Peak smoothing when charging: throttling? Forced shutdown? Electricity rationing for electric cars?

Network optimization – measures taken by German distribution network operators in 2020 – Image: Xpert.Digital

* EEG=Renewable Energy Act, Section 9 Paragraph 1 EEG

The statistics show the number of distribution network operators according to measures applied for network optimization and network reinforcement according to the Renewable Energy Sources Act in Germany in 2020. As of April 1, 2020, 226 German distribution network operators (DSOs) were building parallel systems.

Number of distribution network operators according to measures applied for network optimization and network reinforcement according to the EEG in Germany in 2020

• Increasing the cross-section of cables – 459 distribution network operators
• Increase in transformer services – 394 distribution network operators
• Cabling of overhead lines – 408 distribution network operators
• Isolation point optimization – 365 distribution network operators
• Change in network topology – 315 distribution network operators
• Installation of measurement technology – 406 distribution network operators
• Construction of parallel systems – 226 distribution network operators
• Increasing the cross-section of conductor cables – 90 distribution network operators
• Peak capping – 7 distribution network operators
• Installation of controllable local network transformers – 58 distribution network operators
• Installation of voltage regulators – 56 distribution network operators
• Regulation of rope sags – 47 distribution network operators
• Conductor monitoring – 20 distribution network operators
• High Temperature Conductor Rope – 9 Distribution Network Operators
• Other – 72 distribution network operators

A conductor cable is a cable used to transport electricity on an overhead line as part of an electrical line.

Electricity network operators – number in Germany by 2020 – Image: Xpert.Digital

In 2020, a total of 874 electricity network operators were counted in Germany. Compared to 2010, the number of operators mentioned has increased by eleven. Electricity system operators can be divided into transmission system operators and distribution system operators. The transmission network is connected to the distribution network operators' networks through substations.

Transmission and distribution

There are four transmission system operators in Germany: Amprion, 50Hertz, Transnet BW and TenneT. They are responsible for the infrastructure of the national power grids. Amprion was the transmission system operator with the highest revenue in 2019. The currently 874 distribution network operators are responsible for power networks in the low and medium voltage ranges and, in some cases, in the high and extra-high voltage ranges. For example, they supply private households with electricity.

Electricity generation and consumption in Germany

In Germany, the amount of electricity generated has increased significantly over the past 30 years, with slight fluctuations. Most of the electricity was generated from the fossil fuel lignite and renewable energies. Industry was the largest consumer of electricity. It used almost half of the total electricity. The consumer groups “commercial, retail, services” and “households” each consumed around a quarter of the electricity in Germany.

Number of electricity network operators in Germany from 2010 to 2020

• 2006 – 876 / 4 distribution system operators/transmission system operators
• 2007 – 877 / 4 distribution system operators/transmission system operators
• 2008 – 855 / 4 distribution system operators/transmission system operators
• 2009 – 862 / 4 distribution system operators/transmission system operators
• 2010 – 866 / 4 distribution system operators/transmission system operators
• 2011 – 869 / 4 distribution system operators/transmission system operators
• 2012 – 883 / 4 distribution system operators/transmission system operators
• 2013 – 883 / 4 distribution system operators/transmission system operators
• 2014 – 884 / 4 distribution system operators/transmission system operators
• 2015 – 880 / 4 distribution system operators/transmission system operators
• 2016 – 875 / 4 distribution system operators/transmission system operators
• 2017 – 878 / 4 distribution system operators/transmission system operators
• 2018 – 890 / 4 distribution system operators/transmission system operators
• 2019 – 883 / 4 Distribution system operators/transmission system operators
• 2020 – 874 / 4 Distribution system operators/transmission system operators

Francis McLloyd , control areas with transmission system operators in Germany , edited, CC BY-SA 3.0

Transmission system operators are service companies that operate the infrastructure of the supra-regional power grids for electrical energy transmission, ensure needs-based maintenance and dimensioning, and grant electricity traders/suppliers non-discriminatory access to these networks. In addition, they have the task of procuring control power when necessary and making it available to the system in order to keep network fluctuations that result from a mismatch between the electrical energy generated and consumed at a time as low as possible. The transmission or transport networks are connected via substations to the more densely meshed and lower-voltage networks of the distribution network operators (DSOs), which generally ensure the supply of end customers, usually in low-voltage networks. Individual large customers such as energy-intensive industrial companies can also be directly connected to the transmission network.

Transmission networks represent natural monopolies and their operators are generally subject to government supervision.

In Germany, the “regulated network access” model came into force in 2005 with the second amendment to the Energy Industry Act (EnWG). It authorizes the Federal Network Agency to regulate transmission system operators.

There are four transmission system operators in Germany:

• Tennet TSO
• 50Hertz transmission
• Amprion
• TransnetBW

The network area of ​​Stadtwerke Flensburg represents a special case in Germany. Because of the direct connection to the Danish electricity network, it technically belongs to the control area of ​​the Danish transmission system operator energinet.dk and not to the control area of ​​the transmission system operator TenneT TSO, which is responsible in northwest Germany.

Since the liberalization of the energy supply, the energy supply companies are generally no longer also the network operators. Only small municipal utilities are allowed to operate networks without legal separation from the company. However, electricity sales and network operations must also be organizationally unbundled there. Networks are natural monopolies. That is why there is only one gas or electricity network operator in each network area, which cannot be freely chosen by the customer. Despite the separation of supplier and network operator, both can be part of the same energy company.

• A distribution network operator is a company that operates electricity or gas networks for distribution to end consumers (private households and small consumers).
• A distribution network operator maintains power networks at the network levels in the low-voltage, medium-voltage and high-voltage sectors for regional power supply.
• A distribution system operator is downstream of the transmission system operator, which transmits electricity over long distances in high-voltage networks.
• The distribution system operator is responsible for the safe and reliable operation of the networks in a certain area and for connecting them to other electricity networks
• Distribution network operators typically belong to a local or municipal energy supply company such as: B. a municipal utility, but sometimes also one of the large energy companies that have often acquired such networks in the course of privatization.
• The distribution network operator is responsible for recording meter readings from the end consumer, which he then forwards to the customer's contractual partner for invoicing.
• The distribution system operator obtains its electricity from the transmission system operator or its gas from the transmission system operator.

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Since mid-2020, the spread of electric vehicles in Germany has made a significant leap forward. The decisive factor for this is the introduction of the innovation bonus on July 8, 2020, with which the federal government doubled its funding for the purchase of an electric vehicle.

Federal Minister Peter Altmaier: “We have seen a significant boost in electromobility since the introduction of the innovation bonus. The number of applications remains at record levels. More premiums were claimed in the first half of 2021 than in the whole of last year. A total of 1.25 billion euros. There will be record funding for electric cars this year. That’s why we in the coalition have decided to continue funding until the end of 2025 so that the market ramp-up of electromobility continues to gain momentum.”

Torsten Safarik, President of the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA): “With the introduction of the innovation bonus, demand for the environmental bonus has increased significantly. 273,000 vehicles were applied for in the first half of 2021 - already more than in the entire previous year. This is a strong signal for climate-friendly mobility in Germany.”

With the introduction of the innovation bonus, the number of applications for the environmental bonus increased significantly. There were new application records every month in the second half of 2020. In December 2020, the number of applications reached a temporary peak of 53,566 applications. In March 2021, the number of applications was again just under 52,000.

From January to the end of June 2021, funding was applied for for 273,614 vehicles. This is a strong signal for climate protection and shows the population's sustained increasing interest in electric vehicles. As of July 1, 2021, a total of 693,601 vehicles have been applied for since funding began in 2016.

The innovation bonus, which doubles the federal share of the environmental bonus, will be extended beyond 2021 until December 31, 2025, in accordance with the resolution of the Auto Summit (KAM) in the Federal Chancellery on November 17, 2020. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy will carry out this extension shortly.

With the government's share of the environmental bonus doubling, up to 9,000 euros can be applied for as funding for electric vehicles that cost less than 40,000 euros net list price; for hybrid cars it is 6,750 euros. For electric vehicles with net list prices over 40,000 euros, there is a subsidy of up to 7,500 euros for purely electric vehicles and up to 5,625 euros for hybrid cars.

“The changed funding guidelines for the 'Innovation Bonus' will be published in the Federal Gazette today at 3 p.m. and will come into force tomorrow. This doubles the state share for promoting electric cars. In the future, purely electric cars will receive funding of up to 9,000 euros; Plug-in hybrids receive funding of up to 6,750 euros,” said the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy in its press release dated July 7, 2020.

Amount of the environmental bonus for the purchase of electric vehicles – Image: Xpert.Digital

Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier: “We are doubling the state share when purchasing an electric car and are thus providing a clear incentive for consumers to buy an electric car. We want to promote the switch to electric cars and give electromobility in Germany a new boost.”

BAFA President Torsten Safarik: “The new funding rates of up to 9,000 euros make switching to an electric car even more attractive for citizens. With the lean, one-stage process, we at BAFA are implementing the new innovation bonus efficiently and in a citizen-friendly manner.”

From July 8, 2020, the federal share in the existing system of the so-called environmental bonus will be doubled for a limited period until December 31, 2021. The manufacturer's share remains unaffected. The following purchased or leased vehicles can benefit from the “innovation bonus” – even retroactively:

• New vehicles that are registered for the first time after June 3, 2020 and up to and including December 31, 2021, as well as young used vehicles whose first registration is after November 4, 2019 and the second registration is after June 3, 2020 and up to December 31 2021 will take place.

The “innovation bonus” is based on the results of the coalition committee on June 3, 2020. In addition to the temporary doubling of the federal share, the amended funding guidelines provide for a ban on cumulation with funding from other public funds. This is intended to prevent over-funding. The European Commission has examined the “innovation bonus” under state aid law.

Matching:

• Electromobility: How safe are electric cars? How is the safety of electric cars checked?
• Charging infrastructure for electromobility in Germany

The network operator should be able to smooth out load peaks in the network and thereby make better use of the network

This could be done through a new “peak smoothing” tool. This is intended to enable the network operator to quickly control the power available for flexible consumption and adapt it to the load situation in the network. For example, more simultaneous charging processes for electric vehicles could be handled without the distribution network reaching its limits. This could be implemented through flexible connection and network use.

Flexibility management by the network operator should be clearly limited

“Peak smoothing” should only be possible to a very limited extent, so that benefit consumption only needs to be adjusted as little and as rarely as possible. Grid-side flexibility management should go largely unnoticed and without any noticeable impact on grid users. The grid-side control signal has priority over other flexibility uses of the consumption devices. Furthermore, network users are free to market the flexibility in other ways - for example for variable electricity tariffs or the provision of system services together with other low-voltage consumers via aggregators. The interventions for “peak smoothing” should be documented transparently and thus be as predictable as possible for third parties (see 6. below). When setting the limits for intervention by the network operator, the varying degrees of flexibility of different systems must also be taken into account.

Flexibility management is intended to limit the expansion of low-voltage networks to an efficient level

The network operator must continue to plan its network appropriately and expand it in line with needs.
However, it should be taken into account more than before that expanding the network for rare times of peak load may not make sense. Various studies indicate that “peak smoothing” can significantly save network expansion. The prerequisite for this is that the network operators can reliably take “peak smoothing” into account when planning the network.

“Tip capping” model

The approach of “peak smoothing” of electricity consumption is similar to the long-standing and proven procedure in electricity generation: Due to the so-called “peak capping” in
renewable energies, the network no longer has to be expanded to accommodate the last renewable kilowatt hour.

From: Intelligently integrating flexibility into the distribution networks, advancing electromobility and sector coupling: the “peak smoothing” instrument

Discussion points on the further development of the legal framework for flexible consumers in low-voltage networks - Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy

Flexible loads should have flexible connection usage

Currently, when connecting to the low-voltage network, a standard flat-rate power capacity for electricity consumption of 30 kilowatts (kW) is agreed with the connection recipient, which theoretically must be available at all times. However, this does not mean that a corresponding power consumption is achieved when using this connection, especially not permanently.

In order to use the existing network more efficiently and to limit additional network expansion to an efficient level, it makes sense to differentiate the network capacity used in the future according to flexibility for the different needs of network users. For “peak smoothing”, the connection capacity of 30 kW could in principle be retained, but its use could be divided into two parts:

• For electricity consumption that is not considered flexible, a sufficient supply with available at all times to be ensured.
  This part is not subject to network-oriented management, but may only be used for inflexible needs. It should therefore be high enough so that it completely covers classic household applications. The exact height is up for debate.
• A “flexible connection usage” is created for flexible power consumption The network operator can temporarily limit the withdrawal capacity in accordance with the “peak smoothing” principles described above. This part could, for example, consist of the capacity that goes beyond the inflexible part. Because the maximum output is only available today in individual cases, but not everywhere at the same time, this excess part is suitable for consumption facilities that do not require constant availability and can react flexibly to bottlenecks if necessary.

Flexible connection use should become the norm for consumption that is considered flexible

The more flexible consumption is covered via flexible connection usage, the more facilities can be connected to the existing network and the more widely the network-side control actions can be distributed.

The dimensioning of the “flexible connection use” can be individually designed by the user

In principle, there is nothing wrong with allowing the flexibly used network connection to be converted into an inflexible connection that can be used without restrictions at any time.
prerequisites are feasibility and an appropriate contribution to the additional costs incurred.

From: Intelligently integrating flexibility into the distribution networks, advancing electromobility and sector coupling: the “peak smoothing” instrument

Discussion points on the further development of the legal framework for flexible consumers in low-voltage networks - Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy

Consumers who can react flexibly should be rewarded if they use their flexibility in a network-oriented manner. According to Section 14a EnWG, a consumer who agrees to be controlled by the network operator already receives a reduction in network fees. This mechanism should be expanded and further developed and in future be used as a rule for all network connections with flexible low-voltage consumption devices. This gives network users the opportunity to choose the network usage product that suits them best.

The following requirements should apply to the design:

• Different prices will be introduced depending on the type of network use. Flexible consumers who take part in “peak smoothing” pay significantly lower network fees. Anyone who provides flexibility can share in the cost savings for the network. However, if you want to use the full power at any time for your flexible consumption, you will have to pay higher fees for this.
• Different variants are available for implementation: To date, the network fees for the majority of low-voltage customers have been made up of a basic price and a work price. Both components could fundamentally be differentiated according to the type of network use. It would also be conceivable to supplement the existing system with a fee component for the agreed connection capacity. This could refer to a (subsequent) performance measurement of connection usage or a (previous) service order. One-off payments would also be possible.

From: Intelligently integrating flexibility into the distribution networks, advancing electromobility and sector coupling: the “peak smoothing” instrument

Discussion points on the further development of the legal framework for flexible consumers in low-voltage networks - Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy

Standardization strategy for cross-sector digitalization of the energy transition published

The digitalization of energy networks is a central prerequisite for the network integration of renewable energies and electromobility. To this end, the BMWi and the BSI jointly published the standardization strategy for the cross-sector digitalization of the energy transition . This roadmap contains the work plan for converting the energy networks into so-called “smart grids”. The aim is to network all power supply players in the intelligent energy network of the future.

The basis for the roadmap is the law on the digitalization of the energy transition (GDEW). The GDEW has redefined smart metering in Germany and sent an important signal for a future-proof energy network. It is based on four cornerstones: standardization, data protection and data security, investment security and acceptance.

The core element of the GDEW is the introduction of smart meter gateways. The roadmap that has now been presented describes the further development of the smart meter gateway into a comprehensive digital communication platform for the energy transition. This provides the players in the energy supply – from the network operator to the electricity supplier to the consumer – with the information they need about production and consumption. At the same time, smart meter gateways guarantee data protection and data security at the highest level. Because the energy transition needs more than just “smart meters”.

The minimum technical standards for smart meter gateways must be continuously developed. They must keep pace with the requirements of the energy transition, ensure added value for consumers, function across sectors and in the spirit of sector coupling (particularly heat, smart home), include electromobility and be prepared for future threat scenarios, such as hacker attacks. The further development of the relevant standards is also part of the roadmap.