The power grid in Reutlingen is reaching its limits. Grid operator FairNetz is prohibiting numerous private photovoltaic operators from feeding electricity into the grid. Around 300 households with new systems are affected by the so-called zero feed-in. For them, this means the loss of an important source of income, as surplus electricity is no longer remunerated. The cause lies in the overloaded grid, which is not technically designed for the growing number of private producers.
Overload hits Reutlingen particularly hard
Where exactly the bottlenecks are remains unclear. FairNetz simply cites the overload caused by the large number of feed-ins as the reason. “The power grid is simply not technically equipped to handle the boom in private power generation,” the company says. New transformers, additional local network stations, and kilometers of cable routes are intended to provide relief. But there are problems with the stations in particular. Municipal land is not sufficient, which is why FairNetz is asking private owners with 16 square meters or more for help.
In Reutlingen, around 11,700 photovoltaic systems currently feed electricity into the grid. This means that one in five roofs uses solar energy. Anyone who installs a new system can put it into operation, but must wait until the feed-in is approved. At netzanschlusspruefung.fairnetzgmbh.de, interested parties can check whether feed-in is possible at their own connection.
Reutlingen caught between expansion and demand
The trend is clear: the expansion of photovoltaics is progressing faster than the expansion of the grid. This is causing difficulties not only for private operators, but also for regional energy planning as a whole. Electricity no longer comes from a few large power plants, but from numerous decentralized sources. This development is placing a massive strain on the infrastructure.
Konrad Saalmüller from the Climate Protection Agency of the Reutlingen District emphasizes the growing demand. “There is an overall increase in electricity demand, partly due to the growing number of heat pumps and electric cars.” Rising consumption is encountering an infrastructure that is not designed to cope with such loads. This creates tensions between generation, consumption, and technical feasibility.
Different developments in the region
The situation is different in neighboring Tübingen, where the municipal utilities benefit from a denser network. Problems tend to arise in rural areas, where capacity is traditionally weaker. For Reutlingen, this means that the lag in network expansion is particularly noticeable.
Without rapid modernization, further restrictions are likely. Private operators are not only losing revenue, but also confidence in the energy transition. For FairNetz, the challenge remains great: only with massive investments can it be prevented that even more plants in Reutlingen will have to wait to feed into the grid.