Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
approach to smart meter deployment in Germany represents a different prioritization
regarding national-level energy system change.
Germany's decision not to adopt a nationwide smart meter rollout mandate was justified
with a 2013 cost-benefit report which concluded that in some instances the costs of
smart meter deployment outweighed the benefits (Ernst & Young 2013 ) . This report,
developed by Ernst & Young on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Economics
and Technology, was used to explain to the EU the German decision to opt out of its
commitment to fulfill the EU Energy Directive's requirement of 80 percent deployment by
2020. This report recommends a more gradual and selective smart meter rollout program
that takes advantage of existing replacement cycles for meters and does not require smart
metersforelectricityuserswithlowcapacitytoreducetheirenergyuse.Thecasehighlights
a recurring struggle between the ideal and the realities of smart meters.
One influential smart meter pilot project has been taking place in the city of Karlsruhe,
where the municipal utility is partnering with one of the large national-level utilities,
Energie Baden-Württemberg AG, on a smart meter pilot project. The local utility has been
testing meters with a small group of customers throughout the past few years, but this
partnership includes plans foralargersmart meter pilot installation inFall 2014.Oneofthe
unique features of this pilot is the desire to integrate electricity metering with gas, water,
and heat.
To understand Germany's cautious approach to smart meters, it is important to consider
the larger energy system transformation ongoing in Germany. As part of the national
Energiewende , an officially adopted energy policy transitioning the country's energy
systems away from fossil fuels and nuclear (discussed in more detail in Chapter 6 ) ,
Germany has strengthened its global leadership role in renewable electricity generation
technologies. More than any other country, Germany has invested in social and technical
analysis regarding facilitation of an energy system transition. A critical part of
implementing the Energiewende has included large-scale investments in solar PV;
Germany reached over 36 GW of installed capacity of solar PV by April 2014. This level
of investment has been controversial in large part because the substantial solar subsidies
are linked to huge increases in consumers' electricity rates. Backlash related to the level of
solar investments has resulted in a cautious re-evaluation of all energy system investments,
including smart meters.
It is within this context that Germany's resistance to committing to a nationwide smart
meter deployment plan has been justified as the state adopts a more graduated plan for
smart meter deployment. The German government asserts that the more selective smart
meter rollout strategy, rather than mandating that every household have a smart meter by a
Search WWH ::




Custom Search