Connection to the grid

Updated: 11.01.2019

Author: Tim Sternkopf

Plant operators are statutorily entitled against the grid operator to the connection of renewable energy plants to the grid (§ 8 par. 1 EEG 2017). The grid operator shall not make the conclusion of a contract a condition for the fulfilment of his obligation to connect plants to the grid (§ 7 par. 1 EEG 2017).

A plant operator is one who uses a plant or installation for the purpose of power generation from renewable energy sources. Whether or not he owns the plant is irrelevant (§ 3 no. 2 EEG 2017). The person obligated is the grid operator, who is most closely located to the plant site and whose grid is technically suitable to receive electricity (§ 8 par. 1 EEG 2017). Where connecting the plant to a grid other than the most closely located one is technically and economically more favourable, another grid operator may be obliged to connect the plant (§ 8 par. 1 EEG 2017). Grid operators are entitled to assign a plant a different grid connection point. Likewise, a plant operator may choose another grid connection point (§ 8 par. 1 EEG 2017). A grid is deemed to be technically suitable even if the grid operator has to expand his grid at an economically reasonable expense to import electricity (§ 8 par. 4 EEG 2017). 

Procedure

Process flow

Low-voltage and medium-voltage grids:

Only certain elements of the process of connecting plants to low-voltage and high-voltage grids are set out by law. Each grid operator may determine an individual connection process. The procedure and the required application forms are usually published on the grid operator’s website. For technical reasons, the grid connection process involves the following steps:

  • Those interested in feeding in electricity apply for connection to the grid (“grid system connection request”) (§ 8 par. 5 EEG 2017).
  • The grid operator shall, without delay, provide those interested in feeding in electricity with a precise timetable including the procedural steps for processing their connection requests and a list describing all information required by the grid operator to determine the grid connection points or to plan the expansion of the grid (§ 8 par. 5 EEG 2017).
  • Everyone interested in feeding in electricity shall submit the required information to the grid operator.
  • The grid operator shall, without delay and within eight weeks after receipt of the information, submit to those interested in feeding in electricity a timetable for establishing grid connection, all information required by those interested in feeding in electricity to test the grid connection point, a comprehensible and detailed estimate of the costs the plant operators will incur for the establishment of grid connection and the grid system data required to test grid compatibility and the necessary information on the technical requirements which the plant has to fulfil (§ 8 par. 6 EEG 2017).
  • The grid operator assigns a connection point.
  • The grid operator makes a connection offer.
  • The grid operator and the plant operator conclude a connection agreement (optional).
  • The plant is connected and electricity is exported to the grid.

High-voltage grids:

Plants with a capacity of at least 100 MW that are connected to an electricity supply grid with a voltage of at least 110 kV are subject to the following procedure (§ 1 no. 1 KraftNAV) unless it violates the provisions of the EEG (§ 1 par. 2 KraftNAV):

  • The operator to be connected applies for connection (§ 3 par. 2 KraftNAV).
  • The grid operator shall inform the plant operator on the required audits and the expected costs after a period of two weeks and request additional information within one week (§ 3 par. 2 KraftNAV).
  • The operator to be connected shall pay 25% of the expected costs (§ 3 par. 3 KraftNAV).
  • The grid operator shall announce the results of the grid stability test and grant connection within three months after the plant operator has made the advance payment (§§ 3 par. 3, 4 par. 1 KraftNAV).
  • The grid operator and the plant operator conclude a connection agreement (optional) (§ 4 par. 2 and 4 KraftNAV in conjunction with § 4 par. 1 EEG).
  • The grid operator and the plant operator agree on an implementation roadmap (§ 4 par. 5 KraftNAV).
  • The plant is connected and put into operation.

Deadlines

General information:

Plants shall be connected to the grid immediately, i.e. without undue delay (§ 8 par. 1 EEG 2017 in conjunction with § 121 par. 1 BGB). Furthermore, after receipt of a connection request, the grid operator is obliged to submit, without delay, a detailed timetable for processing the grid connection request to the applicant (§ 5 par. 5 EEG 2017). Moreover, the grid operator shall, after receipt of the necessary information and without delay, submit to the plant operator a timetable for the immediate establishment of grid connection, the information required to test the grid connection point and, upon request, the grid system data required to test grid compatibility and a cost estimate within eight weeks. The EEG does not specify any deadlines by which the grid operator shall carry out the grid stability test. This test may take three weeks to three months, depending on the number of the grid operator’s staff.

High-voltage grids:

Plants with a capacity of at least 100 MW are subject to the deadlines stipulated by KraftNAV (see procedure), unless they violate the provisions of the EEG (§§ 1 par. 2, 3, 4 KraftNAV).

Obligation to inform

General information: 

The grid operator shall provide the following information to the plant operator:

  • After receipt of the connection request: a precise timetable including the procedural steps for processing connection requests and a list describing all information required by the grid operator to determine the grid connection point or plan the expansion of the grid (§ 8 par. 5 EEG).
  • After the grid operator’s receipt of the required information:
    • a timetable for establishing grid connection,
    • all information the applicant needs to test the connection point and, upon request, the grid system data required to test grid compatibility,
    • a comprehensible and detailed estimate of the costs the plant operator will incur for the establishment of grid connection (§ 5 par. 6 EEG).

A plant operator shall submit to the grid operator all information required to determine the grid connection point or to plan the expansion of the grid (§ 8 par. 5 EEG).

High-voltage grids:

  • Prior to the connection procedure, the grid operator is obliged to publish the following information on his website (§ 3 par. 1 KraftNAV):
    • information required to assess the application for connection and to estimate the available grid capacity;
    • standardised requirements for the conclusion of a connection agreement;
    • a diagram of the grid network and a load diagram for the entire network.
  • After receiving a plant operator’s connection request, the grid operator is obliged to inform the plant operator about the required tests and the expected costs (§ 3 par. 2 KraftNAV).
  • During the tests, the grid operator is obliged to provide, upon request, the plant operator with the grid system data necessary to independently assess the future grid load (§ 5 par. 1 KraftNAV).
  • After the tests have been carried out, the grid operator is obliged to inform the plant operator about the test procedure and the test results (§ 3 par. 3 KraftNAV).

Priority to renewable energy

  • Priority to renewable energy
  • Non-discrimination

Plants for the generation of electricity from renewable sources shall be connected to the grid as a priority, i.e. prior to plants that generate electricity from traditional sources (“principle of priority“, § 8 par. 1 EEG 2017).

Capacity limits (quantitative criteria)

The grid operator is obliged to connect plants even where the purchase of electricity is only possible by optimising, boosting or expanding the grid (§ 8 par. 4 EEG 2017). However, this obligation does not apply when optimising, boosting or expanding the grid is economically unreasonable (§ 12 par. 3 EEG 2017). Whether the expansion of the grid is economically reasonable in a given case will be determined by weighing the plant operator’s interests against the grid operator’s interests.

Distribution of costs

Consumers

Since 01.01.2013 consumers have to bear part of the costs incurred by delayed grid access for offshore wind farms caused by transmission grid operators via electricity prices. According to § 17f par. 5 EnWG, the cost equalisation scheme foresees the following surcharges for final consumers:

  • Consumption ≤1,000,000 kWh per delivery point: 0.250 ct/kWh
  • Consumption >1,000,000 kWh per delivery point: additional 0.050 ct/kWh
  • Consumption >1,000,000 kWh per delivery point: 0.025 ct/kWh, if the annual electricity bill of a company exceeds 4% of the profit generated during the preceding calendar year. 

 

Grid operator

If the grid operator assigns to a plant a grid connection point other than the most closely located or technically and economically most suitable one, he shall bear the resulting incremental costs (§ 16 par. 2 EEG 2017).

Since 01.01.2013, transmission grid operators can be held liable for the cost incurred from delayed grid access for offshore wind plants caused by gross negligence (§ 17f par. 2 EnWG). The transmission grid operator has to make up for a certain share of overall costs incurred:

  • 20% for incurred costs ≤ EUR 200 m. per calendar year
  • 15% for incurred costs between EUR 200 and EUR 400 m. per calendar year
  • 10% for incurred costs between EUR 400 and EUR 600 m. per calendar year
  • 5% for incurred costs between EUR 600 and EUR 1,000 m. per calendar year

In case of least negligence, the maximum damage compensation is EUR 17.5 m. 

Plant operator

The plant operator bears the costs of connecting the plant to the most closely located or technically and economically most suitable grid connection point as well as the costs of the measuring devices necessary to record the electricity transmitted and received (§ 16 par. 1 EEG 2017).

Germany

Further information

Basic information on legal sources