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Germany experiences negative electricity prices on a near daily basis now from spring through fall. This weekend, prices were more negative than usual, but sti

Germany experiences negative electricity prices on a near daily basis now from spring through fall. This weekend, prices were more negative than usual, but still not that negative.

leonidasrup 6mo ago
It really depends on the size and placement of the oversupply, this could cause localized grid overloading. "However, BDEW warned that around half of the new capacity came in the form of small-scale systems under 100 kilowatt each, which under current rules feed into the grid whatever they produce, without the option to curtail production when this is necessary to ensure grid stability." https://www.cleanenergywire.org/news/germany-adds-record-175-gw-solar-pv-2024-small-scale-units-problematic https://www.cleanenergywire.org/news/germany-adds-record-175... Smart electric meters for individual PV producers that signal and account for negative prices would help. e.g. if your balcony solar power pushes electricity during oversupply you pay penalty.
- eigenspace 6mo ago
  Yeah. Going forward, I suspect the way to handle this will be requiring the small producers to join a "virtual power plant". It'll result in a lot of misinformed shrieking from people, but probably the way forward is to remove the guaranteed price subsidy for individual household producers, and make it so thar they have to join a VPP if they want to sell to the grid.
- scary-size 6mo ago
  IIIRC, new individual systems are already required to have the capability to wind down export based on external signals.
  - leonidasrup 6mo ago
    Is this required even for PV systems under 7 kWp ? I could only find new regulations from March 2025 for PV systems over 7 kWp. https://www.mvv.de/photovoltaik/ratgeber/solarspitzengesetz-was-sich-fuer-neue-pv-anlagen-ab-maerz-2025-aendert https://www.mvv.de/photovoltaik/ratgeber/solarspitzengesetz-...
    - scary-size 6mo ago
      I guess „it‘s complicated“. For our system, 6kWp with iMSys, the grid operator can cap the ingestion as they see fit. For systems over 7kWp, you are required to install a iMSys that allows them to cap. Systems without a iMSys must have the capability to cap to 60% (either at all times or „intelligently“ depending on your consumption). BUT if you install anything today, you most likely will install a iMSys anyway. Also export fees for 7kWp and below are a bit of a joke anyway.

Germany experiences negative electricity prices on a near daily basis now from spring through fall. This weekend, prices were more negative than usual, but still not that negative.

leonidasrup 6mo ago

It really depends on the size and placement of the oversupply, this could cause localized grid overloading. "However, BDEW warned that around half of the new capacity came in the form of small-scale systems under 100 kilowatt each, which under current rules feed into the grid whatever they produce, without the option to curtail production when this is necessary to ensure grid stability." https://www.cleanenergywire.org/news/germany-adds-record-175-gw-solar-pv-2024-small-scale-units-problematic https://www.cleanenergywire.org/news/germany-adds-record-175... Smart electric meters for individual PV producers that signal and account for negative prices would help. e.g. if your balcony solar power pushes electricity during oversupply you pay penalty.

eigenspace 6mo ago
Yeah. Going forward, I suspect the way to handle this will be requiring the small producers to join a "virtual power plant". It'll result in a lot of misinformed shrieking from people, but probably the way forward is to remove the guaranteed price subsidy for individual household producers, and make it so thar they have to join a VPP if they want to sell to the grid.
scary-size 6mo ago
IIIRC, new individual systems are already required to have the capability to wind down export based on external signals.
- leonidasrup 6mo ago
  Is this required even for PV systems under 7 kWp ? I could only find new regulations from March 2025 for PV systems over 7 kWp. https://www.mvv.de/photovoltaik/ratgeber/solarspitzengesetz-was-sich-fuer-neue-pv-anlagen-ab-maerz-2025-aendert https://www.mvv.de/photovoltaik/ratgeber/solarspitzengesetz-...
  - scary-size 6mo ago
    I guess „it‘s complicated“. For our system, 6kWp with iMSys, the grid operator can cap the ingestion as they see fit. For systems over 7kWp, you are required to install a iMSys that allows them to cap. Systems without a iMSys must have the capability to cap to 60% (either at all times or „intelligently“ depending on your consumption). BUT if you install anything today, you most likely will install a iMSys anyway. Also export fees for 7kWp and below are a bit of a joke anyway.