Solar Energy Storage Boom in Thuringia: A New Energy Era for Private Households
Multitudes of solar storage devices scattered across Thuringia's landscape - Multitudes of solar power facilities in Thuringia find themselves numbered.
Let's talk shop, mate!
Approaching 30,000, Thuringia boasts a mammoth number of small solar energy storage units, reported by their Ministry of Energy as of March 25th. These storage units, under 10 kWh, are found predominantly in private dwellings and often teamed up with photovoltaic systems. Commercial establishments also utilize these storage systems in the Free State.
Harnessing the Power of Small Storage Systems
"Flexibility is key to securing future power supply stability. Storage plays a pivotal role in that," says Thuringia's Minister of Environment, Tilo Kummer (BSW). Large-scale plants, like the pumped storage power station in Goldisthal, already contribute significantly to the mix. "However, there's untapped potential in many smaller storage systems. We need to integrate them more effectively into regional network control and flexibility markets, or offer incentives that encourage grid-supportive behavior," Kummer articulates.
Incentives for Grid-Friendly Energy Production
The freshly-minted federal administration is all for helping motivate energy producers: "We plan to prop up solar energy alongside storage systems in a grid-supportive manner. Private homeowners will become prosumers, taking charge of their energy supply," the coalition agreement between Union and SPD outlines. Operators of existing plants will be rewarded for grid-friendly energy production, and legislative modifications of the Renewable Energy Act will be scrutinized, particularly regarding zero-feed-in tariffs for negative prices and direct marketing.
Currently, there's a problem: many smaller storage systems fail to operate in a grid-friendly manner. Sunny summer days see a mass exodus of electricity from photovoltaic systems into the grid—a potential glut if the demand doesn't match. Charging these storage systems during peak times would ease the strain on the grid. However, most smaller storage systems reach capacity in the early morning hours, making them ineffective in absorbing midday electricity surges.
Charging Wisely—A Smart Move
Feed-in tariffs are paid for electricity supplied to the grid, irrespective of the criticality of the transmission or the abundance of electricity in the market.
Case in point: grid-friendly behavior includes charging storage systems when the grid's load is lighter, or feeding excess energy in locally when it's required. "More storage systems also equate to an advantage: grid congestion can be reduced locally, as grid-supportive storage systems alleviate strain exactly where it's needed," Kummer elucidates.
According to data, these 29,182 small storage systems offer a combined capacity of 202,740 kWh. The Ministry of Environment claims that these storage systems can help buffer feed-in or load peaks in the low-voltage network locally. However, their influence on the high-voltage network is relatively insignificant. The Ministry of Environment refers to data from the market data register, where these storage systems must be registered.
A Clear Path Forward
Integrating small-scale solar energy storage systems in private households into regional network control and flexibility markets in Thuringia can be optimized through several strategies:
- Implementing market-based approaches and smart grid technologies
- Adopting advanced battery systems and thermal storage solutions
- Fostering a supportive policy and regulatory environment
- Engaging communities and promoting collaboration
- Leveraging data management and digital platforms to optimize energy trading
With these strategies, Thuringia can capitalize on the full potential of small-scale solar energy storage systems in the private sector, enhancing their integration into regional energy networks.
- The abundance of smaller solar energy storage units in private households, reaching almost 30,000, as per Thuringia's Ministry of Energy, raises the prospect of integrating them more thoroughly into regional network control and flexibility markets.
- Photovoltaic systems paired with these storage units, totaling a combined capacity of 202,740 kWh, can potentially buffer feed-in or load peaks in the low-voltage network locally, as claimed by the Ministry of Environment.
- Vocational training in renewable energy, environmental science, data-and-cloud-computing technology, and finance will play a crucial role in ensuring that these storage systems are managed effectively, particularly in terms of promoting grid-friendly behavior.
- The Renewable Energy Act could be modified to offer incentives for operators of smaller storage systems who demonstrate grid-supportive behavior, like charging during lighter grid loads or feeding excess energy locally when it's required.
- Encouraging the use of advanced battery systems and thermal storage solutions, along with the adoption of smart grid technologies and digital platforms, will help these storage systems more effectively address midday electricity surges and reduce grid congestion locally.
- Building a supportive policy and regulatory environment, as well as engaging communities and promoting collaboration, will be essential to optimizing the integration of small-scale solar energy storage systems in the private sector.
- By following a clear path that includes implementing market-based approaches, fostering a supportive policy and regulatory environment, and leveraging data management and digital platforms, Thuringia can unlock the full potential of its small-scale solar energy storage systems, enhancing their integration into regional energy networks and contributing to a sustainable future for renewable energy in the region.
