As part of the work conducted by Stiftung Umweltenergierecht within the sub-project “Legal Studies”, a comprehensive status quo analysis of the existing legal framework governing the increased utilization of electricity grids will be carried out. This analysis will cover both the European and national legal frameworks, including secondary legislation. In particular, it will examine which legal provisions are relevant to grid utilization and to what extent they permit increased utilization of the grids (e.g. Sections 11 et seq. and 49 et seq. EnWG).

In addition to measures aimed at increasing grid utilization that directly target grid assets, flexibility measures and so-called “grid boosters” can also be used to influence the grid loading profile. In this regard, considerable further development is still needed within the German energy system, as the measures employed to date have essentially been limited to regulatory, cost-based redispatch measures pursuant to Section 13a EnWG and the “dimming” of controllable consumption devices at low-voltage level pursuant to Section 14a EnWG in conjunction with the determinations issued by the Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur, BNetzA). The project will also examine the relevant legal requirements in this respect.

The sub-project carried out by Stiftung Umweltenergierecht provides legal research support to the project’s research partners. Its purpose is to ensure that the solutions to be developed within the research project are devised with full consideration of, and on the basis of, the applicable legal framework and are consistent with higher-ranking law, in particular constitutional law and European Union law.