interview is conducted, to further develop an understanding on how the industry believes the profitability of a photovoltaic system might be affected with the introduction of power-based tariffs. The results show that the profitability of the photovoltaic system owned by the small house residents included in this study, is negatively affected by the introduction of power- based tariffs. The photovoltaic system can sometime help in reducing power peaks; however, the overall reduction is not sufficient to improve the profitability of the photovoltaic system. The value of self-consumption decreases with a power-based tariff compared to a tariff based on energy. A response from the industry states that power-based tariffs can be a solution to complications regarding todays power grid. The industry also states that the introduction of power-based tariffs could lead to a more just charge of power grid usage by the customer. Energy storage could assist the photovoltaic system to further decrease power peaks and therefore make a good complement to the system.