Connection to the grid
Updated: 17.01.2019
Author: Lilian Pungas
The grid operator is obliged to the plant operators to connect plants within its area of responsibility on request and on the basis of non-discriminatory criteria. Moreover, it is obliged to establish a connection as soon as the technical and legal requirements are met (§ 65 par. 1 no. 1 ELTS). The costs of connecting a plant to the grid are borne by the plant operator (§ 71 par. 1 no 1 ELTS). If the grid operator violates its obligation to connect plants, they shall pay a fine (§ 101 ELTS). The grid operator is obliged to the plant operators to guarantee certain quality requirements, in case of failure, the grid fees shall be lowered (§ 65 par. 5 ELTS, specified in Quality Requirements for Grid Services).
Procedure
| Process flow | According to the Grid Code, the following steps must be taken: - The plant operator may ask the system operator for a pre-survey containing the technical conditions and approximate costs of connecting the plant to the grid. This non-binding technical and economic consultation aims at providing the plant operator with the possible scenarios and time-tables of the access process.
- Application for connection and submission of other relevant documents containing technical characteristics and data of the plant (§ 32 par. 1 Grid Code).
- For wind energy plants: The transmission system operator must take the corresponding decision within 30 days after receipt of the application for connection (§ 18 par. 1 no. 1 Grid Code).
- For wind energy plants: Concerning the electrical part of the wind farm the grid operator must take the corresponding decision within 30 days after receipt of the application for connection (§ 18 par. 1 no. 2 Grid Code).
- Offer to conclude a connection agreement within 30 days (for plants connected to the distribution grid) or within 90 days (for plants connected to the transmission grid) after receipt of the application (§ 32 par. 7 Grid Code).
- The offer must be accepted within 60 days (§ 32 par. 8, 9 Grid Code).
- Grid upgrade if capacity is insufficient. (§ 66 par. 1 ELTS)
- The plant is connected and electricity is exported to the grid.
- For wind energy plants: According to the transmission system operator, wind farms are tested for their effect on the transmission grid by the operator of the wind farm; the test results are assessed by the transmission system operator.
- For wind energy plants: According to the transmission system operator, wind farms must obtain his final authorisation.
RES Plants with a capacity of < 15 kW are not required to have an approval from the transmission grid operator (§ 32.2 par. 3 Grid Code). |
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| Competent authority | Transmission System Operator is Elering AS (http://elering.ee/en/ ).The largest Distribution System Operator is Elektrilevi OÜ (https://www.elektrilevi.ee/en/avaleht) |
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| Deadlines | Apart from the deadlines related to the connection procedure, the following time limits must be respected: - The first payment is due in 60 days from the signing of the agreement and has to cover 20% of the overall costs.
- The second payment is due in 20 days after the procurement for finding a constructor has been concluded and amount to 50% of the overall costs.
- The final payment is due in 45 days after the finalization of the connection and covers the rest of the occurred real costs. (§ 32 par. 10 Grid Code)
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| Obligation to inform | The information to be provided by the plant operator is specified in § 32 par. 1 and 2 of the Grid Code. The grid operator’s relevant obligations are brought out in § 32 par. 3 of the Grid Code. The exchange of information between the plant operator and the grid operator is performed through the data exchange platform (§ 45.1 Grid Code). The grid operator must publish the technical conditions and the applying fees for the connection to the grid on its website (§ 70 par. 3, 4 ELTS). Once the connection to the grid has been established, the grid operator must provide information concerning the details of the connection on its website (§ 32 par. 14 Grid Code). |
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Priority to renewable energy
- Priority to renewable energy
- Non-discrimination
Statutory law does not give priority to renewable energy. The grid operator is obliged to respect the principle of non-discrimination when providing grid services to the market participants (§ 65 par. 2 ELTS).
Capacity limits (quantitative criteria)
The grid operator may refuse to connect a plant if the grid capacity is insufficient (§ 65 par. 3 no. 4 ELTS).
Distribution of costs
| Plant operator | According to the grid operators, the costs of connection to the grid are borne by the plant operators (§ 71 par. 1 no. 1, 3 ELTS). |
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| Distribution mechanism | Statutory law does not provide for a distribution mechanism. |
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