Electromobility has picked up speed. Many appreciate home charging. But because many do not register, there is a risk of power failures in the worst case.
Apparently, electric car owners are not so particular about the obligation to register for their charging stations. This is shown by figures from the regional energy supplier EWE in north-west Germany and in Brandenburg. By the end of 2021, KfW had made funding commitments for 37,000 charging devices in the network area, but by the end of June 2022 a total of just 14,000 private charging points had been registered – this number also includes those charging devices that were not funded at all.
Charging devices with a charging capacity of less than 11 kW must be registered with the network operator. With a charging capacity of less than 2.3 kW, this may also be possible without registration, but this should be clarified. From a charging capacity of 11 kW, approval from the network operator is required.
voonze online asked Markus Schirmer, developer of energy networks at EWE Netz, questions about this.
EWE appeals to its customers to comply with the obligation to report charging stations. Why is this obligation important and what is the threat if too many violate it?
Markus Schirmer: So far, the power grids have mainly been designed for typical household loads in the low-voltage grid. Due to the boom in electric mobility and heat pumps, many so-called significant loads are quickly added. So devices that draw a lot of power. The additional charging of these devices leads to significantly higher, sometimes simultaneous energy requirements in the power grid, especially in the evening. By registering their charging equipment, our customers help us to better identify power requirements and load centers. They are also legally obliged to do so (paragraph 19 of the Low-Voltage Connection Ordinance). The obligation to register also applies to mobile charging devices that are connected to a high-voltage socket, for example. This enables us to plan network expansion efficiently and cost-effectively. If changes in the customer systems remain unknown, there is a risk of local supply disruptions in the worst case.
What is required to register the charging option at your own home? Does it cost something?
Registering the charging device is easy, digital, free of charge and takes around five to ten minutes.
Can it happen that the network operator also says no to the e-car charging station?
Based on the current state of knowledge, we can rule this out. We are network operators and one of our jobs is to establish connections.
What is the risk of violating the obligation to register?
Theoretically, those connecting could be disconnected from the grid connection. However, this is the last resort if the request to register is not complied with. We are not aware of any precedents. However, if there are disruptions in the network and the cause is due to unregistered charging facilities, the expenses for the damage caused could be passed on to the person who caused it.
Does it often happen that EWE has to expand power lines in your area because the number of e-cars is increasing? Can that be quantified?
Due to the still small number of privately used charging facilities and their equal distribution in the network area, the expansion measures are still manageable. They are about ten percent of all measures.
Who bears the cost of this expansion?
Expansion measures in the local network are borne by the network operator. The costs of network operation are passed on to all network users. If reinforcements of the network connection are necessary, these are to be borne by the person who takes the connection. There are proportionate building cost subsidies for charging devices with very high outputs.
Has EWE already implemented specific smart grids to control the load on the power grid? What about the use of sensors?
EWE Netz already uses measurement technology in many networks. In addition, transformers are used in many local network stations with automated tap changers. These regulate the voltage in the low-voltage level, i.e. for the electricity that reaches households. There has long been a political discussion about legally regulating network-friendly control of flexible consumption devices – i.e. charging devices. The aim of grid-friendly control is to integrate charging facilities into the electricity grid as quickly as possible and to limit the amount of grid fees charged by customers.
