BVES calls for clear regu­la­tion on grid fee exemp­tion for energy sto­rage sys­tems

The exemp­tion from grid fees is a cen­tral com­po­nent of BVES’s sto­rage stra­tegy, which aims to faci­li­tate the use of sto­rage tech­no­lo­gies. Curr­ently, the pro­vi­sio­nal and time-limi­ted grid fee exemp­tion for stored elec­tri­city runs until August 2026. This uncer­tainty is alre­ady having nega­tive effects on the deve­lo­p­ment of sto­rage pro­jects and lea­ding to pro­ject can­cel­la­ti­ons.

To faci­li­tate invest­ments in large-scale sto­rage, a clear regu­la­tion that excludes grid fees for stored elec­tri­city is neces­sary. The pro­vi­sio­nal grid fee exemp­tion in §118 (6) EnWG should be exten­ded bey­ond the year 2026. The fede­ral sta­tes have alre­ady deman­ded an exten­sion of the grid fee exemp­tion by at least 3 years through the Bun­des­rat (Fede­ral Coun­cil).

Curr­ently, average grid fees of 9 cents per kWh are impo­sed on every stored elec­tri­city, pre­ven­ting fair com­pe­ti­tion bet­ween stored rene­wa­ble energy and fos­sil power plants. The lat­ter are exempt from grid fees and thus have a signi­fi­cant advan­tage.

The future of energy sto­rage remains a cen­tral aspect of energy policy. Espe­ci­ally the aspects of the sys­tem ser­vices pro­vi­ded by energy sto­rage should play an important role in a com­pre­hen­sive reform of the elec­tri­city mar­ket design. Energy sto­rage is essen­tial to ensure the fle­xi­bi­lity of the rene­wa­ble energy-based sys­tem. The poten­tial of sto­rage should not be dis­ad­van­ta­ged by unsui­ta­ble regu­la­ti­ons and out­da­ted pro­vi­si­ons.

Read more about this in the new posi­tion paper (Ger­man).