The economy of Smart Grids requires Smart Markets

Inhalt:
The enhancement of electricity networks into Smart Grids requires significant investment. Under the current market conditions in Germany the return of investment is not visible. Smart Grids and Smart Market can be developed only in a mutual relation. A vision for the prospective electricity market including the business models motivating the Smart Grid enhancement is considered for the distribution level. The required investment for the enhancement of a 20 kV distribution network into a Smart Grid is considered based on the installation experience of the European lighthouse project Web2Energy. Market aspects like the aggregation of distributed energy resources, storage units and controllable loads into a virtual power plant (VPP) or the market integration of consumers by dynamic tariffs are also included in this investigation. Based on the visionary market conditions economic benefits may be presented.