Hourly netting is the separate comparison of solar power generation and consumption for each hour in unlicensed electricity generation. Under this approach, surplus generation at midday does not directly offset consumption in the evening of the same day. For this reason, not only total annual generation but also the extent to which generation and consumption overlap during the day is decisive for a business's solar PV investment.
Short answer: What did hourly netting change?
The regulation amendment dated 2 April 2026 defined netting on the basis of hourly time intervals and set 1 May 2026 as the date for the relevant infrastructure. As a result, particularly for non-residential unlicensed generation facilities, financial value became more sensitive to hourly generation-consumption matching alongside monthly totals. Since the scope of application, including residential subscribers and transitional provisions, may vary according to the facility's subscriber group, the date of its call letter and its connection structure, every project should be checked separately against current legislation and contractual documents.
Important note: This content is for general information only; it does not constitute legal, financial or investment advice. To identify the provision applicable to your project, review the current Official Gazette regulation dated 2 April 2026, the EMRA unlicensed generation page, your connection agreement and your supply contract together.
How does hourly netting work?
If consumption is higher than generation within an hour, the difference is the net consumption drawn from the grid. If generation is higher than consumption, the difference is surplus energy. Results are calculated throughout the billing period, but matching is performed within each hour rather than against a monthly total.
Simplified two-hour example
Example of hourly solar generation, consumption and netting
| Time |
Solar PV generation |
Consumption |
Hourly result |
| 12:00-13:00 |
120 kWh |
80 kWh |
80 kWh is matched; 40 kWh of surplus energy is generated. |
| 20:00-21:00 |
0 kWh |
40 kWh |
40 kWh is drawn from the grid. |
| Total |
120 kWh |
120 kWh |
Although the monthly totals are equal, the hourly result is not net zero. |
Although total generation and consumption are equal in the example, only 80 kWh is matched within the same hour. The 40 kWh surplus at midday and the 40 kWh drawn in the evening are treated as separate items. The financial result depends on factors such as the facility's tariff group, supply contract, the rules applied to surplus energy and market values for the relevant period.
What is the difference between monthly and hourly netting?
Comparison of monthly and hourly netting
| Comparison |
Monthly approach |
Hourly approach |
| Matching interval |
Total generation and consumption during the billing period |
Generation and consumption within each individual hour |
| Effect of consumption timing |
May remain hidden behind the totals |
Is directly decisive |
| Data for feasibility |
Monthly bills can support an initial estimate |
An hourly load and generation profile is required |
| Optimisation focus |
Annual energy generation |
Self-consumption and profile alignment alongside annual generation |
This difference shows that the approach of installing a solar PV system that will “generate as much as annual consumption” may not be sufficient on its own. If two factories with the same annual consumption have different shift patterns, the economic outcome from solar PV systems of the same capacity may also differ.
Who is affected by hourly netting?
The impact of the regulation becomes particularly important for industrial, commercial, agricultural irrigation and similar non-residential consumption associated with an unlicensed generation facility. Nevertheless, it is not correct to generalise that “all solar PV systems are subject to hourly netting in the same way.” In practice, the following information should be assessed together:
- The subscriber and tariff group of the generation and consumption facilities,
- The date of the call letter for the connection agreement and the regulatory provision on which it is based,
- Whether generation and consumption are located at the same or different metering points,
- The associated consumption facilities and supplier structure,
- Special conditions in the connection, system-use and energy purchase and sale documents.
There may be exceptions and special provisions concerning monthly netting, particularly for the residential subscriber group. The status of an existing facility should therefore be verified against current legislation and project documents, rather than solely by looking at the result on the bill.
Why should solar PV feasibility be based on hourly data?
A monthly electricity bill shows total consumption, but not the hours in which that consumption occurs. Solar generation, however, rises around midday, falls to zero at night and varies by season. In the era of hourly netting, feasibility must measure the overlap between these two curves.
Self-consumption ratioThe share of total solar PV generation that is used at the facility within the same time interval.
Energy coverage ratioShows how much consumption is covered by simultaneous solar generation.
Surplus ratioMakes visible the share of generation that cannot be consumed within the same hour and is exported to the grid.
These three indicators do not measure the same thing. A large solar PV system, for example, may generate energy equivalent to a significant share of annual consumption while creating a high surplus at weekends and around midday. Simply increasing the number of panels therefore does not raise the self-consumption ratio; for some profiles, it may actually reduce it.
How can businesses prepare for hourly netting?
1
Obtain hourly consumption data
Obtain bills for at least the past 12 months and, where possible, 8,760 hours of meter or energy monitoring data. Shift patterns, weekend operations, seasonal production and planned shutdowns should also be marked. A standard profile estimate based on incomplete data increases uncertainty in the investment decision.
2
Model solar generation on the same time axis
Location, orientation, tilt, shading, temperature, system losses and inverter constraints affect the hourly generation curve just as much as panel capacity. The model should not provide only an annual kWh estimate; it should also be able to compare expected generation in every hour with consumption data.
3
Assess load-shifting opportunities first
If compatible with the production plan, some pumps, compressors, cooling, heating, electric vehicle charging or other flexible loads can be moved to the hours in which solar generation is strongest. Not every load can be shifted; occupational safety, production quality and process constraints take priority. Feasible load shifting can nevertheless increase self-consumption without additional equipment.
4
Select solar PV capacity according to profile alignment
System capacity should not be determined solely with the “annual consumption / annual specific yield” formula. Self-consumption, surplus energy, grid imports and possible curtailment should be calculated together for different installed-capacity scenarios. This comparison reveals the financial value of the additional generation provided by a larger system.
5
Evaluate storage as a separate feasibility case
A battery can move part of the surplus generated at midday to later consumption hours and may also serve purposes such as power management and critical-load support. Storage, however, is not automatically economical for every business. Usable capacity, charge-discharge power, round-trip efficiency, expected frequency of use, safety infrastructure, warranty terms and investment cost should be modelled together.
What does energy storage provide under hourly netting?
The primary value of a storage system is not to “generate more solar electricity,” but to change when the generated electricity is used. Transferring surplus solar generation into a battery during the day and using it in the evening or at another time of low generation may increase the self-consumption ratio. Technical capacity and the economic optimum, however, are not the same thing.
Correct sizing considers two separate quantities: kW refers to the power the system can deliver or absorb at any one moment, while kWh refers to the amount of energy that can be stored. Selecting kWh based only on the daily energy surplus may be inadequate if charge-discharge power and the instantaneous demand of critical loads are overlooked.
CW Enerji's energy storage solutions for businesses are based on analysing the consumption profile, critical loads, solar generation, grid structure and required backup duration together. The energy storage systems page can also be reviewed to compare product options.
Decision principle: Battery capacity should not be selected solely to store the entire highest daily generation surplus. The number of cycles expected throughout the year, the loads it will supply and for how long, and the outcome of the investment under different operating scenarios should all be calculated.
Data required for hourly netting analysis
The following data set can be prepared for a sound preliminary feasibility study:
- Electricity bills and tariff information for the past 12 months,
- Where possible, 8,760 hours of consumption data or 15-minute measurements,
- Hourly generation, inverter and meter records if a solar PV system already exists,
- Shift schedules, weekend operating patterns and planned shutdowns,
- kW ratings and operating hours of critical and flexible loads,
- The connection agreement, call letter, single-line diagram and supply contract,
- Roof or land layout, orientation, tilt and shading information,
- The target backup duration and power-quality requirement if storage is being considered.
For a new investment, the approach to site assessment, project development and system design can be reviewed through CW Enerji solutions for solar PV processes. Completing the project request form with your existing documents and energy data will facilitate an initial assessment tailored to your needs.
Frequently asked questions
The amendment published in the Official Gazette dated 2 April 2026 and numbered 33212 defined netting on the basis of hourly time intervals. Provisional Article 13 stipulated that the relevant infrastructure be established by 1 May 2026. The scope for each facility should be checked together with the special and transitional provisions.
There may be special provisions concerning monthly netting for the residential subscriber group. Since the outcome may vary according to the subscriber group, call-letter date and generation-consumption association, it should be verified against the connection documents and current legislation.
No such conclusion can be drawn on this basis alone. The impact depends on how the consumption profile overlaps with solar generation, system capacity, tariff and supply conditions. Self-consumption may remain strong at facilities with high daytime loads; a load-shifting or storage scenario can be assessed for facilities weighted towards evening and night consumption.
Energy physically exported to the grid is not wasted, but how it is valued for the generator depends on the legislation, limits and pricing principles applicable to the facility. Self-consumed energy and surplus energy exported to the grid should not be assumed to have the same economic value.
No. A battery can manage part of the time difference between generation and consumption, but it has limits in terms of capacity, power, round-trip efficiency, operating strategy and cost. Suitability should be determined through technical and financial feasibility based on hourly data.
Bills provide starting data for consumption and cost, but they do not show the hourly load shape. Hourly or more frequent measurement data obtained from the meter, the automatic meter reading system or an energy monitoring system should be preferred for a definitive feasibility study.
Conclusion: Plan solar PV according to time alignment, not annual totals
In the era of hourly netting, a good solar PV investment is a system that does not merely target high annual generation, but matches generation with the business's consumption hours as closely as possible. A sound roadmap begins with hourly data analysis and continues with a comparison of load shifting, appropriate solar PV capacity and, where necessary, energy storage scenarios.
Every facility has different shifts, loads, roof, connection and commercial conditions. There is therefore no single “ideal panel or battery capacity.” A project-specific site survey and engineering study enables technical suitability and economic expectations to be assessed within the same model.
Sources and further reading
A New Era in Irrigation with AgriFlow Technology
Developed with CW Enerji’s engineering expertise, AgriFlow technology provides high operating voltage from a single panel, enabling fewer connections, simpler installation, and more efficient irrigation throughout the day.
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