Founded on time switches and building automation, Theben has evolved into a smart energy innovator. With its new Smart Energy division, the company develops secure gateways and control units essential for 14a EnWG compliance. Tina shares how this Mittelstand brand is bridging traditional hardware with digital energy innovation.
Tina uses a powerful analogy: 14a is like the airbag in your car. You hope you’ll never need it, but when grid congestion hits, it protects stability. Theben Smart Energy's certified control units ensure that dimming commands are executed securely and reliably, safeguarding both households and the wider energy system.
Traditional 14a compliance requires both a smart meter gateway and a separate control device. Theben is pioneering an integrated module approach – embedding control logic directly into the gateway. This reduces installation costs, simplifies logistics, and future-proofs hardware with remote updates, similar to apps on a smartphone.
Germany’s smart meter rollout is uniquely complex compared to the UK, Nordics or Italy. Tina explains how Theben supports utilities, DSOs and competitive meter operators with certified solutions, while adapting sales strategies to educate a market still learning what paragraph 14a EnWG means. Looking ahead, Theben sees potential to expand these solutions across Europe.
“Paragraph 14a is like the airbag of our grid – you hope you’ll never use it, but when you do, it has to work.”
“We’re moving from two boxes to one. By embedding control logic directly into the gateway, we simplify 14a compliance for everyone.”
“14a is not the end – it’s the starting point of something great for Germany’s energy transition.”
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