Monthly offset in unlicensed electricity production ended on May 1, 2026; Instead, each hour's production is matched with that hour's consumption. This change closed the period of "using the network as a free virtual battery" for industrial and commercial SPP investors, excluding residential subscribers. While the excess energy produced in the sun at noon goes to the grid with a low Market Clearing Price (PTF), it is purchased at a high retail tariff in the evening peak hours. Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) has become the most strategic investment item of 2026 to close this gap and keep the "grant energy" stuck in the 2× production limit in the facility.
720 hours/month
Hourly equalization
Separate account for each hour
2×
Production cap
Previous year consumption
~303 krs/kWh
Storage Solar Power Plant YEKDEM
March 2026 price
peak shaving
BESS main use
Arbitrage limited
Financial spread in hourly settlement
In the model detailed in our Hourly Offset 2026 guide, offset does not occur when daytime solar power generation and nighttime factory consumption do not occur at the same time. According to sector analyses, in a typical C&I scenario, the unit cost of purchasing from the grid (including distribution + taxes) reaches ~6 TL/kWh, while the net income from the sale of excess solar energy to the grid may remain below ~1 TL/kWh. This asymmetry creates a strong enough effect that it can extend the payback period of storage-free solar power by 12–18 months.
| pencil | without storage | with BESS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales revenue to the network | Low (low PTF) | Reduced sales | Self-consumption instead of sales |
| 2× over limit (grant energy) | free loss | It is kept in the battery | CAPEX recovery |
| Night network reception | full retail | Pick up from warehouse | High difference savings |
| ROI effect | Prolonged comeback | shortened return | Net positive scenario |
What does BESS do — what doesn't it do?
When the Regulation on Storage Activities in the Electricity Market and the December 2025 regulations are read together, a critical distinction becomes clear: In unlicensed production facilities, there is no payment mechanism for the energy supplied to the grid from the integrated storage unit; This energy is considered a free YEKDEM contribution. Therefore, it is not possible by regulation to use BESS with the "store cheaply, sell expensively to the grid" arbitrage model. Legitimate and valuable uses of BESS are:
- Peak shaving: Reducing the purchase from the network during peak hours in the evening (high tariff substitution).
- Self-consumption increase: Shifting production at noon to the night shift (load shifting).
- 2× limit protection: Preventing loss of grant energy by keeping the production that will be exceeded in the facility.
- Demand management: Contract power and support during peak load peaks (Contract Power guide).
- Production flexibility: Increasing the hourly clearing rate through shift optimization.
Regulation: Integrated storage rules
Since 2021, it has been possible to establish electricity storage facilities in unlicensed production facilities; The end-2025 regulations clarified the separate monitoring of energy stored in the YEKTOB account and different YEKDEM prices for RES/SPP with storage. In wind or solar-based storage facilities that come into operation after May 1, 2023, "integrated storage" prices are applied for the energy given to the system after it is produced and stored; The energy supplied directly without being stored is subject to the standard SPP/RES price. In the unlicensed segment, integrated unit rules should be evaluated together with the technical specifications and EPİAŞ LLM records.
New variables in ROI calculation
Simple ROI before hourly offset: (annual production × unit savings) − CAPEX. In the new model, the formula increases with hourly PTF, peak tariff difference, offset rate and 2× limit excess. For a factory consuming 1,000,000 kWh/year, an additional net benefit scenario of over 12,500 USD per year from BESS integration has been reported in industry examples — but each facility's load profile, SPP/consumption rates and bilateral agreement price are different. For correct ROI, at least 12 months OSOS consumption profile + GES production profile + hourly PTF series is required.
ROI checklist
- Hourly consumption–production overlap rate (current offset percentage)
- Net network purchase during peak hours (kWh and TL)
- 2× limit projection (annual production vs allowed ceiling)
- BESS CAPEX, round-trip efficiency and warranty cycle
- Storage capacity (kWh) vs daily surplus (kWh)
- Bilateral agreement price and SKTT risk (supply side)
Operational strategy: Data comes first
Before purchasing BESS, a scenario analysis similar to a digital twin should be made: "With this battery capacity, how many hours of offset would have increased in the last 12 months, how many kWh of donated energy would have been prevented, how much would peak consumption have decreased?" This simulation becomes possible when the OSOS + sub-metering infrastructure in our Energy Use Measurement in Industry guide is combined with SPP inverter data. Shift shifting (moving heavy machinery to noon hours) can increase offsetting even without battery CAPEX — BESS doesn't always have to be the first step.
Conclusion
Hourly offset has established a structure that punishes passive solar energy investors and rewards those who engage in active energy management. BESS is not a luxury in this context — it is a financial protection mechanism when the PTF spread and 2× limit are considered together. But regulation keeps arbitrage closed; The strategy should be based on self-consumption, peak shaving and data-driven shift optimization. You can request a BESS needs analysis specific to your facility with the demo.