MeRegio - Minimum Emission Region

Year

2012

Organisation

EnBW

Description

In the MeRegio project a smart grid provides a transparent and flexible tariff system for optimised renewable energy integration into the grid. The solution was by energy company, EnBW (Energie Baden-Württemberg) developed in cooperation with ABB, SAP, IBM, Systemplan and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).

 Objectives:

  • Provide transparency to optimise the link between generation and the use of renewable energy
  • Encourage flexible consumption by introducing price signals
  • Deliver real data to analyse and improve the systems

Main information:

In order to better integrate renewables into the grid, EnBW developed a dynamic tariff that allowed for flexibility in the participating customers’ consumption behaviour. Customers were provided with traffic light-based dynamic price signals, whose order changed on a daily basis. While a green signal stood for the availability of electricity at a low price, a red light signalled that electricity generation was low and was therefore, more expensive. The households had the possibility to control their energy consumption and energy data via different technological devices (computer, mobile).

The smart meter continuously relayed the consumption data of the pilot customers directly to EnBW‘s central billing system. The billing system then sent energy consumption evaluations via the Internet to the MeRegio cockpit found on each participant's PC.

An evaluation of the project showed that consumption flexibility of up to 25 per cent and an average value of 10 per cent could be achieved.

The practice has also been selected by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy’s “E-Energy – Smart Energy Made in Germany” subsidies program.

Additional information:

  • EnBW (Energie Baden-Württemberg AG) is ranked among the largest energy supply companies in Germany and in Europe. With a workforce of around 20,000 employees, EnBW supplies electricity, gas, water and energy-related products and services to 5.5 million customers
  • A smart grid is an electricity network based on digital technology that is used to supply electricity to consumers combined with bidirectional digital communication. This system allows for monitoring, analysis, control and communication within the supply chain to help improve efficiency, reduce energy consumption and cost, and maximize the transparency and reliability of the energy supply chain

RGI gratefully acknowledges the EU LIFE funding support:

EU LIFE funding support Logo

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the LIFE Programme. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.