Frankfurt am Main is one of our core locations — from here we support projects throughout the Rhine-Main region. The financial metropolis presents us as assessors with unique challenges: facade PV on office high-rises, battery storage in data centers, rooftop systems on trade fair halls. In all projects, knowledge of the TAB of NRM Netzdienste is essential — they define the technical framework that we consider in every assessment.
NRM Netzdienste operates the grid in Frankfurt am Main serving approximately 760,000 inhabitants. The skyline high-rises and limited rooftop areas in the city center pose particular challenges for PV projects. In the outer districts like Nieder-Erlenbach, conditions are significantly better.
The city funds photovoltaics through the Klimabonus programme. The funding page states 20 percent of eligible costs for PV systems and battery storage, 30 percent for solar green roofs and a maximum of EUR 100,000 per property, split equally between climate protection and climate adaptation. Recently no funds were left for mini-PV. The application must be submitted before work begins, and the funded system must be maintained for at least ten years (Federal funding database). The city page is dated June 2024; the current availability of funds should be checked with the Climate Office before commissioning.
For cultural monuments in Hesse, a guideline of the Ministry of Science has applied since 6 October 2022: permits for solar systems are to be granted as a rule. They may only be refused in case of significant impairment, for example for outstanding ensembles, major interventions in the roof structure or facade, or a threat to structural stability. Before refusing, the authority must examine alternatives: outbuildings, subordinate roof areas, matt and colour-matched modules. The guideline does not apply to archaeological monuments or UNESCO World Heritage sites.
In the Wilhelminian-era districts of Nordend, Westend and Sachsenhausen we therefore check the structure and fixings first. Structural stability is one of the few grounds on which the heritage authority can still reject a system.
| Standard | Scope | Relevance for PV |
|---|---|---|
| VDE-AR-N 4100 | TAR low voltage | Mandatory: meter location, service entrance, protection concept |
| VDE-AR-N 4105 | Generation systems on LV grid | Mandatory for connection to the low-voltage grid |
| VDE-AR-N 4110 | TAR medium voltage | Mandatory for connection to the medium-voltage grid |
| Supplementary TAB NRM Netzdienste | Regional supplements | Grid operator-specific requirements |
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Meter type | eHZ, three-point mounting |
| Surge protection | Type 1+2 combined arrester (mandatory for new systems) |
| SLS switch | selective circuit breaker upstream of the meter |
| Space reserve | 1 slot for smart meter gateway |
| Equipotential bonding | to main earthing busbar |
Balcony power plants up to 800 W can be registered with NRM Netzdienste through a simplified process.
Frankfurt am Main is located in the Amprion control area. The responsible transmission system operator (TSO) is Amprion GmbH. Amprion is responsible for system stability in the extra-high voltage grid (220/380 kV).
| Level | Operator | Voltage Level | Relevance for PV/BESS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission grid | Amprion | 220-380 kV | System stability, EEG feed-in |
| Distribution grid | NRM Netzdienste | 0.4-20 kV | TAB, grid connection, meter location |
| Customer system | System operator | 0.4 kV (LV) | PV array, BESS, inverter |
Regional factors for planning and assessment in Frankfurt am Main:
Frankfurt's skyline, with over 30 high-rises above 100 m, offers potential for facade PV. Vertical module mounting requires specialized wind load calculations and facade assessments per DIN 18516.
In the vicinity of Frankfurt Airport, glare protection requirements apply to PV systems. Reflective modules can dazzle pilots and air traffic controllers, so a glare assessment may be required in the permit procedure.
In the commercial areas of Fechenheim and Griesheim, large rooftop systems are often connected to the medium-voltage grid. VDE-AR-N 4110 and the medium-voltage TAB of NRM Netzdienste then apply, including the required certificates and protection concept.
The dense development in Frankfurt's Nordend leads to grid overloads with high PV feed-in. NRM Netzdienste increasingly requires dynamic feed-in control and Q(U) regulation here.
| Occasion | Our Service |
|---|---|
| Acceptance assessment | TAB conformity check, defect report |
| Dispute with grid operator | Independent technical evaluation |
| Systems from 30 kWp, medium voltage, capacity bottleneck | Grid compatibility assessment, grid analysis, alternative concepts |
| Defect assessment | DIN VDE 0100-600, thermography, EL |
VDE-AR-N 4100 and 4105 (low voltage) or 4110 (medium voltage) plus supplementary TAB of NRM Netzdienste Rhein-Main GmbH.
Exclusively through a certified electrical contractor. Details: NRM Netzdienste website.
Must comply with VDE-AR-N 4100 and supplementary TAB. Older cabinets (pre-2010): eHZ, surge protection, SLS. Cost: EUR 1,000-2,500.
Depends on system size and scope. Contact: info@pv-bess-assessor.com or +49 89 97 31 37 43.
For systems from 30 kWp, medium voltage, grid compatibility issues, disputes with the grid operator, acceptance of commercial systems.
We know the TAB of NRM Netzdienste from daily practice. Get in touch.
Contact Us| Address | NRM Netzdienste Rhein-Main GmbH, Solmsstraße 38, 60486 Frankfurt am Main |
| Phone | 069 213-0 |
| info@nrm-netzdienste.de | |
| Website | NRM Netzdienste — TAB |
We assess nationwide. These pages summarise the TAB of each grid operator:
Augsburg Berlin Bielefeld Bonn Bremen Dortmund Dresden Düsseldorf Duisburg Hamburg Hannover Karlsruhe Köln Leipzig Mannheim München Münster Nürnberg Stuttgart
Last updated: 2026-09-28 | Author: Christoph S. Prestele, TUV-certified expert assessor | Source: NRM Netzdienste Rhein-Main GmbH