Foto: Rabot Charge
From 1 April, grid-friendly charging behaviour will be additionally rewarded, as households with an electric car and a charging station will be able to use time-variable grid charges from this date. The basis for this is the Federal Network Agency’s decision BK9-22/010-A of 23 November 2023, which provides for time-variable billing of grid charges. This means that the grid fees vary depending on the time of day or grid utilisation. These different price levels are intended to incentivise people not to charge their vehicles during peak grid usage times. Consumers can find out which time zones and price levels apply at their place of residence from the price sheets of their grid operator, which sets the grid charge on a regional basis.
Scientists have now calculated whether and to what extent the new time-variable grid charges are worthwhile for electric car drivers as part of a study. The study was carried out by the energy industry consultancy Neon under the direction of Prof Dr Lion Hirth on behalf of the electricity supplier Rabot Energy. The calculations were based on the price levels of the Berlin electricity grid and the charging behaviour of a commuter who drives 10,442 kilometres a year and covers 70% of her electricity needs with a typical charging capacity of 11 kilowatts at home, assuming that she charges immediately after coming home in the evening. The calculations show that shifting the charging times to more favourable midday or night-time hours reduces the charging electricity costs and grid charges by 20% in this specific case. If a dynamic electricity tariff is also used, the savings even climb to 68%. The commuter does not have to accept any driving restrictions by postponing the charging times, as the calculations were based on the premise that the battery must be 70% charged in the morning and the car is only charged during normal idle times at home. The study is available at the following link: https://www.rabot.energy/magazin/elementor-47431/
Why grid-friendly charging is important
The background to grid-serving charging is the fact that more and more households have a heat pump or an electric car. On the one hand, these so-called controllable consumption devices have a higher power requirement than normal household appliances and, on the other hand, are often charged at the same time. For example, electric car drivers like to charge their vehicles after work when they get home. This can be a challenge for low-voltage grids. For this reason, Section 14a of the Energy Industry Act stipulates that grid operators can take precautionary measures to ensure grid stability. For example, by allowing the power consumption of wallboxes or heat pumps to be reduced to 4.2 kilowatts if necessary. However, such direct curtailment is only possible in exceptional cases and if the household allows it. Alternatively, grid operators can set a value for the permissible electricity demand, which may not be exceeded overall.
In return, grid operators must grant households a reduction in grid fees. Depending on the grid area, this amounts to a flat rate of between €110 and €190 per year (Module 1). Alternatively, households can opt for a pro rata reduction of 60 per cent (module 2). Since 1 April, there has now been an additional Module 3, which allows households that have opted for a flat-rate reduction in the grid fee to also take advantage of time-variable grid fees. Module 3 was already adopted in 2023, but will not be implemented until this year so that grid operators can prepare accordingly, as Module 3 requires a certain level of digitalisation in the electricity grid.
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