ErSiFlex-VZ: Renewable Power Generation, Price Signal and Flexibility in the Distribution Grid of the Future

In this project, RLI scientists are working with the regional energy supplier e-regio to develop dynamic electricity tariffs that help to better integrate electricity from renewable energy, relieve the burden on the distribution grid and enable grid-friendly flexibility use.

Use flexibility without overloading networks

Since January 1, 2025, larger energy suppliers have had to offer dynamic electricity tariffs in Germany – but the exact design is open. Many current offers link final prices directly to exchange electricity prices, without taking into account grid bottlenecks and different procurement strategies. The project team shows how energy suppliers and grid operators can design tariffs within the unbundling framework in such a way that they use flexibility without overloading grids. In the German energy sector, unbundling means the separation of network operation and energy distribution in order to prevent the network operator (a natural monopoly) from favouring its own distribution.

Forecasts for generation and flexibility

To this end, the project team predicts the spread of PV systems, heat pumps and electric vehicles (EV) in the e-regio grid area by 2030 and analyses possible load shifts caused by batteries and charging processes, for example of EVs. In addition, the experts are investigating how overloads can be avoided by price signals and deriving strategies for regionally adapted dynamic electricity tariffs. This approach relies on legally feasible tariff logics – not nodal pricing. In contrast to the current German system, which has a uniform price for the whole country, nodal pricing reflects the specific local costs, including generation and transmission costs.

Regional, network-friendly tariffs

Based on the analyses, the project team identifies key influencing factors (e.g. PV and e-vehicle penetration) and defines relevant key figures for grid use under dynamic prices. The aim is to develop a transferable methodology for regional, network-friendly tariffs.

Methodology and data basis

To build a model of the distribution grid, the scientists use the open-source tool Simply they developed themselves. It serves to simulate decentralized market participants and their local flexibilities through specific bidding strategies. The project team uses data from e-regio, for example for the distribution of grid connections to the low-voltage grids or technical data, for example for transformers between low and medium voltage, evaluates these, supplements them with synthetic data sets and simulates prosumer behavior under static and dynamic prices. The results show how tariffs influence simultaneity and where grid-friendly incentives are effective.

Project period: September – December 2025

• Development of a distribution grid and prosumer model with the tool simply (data analysis, synthesis, validation)
• Scenarios 2030 for PV, heat pumps and e-mobility; Simulation of static vs. dynamic prices
• Assessment of simultaneity, network bottlenecks and use of flexibility; Definition of relevant KPIs
• Derivation of legally secure, regional tariff modules for grid-friendly pricing
• Transferability test with other municipal utilities/network operators and target-group-oriented communication