In its new position paper, the Federal Association of the German Heating Industry (BDH) takes a position on the integration of flexible loads such as heat pumps and electric cars into the power grid.
"The expansion of the regulatory framework for the use of the flexibility of controllable consumers is imperative in order to enable the ramp-up of electromobility," explains Andreas Lücke, General Manager of the BDH. However, the legal changes would have to be designed in such a way that they are accepted by investors.
Future energy system
The association sees a need for improvement in the current draft law of the Taxable Consumption Equipment Act (SteuVerG). In terms of controllability, the heat pump is essentially equated with the charging station for electric cars.
The important sources of flexibility on the consumption side are heat pumps and electric cars
The shifting of loads is a central element in the future energy system: with the same level of comfort for the customer, a flexible consumer should consume energy whenever possible when renewable electricity is available and is also transported through the power gridcan. The two most important sources of flexibility on the consumption side are heat pumps and electric cars.
Energy management systems
For both, the use of their flexibility must be designed in such a way that comfort, economy and security of supply are maintained for the end customer. "This is necessary in order not to jeopardize the current high growth rates of the heat pump and thus ultimately to drive forward the heating transition," explains Dieter Kehren, head of the energy management systems department at the BDH.
“For this, the technology-specific properties of the heat pump must also be taken into account when designing the framework conditions. Such points can only be identified and dealt with in dialogue with the heating industry.” The BDH and its member companies are available for this dialog.