Storage facilities have a prominent role in today’s energy system, regardless of whether electricity, heat or gas storage. Storage units increase flexibility, especially with a power supply based on pipelines. In particular, the use of storage facilities decouples generation and consumption and makes a significant contribution to the energy revolution. Storage units can also be utilised for multi-use cases due to their ability to regulate both infeed and outfeed.
In the area of electricity storage facilities, a large number of legal issues are still unresolved. The German Energy Industry Act and the Renewable Energy Sources Act as well as regulations based on them, such as the Electricity Grid Fee Ordinance or the Electricity Grid Access Ordinance contain neither clear regulations nor a coordinate system for electricity storage. The new regulation for self-sufficiency from electricity storage under the Renewable Energy Sources Act also still contains a large number of ambiguities. In addition, various regulations must be observed, which the Federal Network Agency and European network codes for the provision of control energy (primary control power, secondary control power and minute reserve) have specified. Gas storage facilities are also subject to comparable regulations of the German Energy Industry Act, whereby in legal practice long-term gas supply contracts and accounting grid contracts are regularly the subject of consultation.
The integration of heat storage systems into local heating or district heating networks in combination with various generation plants (e.g. solar thermal or co-generation) is also influenced by legislation. Besides the connection of the heat accumulator, the Directive on General Conditions for the Supply of District Heating governs, in particular, the promotion conditions in accordance with the Combined Heat and Power Act or the requirements for heat supply – unless capacities are not merely provided.
Our consulting services cover all lifecycles of storage facilities, providing you with a basis for decision-making, especially in connection with the regulatory framework, and accompanying the adjustments due to European legal developments as well as creating the necessary contractual bases required for the planning, construction and operation of the storage facilities. In addition, as with other generation plants, questions arise that relate to grid connection, usage contracts for construction and operation, as well as long-term supply contracts with the customers of the respective energy source. Furthermore, any obstacles and claims against third parties, e.g. network operators, transmission system operators, suppliers etc. are represented in and out of court (also before the Renewable Energy Sources Act clearing house or the German Federal Network Agency).
In particular, we advise storage operators, technology manufacturers, project developers, system integrators, consulting firms, small builders and trade enterprises, housing construction companies, dealers, testing and certification companies as well as institutions from research and development. We are involved in Germany’s Energy Storage Industry Association in order to remove legal obstacles to the necessary construction of storage capacities through political influence.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us.
The Market Master Data Register (MaStR) is the register for the German electricity and gas market and is managed by the Federal Network Agency. In MaStR, the master data for electricity and gas generation plants must be registered. In addition, the master data of market players such as plant operators, grid operators, and energy suppliers must be registered. MaStR is available online not only to the authorities but also to market players and the public. At the same time, various existing registration obligations are to be bundled in the market master data register. Due to the repeated postponement of the opening of the web portal, however, the registration obligations could only be fulfilled insufficiently so far or had to be carried out for EEG plants in the plant register.
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Discuss with us at the seminar "Electricity storage in the current energy law" on 20th November 2018 in Frankfurt am Main the current legal framework of #electricity storage, which is constantly changing and becoming more and more complex. All relevant laws, contractual arrangements and operating methods are discussed in detail. We are looking forward to seeing you!
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