“Tax Rollout”: The Amendment to the Metering Point Operation Act

2024 marks a turning point for solar energy and the energy transition overall. Progress has already been made, and new technologies pave the way for renewable energy's sustainable and efficient use of renewable energies. Embedded in a comprehensive package of measures, digitalization brings about market adjustments and storage technologies. The goal is to improve the cost-effectiveness of the rollout significantly and to place an even greater emphasis on a controllable distribution network (Smart Grid). Therefore, the smart meter rollout is to be expanded with control technology so that smaller renewable energy systems will also be included in the mandatory rollout in the future.

It is worthwhile to take a closer look at the developments that will lead us to a future with more than 80% renewable energies.

By September 2024, an impressive 11.4 gigawatts of photovoltaics (PV) had been installed, the majority of which in small systems. This boom is made possible by economies of scale in production, which have significantly reduced module prices. The target of 215 gigawatt peak by 2030 is ambitious but easily achievable with the current expansion path. However, with this rapid growth also come challenges.

We have already experienced more than 350 hours of negative electricity prices on the Leipzig electricity exchange in 2024, which amounts to around 6% of the year. This will result in poor sales prices for large-scale plants and difficulties in maintaining grid stability, while operators of small PV plants will receive a constant 7 ct/kWh remuneration and thus burden the federal budget with around 16 billion euros in 2025.

More than 1 million intelligent measurement systems (iMSys) are now in use. The technology is secure and proven. The revision of the supply processes will enable significantly simplified installation in the future. Additionally, the first control unit was certified this autumn by the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) certified the first control unit this autumn according to TR-0319-5. Other control boxes based on the digital EEBus interface are in the certification process and are expected to be available by early 2025. However, the software and interfaces for managing control boxes are not yet fully interoperable and suitable for mass use, which is currently a limiting factor.

Since April 1st, a web API interface for control has been active, allowing network operators (as well as suppliers/direct marketers) to make rapid controlled interventions to the network connection and facilities. The Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) has prepared the changes to the protection profile of the Smart Meter Gateway (SMGw) and the discussion paper "Control with Documentation in the Smart Meter Gateway" so that in the future, the control device can be integrated into the Smart Meter Gateway. This enables direct regulation via the SMGw as a coupling point between the network and the building to a Home Energy Management System (HEMS), which manages all energy flows within the building while considering the conditions set by the network operator.

Control via SMGw will become a standard service of the metering point operator (MSB), supported by an increase in the price cap (POG). The control rollout focuses primarily on new renewable energy systems, with transitional arrangements until the control system is established on a mass scale. At the same time, the right to installation at the customer's request within four months is granted without jeopardizing the mandatory rollout.

From April 1, 2025, variable grid fees will be introduced in accordance with Section 14a EnWG. This will enable battery storage systems or electric cars to be charged almost free of charge when exchange prices are negative and grid tariffs are low (usually at night). The basis for this are iMSys, which make dynamic electricity tariffs possible in the first place, depending on the supply situation. The prospects in this context are positive: conservative estimates assume at least 25 million smart metering points in the final expansion phase.
The forthcoming amendment to the Metering Point Operation Act sets out precise requirements for feeders: All grid operators must be able to control controllable PV systems and retrieve the actual feed-in. In addition, metering point operators must install iMSys and control devices for 90% of newly installed §14a and PV power.

A novella of the Energy Industry Act, as well as the Measurement Point Operation Act, which is to be implemented in a timely manner and referred to as "tax rollout," addresses this issue precisely. Network operators must in the future be able to monitor photovoltaic systems and controllable consumers such as wall boxes, heat pumps, and battery storage based on the actual feed-in performance and intervene regulatively in the event of a critical network bottleneck. For this purpose, the measurement point operators must install intelligent measuring systems (iMSys) and control devices in 90% of the newly installed photovoltaic systems greater than 2 kW. A similar regulation applies to controllable consumers with a connection capacity greater than 4.2 kW (EnWG §14a). This enables billing of electricity consumption according to dynamic tariffs from the electricity exchange and variable grid fees, as well as, in critical exceptional cases, the curtailment of feed-in by the network operator during network bottlenecks. Furthermore, appropriate regulations such as a flat-rate model are now also promoting the grid-friendly operation of battery storage systems. 
 

It is questionable whether the legislative amendment will arrive before the new election; however, the future federal government will also need solutions to limit feed-in and rely on the developed building blocks.

The industry and technical experts at Arvato Systems provide support for all these complex developments on the journey to renewable energies. Whether with our AEP.EnergySuite grid connection portal, our newly launched SMGw administration solution AEP.GWA (incl. control box administration), our AEP.API for secure communication, our MaKo solution AEP.MSBMAKO for competitive measurement point operators or our SAP S4U templates - we offer the solutions you need.
 

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