Karlsruhe, August 16, 2024 – Software provider InnoCharge GmbH has reached an important milestone in the value-added use of smart metering systems. Following approval by the four German transmission system operators, broader testing of the newly developed InnoCharge concept for the scalable marketing of flexible small systems as secondary control power will begin. In a pilot phase lasting several months, the provision of balancing power with over 100 Flexumer charging points for electric cars, which are connected to the InnoCharge Flex optimization platform via smart meter gateways, is being tested together with the transmission system operators. The aim is to validate the technical and economic benefits and then open up the new control reserve module to the wider market.
Innovative solution for the provision of control reserve through Flexumer systems
From January 1, 2025, all electricity suppliers in Germany must offer dynamic electricity tariffs. Intelligent metering systems with smart meter gateways play a central role in this by recording energy consumption with high temporal resolution. InnoCharge is already using this technology in live operation today to optimize flexible small systems based on forecasts, market them on spot markets, preferentially use surplus photovoltaic electricity on site and intelligently implement the power throttling by distribution grid operators that has been possible since 1 January 2024.
With the new InnoCharge provision concept for balancing power, the modular InnoCharge Flex optimization platform enables the secure pooling and marketing of flexible small systems via smart meter gateways. By meeting the strict security requirements of the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), InnoCharge makes an important contribution to the intelligent multiple use of existing infrastructure.
Parallel marketing of pooled small systems on different flexibility markets
InnoCharge’s supply concept enables electricity suppliers to use their customers’ flexibility for the provision of control reserve at the same time as optimizing according to dynamic electricity prices and local photovoltaic surpluses. Control reserve is essential to compensate for short-term fluctuations in the electricity grid.
The provision of this grid stabilization is remunerated by the transmission system operators, which creates additional sources of income for electricity suppliers and their customers. Municipal utilities and energy suppliers can give their customers an active share of the revenue and at the same time make an increasingly important contribution to grid stability.
Approval of the InnoCharge concept by transmission system operators
The approval of the InnoCharge concept by the association of the four German transmission system operators marks a decisive step: the concept will now be tested more broadly in close cooperation in order to confirm its advantages in real customer scenarios. More than 100 Flexumer charging points for electric cars connected via smart meter gateways will be integrated into the control reserve trial to demonstrate the potential of flexibly controllable small systems. The aim is to subsequently open up the system to the wider market.
InnoCharge Managing Director Dr. Manuel Lösch explains: “With the scalable provision of control reserve via smart meter gateways, we are demonstrating that flexible small systems in the private and commercial sector also represent a valuable resource for electricity suppliers and electricity customers. The introduction of dynamic electricity tariffs from 2025 opens up great opportunities to use the existing smart meter infrastructure for further use cases. We look forward to supporting municipal utilities and energy suppliers on this journey.”
About InnoCharge
InnoCharge GmbH is an experienced provider of software solutions for the economic integration of flexible energy systems into electricity markets and grids. With its InnoCharge Flex optimization platform, the company specializes in the flexibility marketing of small systems such as charging stations, electric vehicles, heat pumps and battery storage systems. InnoCharge offers innovative SaaS solutions for electricity suppliers and system providers, making an important contribution to the energy transition and the development of an emission-free energy future.
Press contact
InnoCharge GmbH
Haid-und-Neu-Str. 10-14
76131 Karlsruhe
E-mail: presse@innocharge.de
Web: www.innocharge.de