Renewable energy policy database and support

Plant operators have a contractual entitlement to connection of their plant to the grid. The grid operator is obliged to enter into a contract with plant operators. The grid operator shall preferably choose the operators of renewable energy plants as his contractual partners.

Brussels
In the Brussels-Capital region, each application for a connection to the electricity distribution grid shall be submitted to the Distribution System Operator. The installations are connected to the low voltage or middle voltage grid according to their capacity.

Flanders
Plant operators have to apply for grid connection to the distribution grid operator. Two different procedures apply depending on the access capacity: simple access procedure for an access capacity less than 25 kVA and access procedure of installations with higher capacities requiring a feasibility study. During application, preferential status is granted to renewable energy. The plant operator has to cover a fixed amount of costs that is determined by law, any excess costs are covered by the distribution grid operator.

Wallonia
According to the Walloon Energy Commission CWaPE, each application for a connection to the electricity distribution grid shall be submitted to the Distribution System Operator appointed to the area to which belongs the plant operator. Connection applications for installations with a capacity over 25 MVA shall be submitted to the Transmission System Operator Elia. 

A given plant operator has the right to access the grid and that his electricity be purchased if his plant is connected to the grid.

Brussels
The access to the grid is subjected to the prior submission to the distribution system operator of a grid access application form. The latter can be submitted by any person having a supplying authorisation or by a grid user, provided the latter has concluded a prior supply agreement with a supplier as well as with an access responsible party.

Flanders
Plants have to apply for a delivery permit in order to make use of the grid. Having a permit, an application has to be filed to the distribution grid operator. Minor procedural differences apply according to voltage capacity (<30 kV, ≥ 30 kV). Five days after a complete application has been received, grid usage is disapproved or approved. Use of grid can be curtailed on grounds of safety, reliability and efficiency (emergency curtailment) but need to be communicated by the distribution grid operator, who also is obliged to compensate losses. According to information from the Flemish grid operator, there is no regulation in place that gives preferential status to renewable energy in case of emergency curtailment. In case of congestion the distribution grid operator is obliged to undertake all measures at his disposal to enforce the save, reliable and efficient functioning of the grid by giving access priority to electricity generated from renewable energy in case of congestion.

Wallonia

The access to the grid is conditioned to the prior conclusion of an access agreement between the grid operator and the designated supplier of the plant operator. 

A grid access application shall be submitted by the designated supplier and approved by the grid operator before signing a grid access agreement (Art.125, Arrêté du 3 mars 2011). 

Plant operators are not entitled to the expansion of the grid. The grid operator is obliged to draft a development plan for the grid in cooperation with the "Direction genérale de l’Energie“ and the "Bureau fédéral du Plan“.

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. 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. Doing so, an investment plan is drafted covering a period of 3 years with yearly revisions and presented to the Flemish Regulator VREG. The latter determines the sufficiency of grid expansion investment. The distribution grid operator bears the costs. In how far the plant operator can intervene and enforce grid expansion is currently under deliberation. According to the Flemish Regulator (VREG), the plant operator can communicate complaints to the VREG.

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. 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 capacities.

• Loi du 29 avril 1999 (Loi du 29 avril 1999 relative à l'organisation du marché de l'électricité / Wet van 29 april 1999 betreffende de organisatie van de elektriciteitsmarkt - Law of 29 April 1999 on the Organisation of the Electricity Market)
• Arrêté royal du 19 décembre 2002 (Arrêté royal du 19 décembre 2002 établissant un règlement technique pour la gestion du réseau de transport de l'électricité et l'accès à celui-ci / Koninklijk besluit van 19 december 2002 betreffende de instelling van mechanismen voor de bevordering van elektriciteit uit hernieuwbare bronnen– Royal Decree of 19 December 2002 Establishing Technical Regulations for the Management of the Electricity Transmission Grid)

Brussels

• Arrêté du 23 mai 2014 (Arrêté du 23 mai 2014 du Gouvernement de la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale arrêtant le règlement technique pour la gestion du réseau de distribution d'électricité en Région de Bruxelles-Capitale et l'accès à celui-ci / Besluit van 23 mei 2014 van de Brusselse Hoofdstedelijke Regering tot vaststelling van het technisch reglement voor het beheer van het elektriciteitsdistributienet in het Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest en de toegang ertoe- Decree of 23 May 2014 of the Government of Brussels-Capital regarding the grid code for the electricity distribution system)
• Ordonnance du 19 juillet 2001 (Ordonnance du 19 juillet 2001 relative à l'organisation du marché de l'électricité en Région de Bruxelles-Capitale / Ordonnantie van 19 juli 2001 betreffende de organisatie van de elektriciteitsmarkt in het Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest. . - Ordinance of 19 July 2001 regarding the organisation of the Brussels-Capital electricity market)

Flanders

• Energy Decree (Decreet houdende algemene bepalingen betreffende het energiebeleid - Law Establishing General Conditions for Energy Policy)
• Energy Regulation (Besluit van de Vlaamse Regering houdende algemene bepalingen over het energiebeleid - Regulation of the Flemish Government on General Conditions for Energy Policy – Energy Regulation of 19 November 2010)
• Technical Regulation – Technisch Reglement Distributie Elektriciteit Vlaams Gewest Versie 5 mei 2015 (Technical regulation concerning the distribution of electricity in Flanders of 5 May 2015)

Wallonia

• Arrêté du 3 mars 2011 (Arrêté du 3 mars 2011 du Gouvernement wallon approuvant le règlement technique pour la gestion des réseaux de distribution d’électricité en Région wallonne et l’accès à ceux-ci - Decree of 3 March 2011 of the Walloon Government approving the grid code for the distribution grids in the Walloon region)
• Décret du 12 avril 2001 (Décret du 12 avril 2001 relatif à l’organisation du marché régional de l’électricité - Decree of 12 April 2001 on the Organisation of the Regional Electricity Market)