Heat pumps and charging systems for electric cars should be connected to the network quickly. At the same time, this must not be overloaded. The Federal Network Agency has now drawn up rules with which both should succeed. For some households there is something to be gained from this.
How can many heat pumps and private charging stations be integrated into the local power grid without it collapsing? The Federal Network Agency says that network operators are allowed to dim the power consumption of these devices in an emergency. On Monday, after a year-long voting process, it published the rules according to which this should happen and what consumers will gain from it.
Rules are intended to ensure security of supply
The authority describes the problem as follows: Most of the local electricity distribution networks are not yet designed for a rapid ramp-up of heat pumps and private charging facilities for electric cars. The networks would therefore have to be digitized and expanded quickly. In the meantime, the regulations are intended to accelerate the transport and heating transition and ensure security of supply, including in the so-called low voltage, says the authority.
The most important thing: In the future, electricity network operators will be allowed to temporarily restrict the electricity consumption of newly installed, controllable heat pumps, charging stations or air conditioning systems according to fixed rules if there is a risk of overloading the electricity network. “A minimum output must always be available so that heat pumps can be operated and electric cars can continue to be charged,” it said.
Network operators are allowed to throttle – household electricity is not affected
The distribution network operators are allowed to reduce the consumption of so-called consumption devices to up to 4.2 kilowatts for the duration of the overload. “This means that heat pumps can continue to operate and electric cars can usually be recharged for 50 kilometers in two hours.” The authority emphasized that regular household electricity would not be affected. The requirements of large heat pumps with their higher electricity consumption would be taken into account.
Consumers can decide how the network operator should intervene: either they let the network operator control individual systems directly – or, for several systems, they choose a maximum power value that may not be exceeded overall in an emergency. In this case, consumers would independently coordinate the reduction through an energy management system. Self-generated energy can be included. A wallbox – i.e. a home charging station for an electric car – can draw more electricity if it comes from your own solar system.
Operators receive a reduction in network fees
In return, the operators of the controllable devices, i.e. households, receive a reduction – either as an annual flat rate in the network fee or as a reduction in the network fee’s labor price by 60 percent for the respective devices.
From 2025, anyone who opts for the flat rate can also opt for a network fee that is staggered according to the time of day. Consumers then pay less network fees when purchasing electricity during times of low network utilization.
In the future, the network operator may no longer refuse or delay the connection of new heat pumps or private charging devices and justify this with possible local network overload. “If bottlenecks occur, the network must be expanded. We will pay attention to that,” says authority president Klaus Müller.
In the event of a bottleneck, the network operators are not allowed to simply control and dim the systems on suspicion, but must first determine the exact network utilization based on real-time measured values.
Network operators must publish interventions
But how often does this all happen? The Federal Network Agency assumes that interventions by network operators will only have to take place in exceptional cases and will not result in any significant loss of comfort. “Complete shutdowns of controllable consumption devices are no longer permitted,” it said. The network operators must also publish such control interventions on common internet platforms. This makes it understandable for the general public when overload problems occur in individual network areas and the network operator needs to better equip its network.
The new rules apply from January. For existing systems for which there is already an agreement for control by the network operator, there are long-standing transitional regulations. Existing systems without such an agreement remain permanently excluded, but can participate voluntarily. Night storage heaters should not be permanently subject to the new rules.
Network giant Eon wants to limit interventions to the minimum
Germany’s largest distribution network operator Eon welcomed the regulations. The regulations are an important emergency instrument for ensuring grid stability and essential for the digitalization of the energy system. The aim is always to limit control interventions to the minimum. “Bottlenecks in low voltage are extremely rare,” emphasized an Eon spokesman.
Germany’s third largest distribution network operator Netze BW also expressed positive comments. “Every operator can now start to rebuild the network accordingly,” said technical managing director Martin Konermann. “Wherever we see a bottleneck today, we start to expand it.”
Associations rate regulations positively
The municipal utilities association VKU explained that the Federal Network Agency’s decision supports the ramp-up of electromobility and heat pumps and at the same time ensures a stable network. The increase in the previous minimum guaranteed output from 3.7 kilowatts to 4.2 kilowatts is seen as critical. The practical suitability of this service still has to be proven.
The energy industry association BDEW spoke of a “good solution”. This means that hundreds of thousands of heat pumps and wallboxes can now be connected quickly, said Kerstin Andreae, chairwoman of the executive board of the Federal Association of the Energy and Water Industry (BDEW). At the same time, this ensures the usual high level of security of supply in Germany.
Source: Stern
