Sweden may launch probe into building permits for PV

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The regulatory changes could drive renewables development, said Peter Eriksson, minister for housing and digital development under the Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation, in an online statement.

Building requirements for PV systems vary throughout the country, as they have thus far been determined by municipal authorities.

The potential regulatory changes for solar are part of a broader package of newly simplified building regulations that the national government is promoting. 

In November, the Swedish authorities revealed plans to reduce the tax on the self-consumption of solar-generated electricity for owners of PV systems that exceed 255 kW in size, from €0.03/kWh to €0.05/kWh.

Owners of PV systems above 255 kW will still be required to pay a tax rate of €0.03/kWh for self-consumed electricity.

The move is part of the country’s push to become 100% renewable by 2040.

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However, Sweden’s cumulative PV installations remain negligible, at roughly 110 MW by the end of 2015, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

Future growth will likely be dominated by small PV systems rather than large projects, as demand will be primarily driven by self consumption, according to the Swedish Solar Energy Association.

The government has already started to lay the groundwork for greater self consumption of PV-generated electricity.

Last November, it unveiled plans to offer a subsidy that will cover 60% of the cost of installing residential storage systems, up to a maximum of 50,000 kronor ($5,670).

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