Remuneration requirement under EEG
Electricity from renewable sources such as photovoltaics is remunerated at a special rate.
Feed-in compensation for renewable energies – rates
Operators of systems that exclusively use renewable energies or mine gas are entitled to feed-in compensation for the electricity generated by these systems and fed into the public grid. The electricity can also be marketed directly (with or without a market premium as a subsidy) or fed into the grid free-of-charge.
1. Feed-in compensation
With feed-in compensation, you agree to transfer the electricity you supply to us as the grid operator and receive the EEG feed-in compensation subsidy in return. You can find the subsidy rates on the website of the German Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) under the section entitled "Feed-in compensation for solar installations up to 100 kW" (Einspeisevergütung für Solaranlagen bis 100 kW).
2. Market premium
In the case of subsidised direct marketing with a market premium, you receive the exchange market value of your electricity from your direct marketer. The market premium compensates for the difference between the electricity price realised on the exchange and the feed-in compensation otherwise received. You can find the subsidy rates and market premium on the website of the German Federal Network Agency (BNetzA).
If you select this option during the registration process for your system on our customer portal, please inform us of your desired direct marketer by sending an e-mail to [email protected]. Please also refer to the information provided in the section entitled "Registration and deregistration for direct marketing" here.
3. Other direct marketing
In the case of other direct marketing, you receive the price negotiated with your direct marketer for your electricity, although without any subsidy.
If you select this option during the registration process for your system on our customer portal, please inform us of your desired direct marketer by sending an e-mail to [email protected]. Please also refer to the information provided in the section entitled "Registration and deregistration for direct marketing" here.
4. Free-of-charge provision
With this model, you provide us as the grid operator with your electricity free-of-charge.
It is then still possible to switch to feed-in compensation or direct marketing at a later date.
Please note: If you choose this option, you will not receive any financial compensation. If you do not make a decision during the registration process for your system on our customer portal, you will be automatically assigned to "Free-of-charge provision" at the end of the process.
Registration or deregistration for direct marketing
To register or deregister EEG systems, please use the form provided by the German Federal Network Agency (BNetzA), which you should send to us by e-mail to the following address [email protected].
Please write "Registration or deregistration for direct marketing" and your business partner or request number in the subject line of your e-mail. This makes is easier for us to assign incoming mails correctly.
You must notify us, as your grid operator, of your registration for direct marketing no later than when your system is commissioned. It becomes effective at the start of the month following the month of your notification (for example registration by 31 March at the latest for direct marketing from 1 May onwards).
Switching between the options
System operators may switch between the above-mentioned options with each system.
When switching between different options, however, you must notify us as your grid operator at the latest before the start of the calendar month preceding the change (for example notification by 31 March at the latest for the start of direct marketing from 1 May onwards).
Legal framework
Legal framework
The current legal basis for compensation of electricity fed into the grid is the German Renewable Energy Sources Act 2012 (EEG). The EEG has the following objectives in the interests of climate and environmental protection:
- Enabling sustainable development of the energy supply
- Reducing the economic costs of energy supply, for example by including long-term external effects
- Conserving fossil energy resources
- Promoting the further development of technologies for generating electricity from renewable energies
Registering EEG assets to the market master data register of the Federal Network Agency
Asset operators must register in the Federal Network Agency's market master data register.
After commissioning your new system, you have one month to register. The registration deadline also applies if the output of existing EEG systems is changed.
Asset operators must submit at least the following master data:
- Information about the asset operator,
- The asset's location,
- The energy source used to generate the electricity,
- The installed capacity of the asset.
Questions and answers
What is a photovoltaic plant (PV plant)?
A PV plant is an electricity generation plant. Solar energy is captured using solar cells and transformed into electrical energy.
How long does it take to process a connection application from a generation plant?
For plants up to 100 kW, please provide us with all the necessary information via our customer portal at least 8 weeks before installing the system. The processing, including the network compatibility check, takes place as quickly as possible. Due to a very high volume of inquiries, there are currently longer processing times. After the processing and examination have been completed, the applicant will receive an offer or a confirmation of the request made.
In the case of larger systems, we are required to carry out technical network tests, which may lead to network expansion. The processing time depends on the effort required.
Who should make the application to the grid operator to connect a generation plant?
The application can be made by the operator of the plant, but is generally made by its constructor.
Is an existing grid connection always used as a feed-in point?
There is a routine check to determine whether the plant can be incorporated into the relevant grid using an existing connection. If the grid compatibility check shows that the energy can be fed in at the existing connection, the plant operator will be notified. There are also checks to determine the conditions for accepting the energy into the distribution grid before a corresponding offer is made.
When will I receive payment?
After the generation plant has begun to operate, the feeder will submit the following documents to the grid operator:
- Operation initiation protocol signed by the plant's operator and constructor.
- Customer information leaflet (containing the plant operator's details)
- Proof of registration with the Federal Network Agency [Bundesnetzagentur (BNetzA)].
- General environmental certification from an environmental certifier (in the case of biomass plants)
Payment will take place as soon as possible after all documentation has been received.
How much will I be paid?
Remuneration for a generation plant depends on the type of plant, the time at which it came into operation, the plant's performance and the marketing method. The remuneration terms in the Renewable Energies Act (EEG) valid at the time of the initiation of operations are used in the calculation.
Will I incur charges for meter replacement?
Stromnetz Berlin GmbH covers the cost of meter replacement.