Summary

The challenge of decarbonising the energy system increasingly depends on the electrification and system-compatible integration of customer infrastructures, neighbourhoods, and electric vehicle (EV) charging clusters. Effective management of this transition requires the coordination of energy supply with the electricity grid and energy markets. This includes the targeted utilisation of local energy resources, such as photovoltaic (PV) systems and combined heat and power (CHP) plants. Aligning consumption with generation and grid availability represents a short-term strategy to avoid grid congestion—particularly in low-voltage networks—and is more cost-effective than extensive grid reinforcement. Additionally, such alignment aims to enhance overall system efficiency by maximising the use of renewable energy sources and minimising the reliance on temporary storage solutions.

The CACTUS project focuses on optimising grid utilisation and leveraging local energy flexibility within the distribution grid, with a particular focus on commercial and business parks. A key component of this approach is the implementation of dynamic grid fees. This adaptive pricing mechanisms is designed to provide financial incentives for decentralised, automated energy systems, such as EV charging clusters and aggregators. These systems can react to the price signals on different time-scales, thereby lowering electricity procurement costs and enabling increased connection capacities without necessitating costly grid expansion.

Additionally, a tool with the “Connect–Assist–Control” methodology is being developed in this project. It will support grid operators through the following elements:

• Connect: Enabling communication with customer systems via standardised interfaces
• Assist: Visualising grid congestions and proposing mitigation measures
• Control: Modulating price signals to proactively manage grid capacity and prevent overloads

By dynamically adjusting price signals, the system can accommodate fluctuations in generation and consumption, thereby helping to maintain voltage stability. This reduces the need for emergency interventions such as forced disconnections or load shedding, which are typically employed only as a last resort to avert grid failure.

Conference Contribution

The conference presentation will outline the objectives and current progress of the CACTUS project, offering insights into addressing regulatory and technical interface challenges. Particular emphasis will be placed on the design of a user-friendly and efficient incentive system that incorporates both market signals and grid constraints to enable intelligent grid management. Furthermore, the integration of future user groups and the adaptability of dynamic grid fees will be discussed as critical factors for scalable and sustainable implementation.