Share solar with neighbors: collective self-consumption in 2026
Live rural and produce more than you consume. Can you share surplus with neighbor to cut their bill? In Spain yes, up to 2 km. US: state-by-state.
You have 6 kWp on your house. Produce double what you use. Utility pays you 6 cents/kWh for surplus. Your neighbor across the street pays 30 cents/kWh from the grid. Something's off. And since 2024 (Spain) and varies by state (USA), there's a legal solution.
Spain RD 477/2024: the new law
Spain approved distributed collective self-consumption within 2 km radius between install and consumers. Lets you share surplus with nearby neighbors without formal HOA.
How it works
Your install registers as 'shared CAU'. Assign a sharing coefficient (e.g. 60% you, 40% neighbor) auto-applied to generation. Each gets their percentage as bill credit.
Agreement between neighbors
Need notarized agreement specifying: installed capacity, sharing coefficients, agreement term, what if one moves, maintenance. Notary cost: $250-450.
Who pays for install
Most common model: roof owner pays 100% but neighbor pays them monthly fixed fee + percentage of consumed electricity. Another model: both contribute upfront cost proportional to expected use.
Real benefit
Typical case: you with 6 kWp, neighbor without panels. You generate 8000 kWh/year, use 4000. Shared 50%: neighbor gets 2000 kWh 'free' (vs $600 saved). You lose selling 2000 kWh at 6 cents (= $120) but get monthly fee from neighbor ($35/month = $420/year). Net gain $300.
USA: virtual net metering
Virtual net metering exists in some states (CA, NY, MA, MN, CO). Lets you share credits from a solar system across multiple accounts. Different from Spain (more complex) but similar philosophy. 22 states allow some form.
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