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Solar Package 1: An Overview of the Most Important Changes
Today was a significant day: At the opening of its session, the German Bundestag debated the Federal Government’s draft legislation to amend the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) and other energy-related regulations aimed at accelerating the expansion of photovoltaic energy generation. This legislation is better known as Solar Package 1.
With this draft bill passed today by the Bundestag – which may come into effect as early as May 2024 – new regulatory frameworks are being established that are specifically designed to further promote and simplify the expansion of renewable energy.
“Solar Package 1 is clearly a step in the right direction and introduces important new impulses, particularly in the field of storage solutions,” commented Christian Chudoba, CEO of Lumenaza. “We will seize the resulting opportunities for our customers and plan to expand our product portfolio around small-scale aggregation and dynamic tariffs to fully leverage the new possibilities.”
Here’s a summary of the most important updates introduced by the Solar Package:
Simplified Grid Connection for Small Installations
The obligation to register with the grid operator is being removed for photovoltaic systems with a capacity of up to 30 kW. Previously, a simplified process applied only to systems up to 10.8 kW. Now, systems up to the new threshold can be connected to the grid without excessive bureaucracy.
Mandatory Aggregation
An adjustment to the 100-kilowatt threshold for mandatory aggregation is expected. This aims to allow operators of larger systems with self-consumption to feed surplus electricity into the grid without remuneration. At Lumenaza, we offer a cost-efficient solution: Thanks to our low fixed fee, aggregation with Lumenaza is more economical than giving surplus electricity away for free!
Extended Support for Tenant Power Models
Solar Package 1 introduces community building supply and expands the promotion of tenant electricity models. This includes photovoltaic systems on secondary buildings such as commercial halls or garages, which are now also eligible for support.
More Flexible Use of Energy Storage
In the future storage systems will be permitted to charge electricity from the grid without losing eligibility for EEG remuneration for solar power. The Federal Network Agency will develop a model for metering and billing to simplify multifunctional storage use.
Simplification for Balcony Power Plants
Balcony solar systems offer an easy way to participate in the energy transition by enabling low-barrier electricity generation. Solar Package 1 significantly reduces bureaucratic hurdles: Registration with the grid operator will no longer be required, replaced by a simplified process via the Market Master Data Register. These systems can also be operated with conventional Ferraris meters, which are allowed to run backwards until replaced.
Thanks to the requirement for intelligent metering systems (iMSys) to measure bidirectional energy flows, balcony power plants will also be able to benefit from dynamic tariffs. This qualifies many for Lumenaza’s dynamic tariffs, which reduce energy costs and improve efficiency by reacting to actual energy production and usage.
Standardized Technical Grid Connection Requirements
A nationwide standard for grid connection conditions will be introduced to eliminate previous differences between grid operators.
Cross-Cutting Regulations
Several provisions will simplify processes for almost all installations. For instance, system owners will in future be granted the right to lay connection cables across properties and public roads, eliminating the need for lengthy objection procedures.
Installations constructed adjacent to existing buildings will also benefit from existing EEG subsidies. Furthermore, the replacement of old PV modules with new, higher-performing ones could be simplified – for example, by preserving the original feed-in tariff for the original capacity.
We will soon publish a detailed statement explaining the implications of these changes for you in the areas of aggregation and electricity consumption.
https://dserver.bundestag.de/btd/20/086/2008657.pdf
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