This article explains how Charge Amps chargers relate to the German requirements for grid control according to §14a EnWG, and what applies to Charge Amps Dawn Professional DE regarding Eichrecht certification for public charging in Germany.

What is §14a EnWG?

§14a EnWG is a German regulation that allows grid operators to temporarily control the power consumption of certain newly installed electrical loads, including EV charging stations, in order to protect the electricity grid during periods of high demand.

In situations where the grid is under strain, the grid operator may temporarily limit the power available to devices such as EV chargers. For privately installed charging points, this typically means the charging power can be reduced to approximately 4.2 kW for a limited period.

In return, the user may receive reduced grid fees or lower network costs.

How does Charge Amps support this?

Charge Amps chargers use OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol), an international standard for communication between charging stations and backend systems.

Through OCPP, chargers can:

• communicate with the grid operator’s systems
• integrate with a Charge Point Management System (CPMS)
• be controlled through API or OCPP by energy management systems

All Charge Amps chargers include cloud-based energy management, allowing grid operators or other control systems to regulate power consumption when necessary.

If a charging station goes offline, the maximum charging current in offline mode should be configured according to the requirements of §14a EnWG. In practice, this usually means limiting the charging power to approximately 4.2 kW (for example 7 A per phase). This setting is configured during the installation or configuration of the charger.

Which products are affected?

Charge Amps OCPP-compatible charging stations can be integrated into solutions that comply with the requirements of §14a EnWG.

For the German market, the model Charge Amps Dawn Professional DE is particularly relevant. This version is Eichrecht-certified and approved for public charging in Germany.

What is Eichrecht?

Eichrecht is Germany’s calibration and metering regulation for public and semi-public charging infrastructure.

Its purpose is to ensure that users pay exactly for the amount of energy that is delivered during a charging session.

To comply with Eichrecht, charging infrastructure must include:

• MID-certified energy metering
• tamper-proof, digitally signed charging data
• the ability to verify charging sessions through transparency software

Charge Amps Dawn Professional DE includes a MID-certified energy meter and technology for digitally signing charging session data.

A QR code on the charger allows users to verify the charging session data through a transparency service.

The product also includes features from previous Dawn versions along with improvements for scalability, installation, and backend integration.

What does this mean in practice?

For installations in Germany, this means:

• Charge Amps chargers can be integrated into solutions that support §14a EnWG requirements.

• The charger’s offline power should be configured to approximately 4.2 kW to meet the requirements in case communication is lost.

• For public charging in Germany, Charge Amps Dawn Professional DE is the version that is Eichrecht-certified.

How is the charging station connected for §14a control?

A charging station can be connected to the grid operator’s control signal in several ways:

1. Relay-based control connected to the grid operator’s control box or ripple control receiver.

2. OCPP or API integration with the grid operator’s system.

3. Hardware integration with a third-party load management system.

Benefits

Charge Point Operators

• Opportunities for energy cost savings and stable load balancing and energy management through the Charge Amps Cloud.

Electricians and installers

• Flexibility in technical implementation to meet dynamic requirements from grid operators.

End users

• Potential savings on grid fees when grid operators implement demand-side control.

Public charging infrastructure

• Eichrecht certification ensures transparency, verifiable metering, and stronger consumer protection.

Need more help?

For questions regarding installations in Germany, §14a EnWG, or Eichrecht:

Installer → Distributor → Charge Amps support