Und die Netzbetreiber ärgern - Vorstellung Community Projekt Ortsnetz Auslastung

Ortsnetz Auslastung: Local Grid Utilization

The video introduces Ortsnetz Auslastung (“Local Grid Utilization”), a community project created by Thomas Lehmann to collect and map data that may help indicate how heavily local electricity distribution networks are being used.

The presenter discusses the project in the context of claims that electricity grids are overloaded. Smart-meter deployment is slow, and many local transformer stations are not digitally monitored. The map offers readings from participating locations, but the presenter encourages viewers to consider its reliability and limitations.

How the project works

Participants share readings from smart meters or other connected equipment. Data is sent to the website at five-minute intervals. The map displays readings from participating locations, including:

• Voltage on each of the three phases
• Grid frequency
• Forecast PV yield

Voltage is used as a rough indicator of local conditions: lower readings may suggest high demand, while higher readings may suggest excess generation. The site classifies:

• 207–218 V as a threatened demand-side overload
• 242–253 V as a threatened feed-in-side overload
• Readings below 207 V or above 253 V as overloads

These are indicators from participating sites, not comprehensive or calibrated measurements of every local grid.

Website features

The site includes a map of participating locations with color-coded voltage readings and outliers from the previous 24 hours. It also provides statistics for countries and German federal states, including average voltage changes, grid frequency, and forecast PV yield.

Optional map layers show:

• Estimated network operators
• Large PV installations (over 30 kWp)
• Wind turbines
• Renewable-energy curtailment measures

The presenter demonstrates the redispatch layer, which showed 442 affected plants at the time of recording, including plants reportedly curtailed in several regions. These are examples displayed on the map, not a complete analysis of national grid capacity.

The network-operator layer is an estimate based on municipal boundaries and entries in Germany’s market master data register. The presenter notes that assignments may not always be certain.

Participation and setup

The project’s GitHub repository provides scripts and instructions for several systems and platforms, including EVCC, Fronius, ioBroker, MQTT/Shelly, SMA, Tasmota, and Victron GX. It also describes an API for custom integrations.

The presenter demonstrates a Node-RED setup that reads data from a Victron-connected EM540 meter, combines the readings, and limits transmission to once every five minutes. He mentions that a Node-RED flow may be provided, though it may need adjustments. The project’s GitHub scripts are another option.

At the time shown, the map had 941 contributing locations. The presenter encourages more people to contribute, arguing that a larger dataset could help inform discussions with grid operators and government bodies about distribution-network conditions.

Speakers and sources

• Main speaker: The presenter from the Flying Dutchman channel
• Project creator: Thomas Lehmann
• Sources discussed: The Ortsnetz Auslastung website, its GitHub repository and methodology, and linked Battery Doctor and Photovoltaik forums