Glossary
Grid feed-in
Grid feed-in refers to the amount of electrical energy that is supplied back into the distribution grid from a local energy source (such as a photovoltaic power plant or another electricity-generating device). This occurs when local electricity consumption is lower than the current production – in other words, when you generate more energy than you use, the surplus automatically “flows” into the public grid. If you do not have permission to export electricity to the grid, the distribution system operator may impose a contractual penalty if such exports are detected.
Feed-in to the grid is especially common with residential or commercial renewable energy sources that are not equipped with technologies for full local consumption (so-called zero export or GridFree solutions). In such cases, it is necessary to ensure proper measurement and recording of these feed-ins, as they affect billing, legal obligations, and may be subject to buy-back or support schemes.
Some systems, such as GridFree, are designed to prevent any feed-in to the grid – all the energy produced is consumed directly on-site, with nothing flowing back into the grid. Otherwise, cooperation with the distribution system operator is required, as they set the technical and regulatory conditions for connecting and measuring feed-in.
Feed-in to the grid is an important concept in the operation of renewable energy sources and in optimizing energy management, as it affects the economics of operation, grid stability, and the overall utilization of generated electricity.