Together, the Bosch Home Comfort Group, Robotron, and PPC are taking another major step forward in the energy-efficient deployment of heat pumps. Through this collaboration, the partners are demonstrating the digital control of a heat pump via the EEBUS protocol using the PPC CLS gateway. This paves the way for the implementation of Section 14a.
Since January 1, 2024, German distribution system operators have been required to reduce the power consumption of controllable consumer devices (SteuVE) to as low as 4.2 kW when necessary to support the grid. Transmitting the continuously variable dimming commands required for this has so far posed a challenge for the energy industry.
The rollout of CLS devices is also picking up speed. SMGW market leader PPC and meter operator Zählerhelden from Dornstadt plan to install several thousand CLS gateways starting in April of this year. In addition to implementing Section 14a of the Energy Economy Act (EnWG) for end users, the joint solution focuses on other applications for market- and grid-oriented control.
The Bosch Home Comfort Group, Prolan, Robotron, and PPC are taking a joint step forward in the energy-sector development of heat pumps. This collaboration demonstrates that today’s infrastructure—comprising heat pumps, control boxes, and iMSys—is already equipped to meet the grid-oriented requirements of Section 14a, and that market-oriented control and time-varying applications can be implemented via the SG-Ready standard.
The SISSY innovation project was successfully launched at the turn of the year. The focus of this project, funded by the BMWK, is on further developing the intelligent metering system into a central, secure, and scalable gateway at the controllable grid connection point. The standards created through this project will soon make control in accordance with Section 14a of the Energy Economy Act (EnWG) feasible for large numbers of units, thereby making it cost-effective. The project partners are EGS, TMZ, Robotron, KEO, EEBUS, and PPC.
New requirements resulting from the amended Section 14a of the Energy Industry Act (EnWG) have been in effect since January 1, 2024. For E3/DC’s home power plants, their integrated energy management system, and PPC’s interoperable iMSysplatform, experts from both companies were able to demonstrate in tests that users not only meet the new requirements of Section 14a but will also be able to utilize additional market-related applications as well as grid- and system-supporting applications in the future.
While digitalization in the electricity sector has already gained momentum, the heating sector is still proceeding cautiously. There is a lack of transparency in local and district heating networks, a lack of control mechanisms to increase flexibility, and a lack of an integrated, holistic view of electricity and heat. As part of the WARAN research project, EWE NETZ, BTC, wesernetz Bremen, swb Erzeugung, be.storaged, SWR AG, the FfE, and PPC aim to advance these issues in municipal heat supply—specifically regarding sector coupling and digitalization—through a unified and standardized iMSys infrastructure.
Mannheim-based PPC and Swiss company Belimo have successfully connected heat meters to the iMSys via the CLS channel. This success demonstrates that even meters and sectors outside the scope of submetering solutions can be quickly and easily integrated into the smart metering system.
[:de]Controllable generation facilities are one of the key drivers for a successful energy transition. After all, they allow us to tap into vast, previously untapped flexibility in the grid to integrate decentralized generators and volatile consumption peaks with minimal losses. In doing so, prosumers must not only be integrated into the grid in a way that benefits the grid from the outset, but they must also be brought on board through market-oriented control mechanisms. Synergies between hardware, software, and infrastructure are crucial for the successful, cost-effective implementation of direct marketing. These requirements served as the starting point for the collaboration between Swistec, Next Kraftwerke, MeterPan, and PPC.[:]
[:de]Users in the energy and building management systems sectors need access to the energy sector’s digital infrastructure to implement new ideas. The Intelligent Metering System (iMSys) paves the way for this and serves as the central point of contact. A high degree of interoperability is crucial to making these new possibilities accessible to a broad user base. [:]