Section 14a of the German Energy Industry Act (Energiewirtschaftsgesetz – EnWG), effective from January 1, 2024, introduces mandatory regulations for the integration of controllable consumption assets into the electricity grid. This measure aims to enhance grid stability and facilitate the transition to renewable energy sources.
Key points of regulation
Applicability: applies to assets with a consumption capacity over 4.2 kW connected to the low-voltage grid.
Mandatory participation: as of January 1, 2024, participation is mandatory for new installations. Existing assets without prior agreements are exempt unless they opt into the new regulation.
Control mechanisms: assets can be controlled directly (direct steering mode) by the grid operator or through an energy management system (EMS steering mode).
Minimum power guarantee: a minimum power supply of 4.2 kW is ensured during control events, ensuring basic functionality of the assets.
As the German energy market evolves to meet the demands of a decentralized and renewable-powered grid, we introduced the new Grid Signal Processor (GSP) module that combines the regulatory requirements with our other modules for intelligent steering and optimization of assets. This module offers seamless integration of §14a-relevant, controllable consumption assets, like EV chargers, heat pumps, and battery storage systems. It also enables grid-friendly steering and helps users benefit from reduced grid fees while contributing to a stable and sustainable energy system.
The §14a regulation allows two different methods for complying with the requirements:
Type “EMS”: All §14a relevant assets are considered in total and limited together in the occurrence of grid congestion by the DSO. Local energy production can be used for compensation and the reduction of the load can be distributed between the assets in a flexible way.
Type “direct”: The §14a relevant assets are considered individually and also separately limited by the DSO in the occurrence of a grid congestion. Local energy production cannot be used for compensation.
All descriptions in this document refer entirely to the “EMS” type for steering to comply with regulatory requirements. Furthermore, §14a-compliant control is only possible with the assets that are listed on the supported asset list (SAL). Any exceptions from this are mentioned in the respective chapters.
Relevance criteria for asset types and assets
As defined by the regulation, the following asset types are considered relevant in terms of §14a EnWG:
Batteries (charge)
Non-public EV charging stations
Heat pumps
Assets for room cooling, e.g. air conditioning devices
A specific asset from these categories is subject to the §14a regulation if its power consumption can exceed 4.2 kW.
The following asset types can be used to compensate and optimize any §14a limitation if the steering mode “EMS” is declared to the distribution grid operator (DSO):
PV (stand-alone or hybrid inverter)
Batteries (discharge) (stand-alone or hybrid inverter)
In general, a §14a limitation only applies to the relevant assets and not to the household consumption. The household consumption is never affected by a limit sent by the DSO. Any consumption that is not controllable or is not caused by assets from the abovementioned types is not subject to the §14a regulation. Furthermore, the DSO is not allowed to steer the assets freely and control them or turn them off at its own intention. Only in the event of a grid congestion that could have a significant negative impact on the grid infrastructure is the DSO permitted to send control signals to ease the stress on the grid.
If one §14a-relevant asset is available, 4.2 kw is the lowest possible value of a limitation by the DSO. If multiple assets are §14a-relevant, the minimum allowed value increases with the number of assets connected (rule of thumb: 4.2kw multiplied by the number of assets).
Refer to the original legal text of §14a EnWG for the exact definition/calculation of the staged values with multiple assets in combination with different asset types.
Even with the minimum value, for example, 4.2 kW, that is allowed to be sent by the DSO, the EMS might steer and/or the assets can react differently and decide to further reduce the power consumption temporarily.
Note
Make sure that assets and systems which meet these criteria are always marked as relevant in terms of §14a EnWG. For more details see chapter 🔗 §14a Management in XENON and 🔗 Commissioning of §14 EnWG relevant systems.
Preconditions
All GSP module features are only available and can be used if the GSP module is activated for the related account of the system.