Scaling EV charging hubs is no longer just about hardware and location. For Charge Point Operators (CPOs), the biggest challenge often comes before the first car plugs in: meeting the diverse technical requirements of local grid operator control.

Across Europe, Distribution Network Operators are tightening control measures to keep the grid stable. The result? Grid compliance has become a critical part of operations, and a key factor in rollout speed and profitability.

Grid regulations in Europe: A fragmented landscape

There is no single rulebook for connecting EV charging hubs to the grid.

• In Germany: Under VDE-AR-N 4100/4105/4110, DNOs require active load control interfaces for charging hubs on low- and medium-voltage grids. With ~900 DNOs, compliance varies region by region.

• In Austria: Governed by TOR-V (Verbraucher) under E-Control, EV charging hubs above 3.68 kVA must comply with consumer load rules — even without a dedicated EV section.

• In the Netherlands: Regulated by the Netcode Elektriciteit under ACM. Instead of direct grid operator control, grid operators focus on market-based congestion management via flexibility markets and dynamic pricing.

• In the United Kingdom: From 2025, Ofgem’s Smart Charging Regulations will make dynamic load management mandatory for public and home chargers.

• In the Nordics: Grid operator control like Energinet (Denmark) and Statnett (Norway) already require grid-friendly behaviour, integrating EV hubs into flexibility services.

For CPOs, this patchwork means:

• Higher planning costs and longer timelines.

• Increased risk of delays or penalties.

• More complexity in delivering a seamless charging experience.

And yet, compliance is non-negotiable. Local grid operators expect hubs to dynamically adjust active power, reactive power, and implement load management, without disrupting drivers.

What Grid Operator Control really means for CPOs

Grid operator control is a framework that allows the grid operator to communicate with charging hubs. In practice, this means operators can:

• Limit the active power available to your site during peak load.

• Request adjustments in reactive power to maintain voltage stability.

• Expect intelligent load management so drivers still get the best possible charging experience.

The complexity lies in execution: each grid operator control has its own standards, protocols, and expectations. Building custom integrations for every market quickly becomes unscalable.

That’s why our [Grid operator control brochure] is designed to help CPOs cut through this complexity with clear guidance.

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Why Grid Compliance matters for CPOs

Grid compliance is not optional, but it doesn’t have to be a burden. Done right, it becomes a competitive advantage:

• Automatic compliance → no penalties, fewer delays.

• Efficient load allocation → stretch your grid connection further.

• Customer trust → no “charger unavailable” messages, just smooth, reliable charging.

For a deeper dive into how leading CPOs are already addressing this, explore our [Webinar Replay].

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FLEXECHARGE’s Plug-and-Play Grid Operator Control solution for EV Charging

At FLEXECHARGE, we know that CPOs need scalable solutions, not custom integrations for every grid operator

That’s why we designed our plug-and-play grid operator control solution to make compliance not just easier, but scalable.

Here’s how it works:

1. Universal grid interface
Our system speaks the “language” of the grid operator control, no matter the protocol or signal type — analog, digital, Modbus or IEC 60870-5-104, or interfacing to custom telecontrol devices. Whether you’re connecting in Hamburg, Vienna, or Oslo, the local grid operator control’ requirements are translated seamlessly.

2. Local intelligence at the site
Instead of relying only on the cloud (and risking delays or outages), the FLEXECHARGE GATEWAY sits on-site as the “local brain.” It enforces curtailment requests, distributes available power intelligently across all charging sessions, and ensures resilience even if connectivity drops.

3. Fair and automated load management
When a DNO curtailment signal arrives — for example, reducing available power from 1 MW down to 600 kW — the system redistributes capacity automatically. No chargers are switched off abruptly. Instead, every vehicle gets a fair share, fleets can be prioritised if needed, and drivers still enjoy a consistent experience.

4. Secure by design
Cybersecurity and resilience are built in from the start. All communication channels are encrypted, devices are authenticated, and fallback profiles ensure safe operations even during a network disruption. This aligns with emerging regulatory frameworks such as the EU Cybersecurity Resilience Act.

5. Scalable and future-proof
As grid requirements evolve — such as mandatory reactive power control in more markets — our platform adapts without forcing you to redesign your infrastructure. It’s one solution for all your sites, today and tomorrow.

For CPOs, this means:

• Faster rollouts across different countries, without custom integration projects.

• Lower operational costs, with fewer penalties or delays.

• Greater confidence that your hubs are “good citizens” on the grid.

• A seamless driver's experience compliance is invisible to the end user.

With FLEXECHARGE, grid operator control becomes an enabler rather than a constraint. It allows you to expand your network with confidence, knowing that every site is grid-compliant, future-ready, and optimised for performance.

CTA’s

👉 Explore the details in our Grid Operator Control Brochure
👉 Watch the deep-dive in our Webinar On- demand

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