Grid development
Updated: 08.02.2019
Author: Stijn Anciaux
Plant operators are not entitled to the expansion of the grid.
Obligated Party
In cooperation with the "Direction genérale de l’Energie“ and the "Bureau fédéral du Plan“, the grid operator is obliged to draft and present to the Federal Authority for the Regulation of Electricity and Gas (CREG) a development plan for the expansion of the grid and all investments, taking into account the expected capacity requirements. This plan shall be approved by the Minister for Energy (Art. 13 § 2 Loi du 29 avril 1999).
Brussels
In general, the grid operator is obliged to undertake the necessary grid extensions on his grid in order to meet the grid connection demands (Art. 5 and 7 Ordonnance du 19 juillet 2001). However, the RES plant operator does not have the right to claim for a grid expansion of the grid operator in case of insufficient grid connection or grid access capacities.
Flanders
The distribution grid operator is obliged to expand the grid as long as it is economically viable (Art. III.3.1.1 §1 Technical Regulation & Art. 4.1.6. 1° Energy Decree). Doing so, an investment plan is drafted covering a period of 3 years with yearly revisions and presented to the Flemish Regulator VREG (Art. II.1.1.1 §1 Technical Regulation & Art. 4.1.19 Energy Decree). The latter determines the sufficiency of grid expansion investment. The distribution grid operator bears the costs. How far the plant operator can intervene and enforce grid expansion is currently under deliberation. According to the Flemish Regulator for Electricity and Gas (VREG), the plant operator can communicate complaints to the VREG (see procedure connection to grid).
Wallonia
In general, the grid operator is obliged to undertake the necessary grid extensions on his grid in order to meet the grid connection demands (Art. 11 §2, Décret du 12 avril 2001). However in case of insufficient grid connection or grid access capacities, the RES plant operator does not have the right to lay a claim to grid extension with the grid operator. In case a grid extension is needed for the grid connection of a plant operator, the latter has to bear the costs of the grid expansion, except if social buildings are concerned.
Procedure
| Process flow | Plant operators are not entitled to the expansion of the grid.
Flanders
The distribution grid operator is obliged to expand the distribution grid as long as it is economically reasonable (Art. III.3.1.1 §1 Technical Regulation & Art. 4.1.6. 1° Energy Decree). The distribution grid operator drafts an investment plan covering a period of 3 years, adapted every year, and submitted to the VREG before 1 July (Art. II.1.1.1 §1 Technical Regulation& Art. 4.1.19 Energy Decree). This plan entails capacity needs, investments and an overview on denied access requests. VREG determines whether the investment plan is sufficient or not. |
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| Deadlines | The plan has a duration of at least ten years and must be revised every four years (Art. 13 § 1 Loi du 29 avril 1999).
Flanders
Investment plans need to be submitted before 1 July (Art. II.1.1.1 §1 Technical Regulation) |
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| Obligation to inform | Flanders
Once per year, the distribution net operator consults with the operators connected to his grid on the investment plan. |
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Regulatory incentives for grid expansion and innovation
In Belgium, regional regulators do not have the competency to regulate tariffs and thus incentives for grid expansion and innovation. The federal regulator CREG is in charge of regulating grid tariffs.
Distribution of costs
| Grid operator | National
The costs of the expansion of the grid are borne by the grid operator.
Flanders
Grid operators bear the costs (Art. 6.4.13 §2 Energy Regulation) |
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| Plant operator | Brussels
According to the distribution system operator of the Brussels-Capital region Sibelga, the costs of a grid expansion are to be borne by the plant operator.
Wallonia
The costs of a grid expansion are borne by the plant operator, except if the extension concerns a building situated alongside public transmission lines or if the extension concerns social buildings. (Art. 95 Arrêté du 3 mars 2011). |
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| Consumers | Flanders
Costs are redistributed to consumers via higher energy tariffs.
Wallonia
The costs of a grid expansion concerning installations in social buildings are borne by the grid operators (Art. 95 Arrêté du 3 mars 2011). The costs of the grid expansions undertaken by the grid operators are then borne by the consumers through their electricity bill. |
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Grid studies
Brussels
The grid operators shall develop an adaptation plan in order to ensure the security and development of the grid. The adaptation plan shall assess the future capacity needs of the distribution and local transmission grids. Moreover, it shall describe the investment programme planned by the grid operators (Art. 12, Ordonnance du 19 juillet 2001). The adaptation plan of the Distribution System Operators shall cover a period of 5 years and shall be yearly adapted for the next 5 years. The adaptation plan of the local transmission grid shall cover a period of 10 years and shall be adapted every year for the next 7 years (Art. 12, Ordonnance du 19 juillet 2001).
The adaptation plans are submitted to approbation of the Brussels-Capital Government upon notice of the regional regulatory authority Brugel (Art. 12, Ordonnance du 19 juillet 2001).
Flanders
Report of the Flemish Regulator for Electricity and Gas of 20 December 2011: http://www.vreg.be/sites/default/files/rapporten/rapp-2011-19.pdf
Investment plan 2017-2020:
http://www.elia.be/~/media/files/Elia/publications-2/investment-plans/flemish/Investeringsplan-Vlaanderen_PVN_Elia_2017-2020.PDF
Report on the Perspectives of the Electricity Supply 2008-2017: http://economie.fgov.be/nl/modules/publications/general/etude_perspectives_electricite_2008-2017.jsp
Wallonia
Together with the Walloon Energy Commission CWaPE, the grid operators shall develop an adaptation plan in order to ensure the security and development of the grid. The adaptation plan shall assess the future capacity needs of the distribution and local transmission grids. Moreover, it shall describe the investment programme planned by the grid operators (Art. 15, Décret du 12 avril 2001).
The adaptation plan of the Distribution System Operators shall cover the tariff period in force and shall be yearly adapted. The adaptation plan of the local transmission grid shall cover a period of 7 years and shall be adapted every 2 years. (Art. 15, Décret du 12 avril 2001).
The adaptation plans are submitted to approbation of the Walloon Government (Art.28, Arrêté du 3 mars 2011).
Enforcement of claims
According to the federal transmission grid operator, there is no Belgian regulation enabling RES plant operators to ask grid operators for developing their grid in case of insufficient grid capacities of the latter.
- Brussels According to the federal transmission grid operator, there is no Belgian regulation enabling RES plant operators to ask grid operators for developing their grid in case of insufficient grid capacities of the latter.
- Flanders According to information from Flemish regulator (VREG), it is currently being discussed to what extent plant operators can enforce their claims. The plant operator can communicate complaints to the VREG in case of denied access to the grid (see procedure connection to grid). Right now, the overview of denied access requests included in the investment plan alludes to the degree access is denied due to a lack of grid expansion. Furthermore, in certain regions the VREG already witnessed a rising demand for grid access from plants producing electricity from renewable energy. It is now being discussed whether to grant timely limited grid access as a solution. Only VREG is controlling the sufficiency of grid expansion.
- Wallonia According to the federal transmission grid operator, there is no Belgian regulation enabling RES plant operators to ask grid operators for developing their grid in case of insufficient grid capacities of the latter.
Belgium