Regular remote monitoring of your solar or wind power system
To prevent the power grid from becoming overloaded, grid operators must be able to control solar and wind power plants as needed and, if necessary, reduce their output. This may be necessary, for example, when too much solar power is fed into the grid on a sunny afternoon.
The demands placed on the power grid—and the grid itself—are constantly changing as part of the energy transition. It is not only the large energy companies and regional utilities that produce energy. More and more decentralized power generation systems, such as solar panels owned by private individuals, are being connected to the power grid.
Tests in the service area of SWK Stadtwerke Kaiserslautern
We, SWK Stadtwerke Kaiserslautern, are the grid operator for Kaiserslautern and parts of the surrounding area. Since 2025, we have been legally required under Section 12, Paragraphs 2a through 2h of the Energy Industry Act (EnWG) to test the control function annually. Since 2026, this has also applied to remotely controllable systems under 100 kW—for example, a 10-kWp system installed on a single-family home. The controllability check allows us to assess the controllability of connected systems and, if necessary, take targeted measures to improve the quality of control.
An automatic check was performed remotely on August 12
The controllability check is performed automatically via remote access. It requires no effort or cost on the part of the plant operators. An on-site visit is also not necessary. The test is kept as short as possible. This ensures that market disruption is minimal and financial losses for market participants are negligible. However, the test must last long enough to observe and verify the plant’s response. The test duration for an individual plant is typically less than 60 minutes.
In accordance with legal requirements, SWK conducted the 2026 controllability tests on August 12 at the generation facilities connected to our grid that are scheduled to be equipped with remote control technology.
If any issues are detected, you will be notified—please also check the attachment regularly yourself
If any anomalies are detected during the tests, we will contact the affected plant operators. Regardless of this, plant operators are required to ensure the continued operational readiness of the technical equipment necessary for controllability.
In general, we therefore recommend that all plant operators check the proper functioning of their plants at regular intervals—including after controllability tests. Please ensure that the plant is back in normal operating condition and that power generation and feed-in are occurring as intended.
For most system operators, the simplest way to perform this check is through the Home Energy Management System (HEMS), which can usually be conveniently operated via a terminal or app. A simple check can also be performed using the meters. Check regularly to see if and to what extent the meter readings are changing. This allows errors to be quickly identified and resolved.
Your first point of contact in the event of a malfunction is your system installer, who knows your system best and has the expertise needed to troubleshoot the issue.
Technical equipment must be part of your facility
Even as the operator of generation facilities with a capacity of less than 100 kW, you are required under Section 9 of the EEG to install technical equipment to reduce generation output.
In newer systems, these devices—known as central control receivers (RSE) or radio-controlled receivers (FRE)—are typically installed automatically in the meter cabinet. Other systems are equipped with a smart meter gateway. This is the central communication unit of a smart metering system. If in doubt, you can check with your system installer to see whether such a device is already installed at your location.
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