Assessing the reflectivity of residential grid tariffs for a user reaction through photovoltaics and battery storage

Rising levels of local distributed generation and storage by residential grid users are difficult to integrate into the (energy-based) grid tariffs which are used in several European countries. There are proposals to address this issue, for instance, through capacity-based tariffs. Yet, this can lead to many possible designs which have to be compared. An important aspect of the comparison is the user reaction to the tariff. Tariffs are ex-ante options to use the grid. Grid-users react to this. The actual suitability of a tariff design is only measurable after the reaction. In this paper, a framework to assess tariffs in the context of a reaction through self-generation is designed and implemented. At first, a list of efficiency measures for the comparison is formalized. Then, a simulation model framework to quantify the measures is developed. This framework focuses on the interaction of tariff and self-generation using photovoltaic generation and battery storage. As a case study, different tariff schemes are implemented. The case study outlines the importance of considering the user reaction by showing the extent of the interaction. Also, it provides indications for tariff design by showing the effects on grid upgrade costs related to certain tariff components.