Glossary
vZEV
Also known as: Virtueller Zusammenschluss zum Eigenverbrauch, Virtual self-consumption community
The vZEV (virtueller Zusammenschluss zum Eigenverbrauch, virtual self-consumption community) has extended the ZEV model beyond the single grid connection point since 1 January 2025. Participants use the local distribution grid; a physical connection between the properties is no longer required. Smart meters for all participants are a prerequisite. This allows businesses to share solar electricity across several buildings or plots.
The decisive difference from the classic ZEV: in a vZEV, participants keep their existing grid connections. The solar electricity is allocated computationally via the smart meter readings, not through shared physical infrastructure.
For industrial and commercial businesses with several properties, this opens new room for manoeuvre: a large rooftop system on the production hall can computationally also supply the office building on the neighbouring plot and thereby raise the self-consumption of the overall system.
The article Virtual ZEV: the new self-consumption community walks through formation steps, metering concept and economics.