Calculate the Net Energy Billing (NEB) credit for your solar panel system.
Understanding the TM NEB Calculator and Net Energy Billing
The Net Energy Billing (NEB) system is a crucial policy framework designed to encourage the adoption of renewable energy sources, particularly solar power, by compensating customers for the electricity they export back to the grid. The TM NEB Calculator is a tool that helps solar system owners estimate the financial benefits they can receive under such a scheme.
How Net Energy Billing Works
In an NEB system, your solar power system generates electricity. Some of this electricity is consumed directly by your household or business (on-site consumption), while any surplus is exported to the utility grid. You are typically billed by your utility for the electricity you consume from the grid (imported electricity) and credited for the electricity you export to the grid.
The Role of Credits
The core of NEB is the crediting mechanism. The value of the electricity you export is often credited against the cost of the electricity you import. The TM NEB Calculator helps quantify this credit based on key parameters:
Solar System Size (kWp): The rated capacity of your solar installation. Larger systems generally produce more energy.
Export Rate (per kWh): This is the rate at which the utility compensates you for each kilowatt-hour of electricity your system exports to the grid. This rate is crucial for determining the value of your exported energy.
Estimated Annual Generation (kWh): The total amount of electricity your solar system is projected to produce over a year. This is influenced by system size, panel efficiency, location, and weather.
Consumption Charge (per kWh): This is the standard rate you pay for electricity consumed from the grid.
Percentage of Generation Consumed On-site (%): This indicates how much of your solar-generated power is used directly by your property versus how much is exported. Higher on-site consumption reduces the amount of energy exported.
The Calculation Logic
The TM NEB Calculator performs the following calculations:
Calculate Import Cost (for comparison/context, not direct NEB credit): Import Cost = (Total Annual Consumption - On-site Consumption) * Consumption Charge
*(Note: This part assumes total annual consumption is known or estimated, and the calculator focuses on the credit generated by exports.)*
Calculate Net Annual Bill Impact (simplified): Net Impact = (Total Annual Consumption * Consumption Charge) - Export Credit
*(This provides a simplified view of how exports offset import costs. The calculator's primary output is the Export Credit value itself.)*
The primary output of the calculator is the "Estimated Annual NEB Credit", which is the Export Credit calculated in step 3. This value represents the financial benefit you receive from exporting your surplus solar energy to the grid.
Who Should Use This Calculator?
This calculator is ideal for:
Homeowners considering installing solar panels.
Business owners evaluating solar investments.
Existing solar system owners wanting to understand their NEB credits better.
Anyone interested in the financial incentives of solar energy under a Net Energy Billing policy.
By providing these estimates, the TM NEB Calculator empowers users to make informed decisions about solar energy adoption and to better appreciate the financial returns of their renewable energy investments.
function calculateNebCredit() {
var systemSize = parseFloat(document.getElementById("systemSize").value);
var exportRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById("exportRate").value);
var annualGeneration = parseFloat(document.getElementById("annualGeneration").value);
var consumptionCharge = parseFloat(document.getElementById("consumptionCharge").value);
var consumptionPercentage = parseFloat(document.getElementById("consumptionPercentage").value);
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("result");
resultDiv.innerHTML = "; // Clear previous results
// Input validation
if (isNaN(systemSize) || systemSize <= 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Please enter a valid Solar System Size (kWp).';
return;
}
if (isNaN(exportRate) || exportRate < 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Please enter a valid Export Rate (per kWh).';
return;
}
if (isNaN(annualGeneration) || annualGeneration <= 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Please enter a valid Estimated Annual Generation (kWh).';
return;
}
if (isNaN(consumptionCharge) || consumptionCharge < 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Please enter a valid Consumption Charge (per kWh).';
return;
}
if (isNaN(consumptionPercentage) || consumptionPercentage 100) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Please enter a valid Percentage of Generation Consumed On-site (0-100%).';
return;
}
// Calculations
var onSiteConsumption = annualGeneration * (consumptionPercentage / 100);
var exportedEnergy = annualGeneration – onSiteConsumption;
// Ensure exported energy is not negative due to potential data input quirks
if (exportedEnergy < 0) {
exportedEnergy = 0;
}
var exportCredit = exportedEnergy * exportRate;
// Format currency for display (assuming a common currency format)
var formattedExportCredit = exportCredit.toLocaleString(undefined, {
minimumFractionDigits: 2,
maximumFractionDigits: 2
});
resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Estimated Annual NEB Credit: $' + formattedExportCredit + '';
}