Grid connection reforms: Trades see room for improvement

The Central Association of German Crafts welcomes the planned reforms to grid connection, but calls for improvements in compensation, digitalization and the reduction of bureaucracy.

The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy aims to synchronize the boom in renewable energies, large-scale storage facilities, and large energy consumers with available grid capacities . It has published a corresponding draft bill. The German Confederation of Skilled Crafts (ZDH) has issued a statement on the matter.

Modernization and new prioritization

The new approach represents a departure from the previously common "first come, first served" principle . Instead, legal criteria will determine the order of grid connection requests in the future.

Distribution network operators must establish digital network connection portals . This is intended to make the application process, communication, and processing more transparent and faster . In particularly congested network areas, capacity-limited network zones may be designated. Network connections in these areas may only be possible with additional restrictions and special conditions.

ZDH supports the plans, but also expresses criticism.

The German Confederation of Skilled Crafts (ZDH) generally supports the goal of better synchronizing the expansion of industrial plants with grid expansion and modernizing the grid connection process. The increasing strain on grid operators due to a large number of connection requests is directly noticeable to craft businesses in their day-to-day operations : Long processing times for grid connection applications delay the commissioning of plants and jeopardize the order fulfillment of the executing companies, according to the ZDH.

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The association therefore welcomes the move away from the first-come, first-served principle. With the introduction of prioritization options for scarce capacities, the design of the selection criteria also gains considerable importance. The ZDH also welcomes the planned introduction of digital grid connection portals and greater transparency regarding grid connection capacities.

However, the association is critical of the fact that restricting compensation claims in capacity-limited network areas could reduce planning certainty for businesses and consumers . As long as the amount of potential compensation waivers remains unclear, reliable economic viability assessments are hardly possible. Digital processes can only provide relief if they are implemented uniformly and fully digitally nationwide, according to the ZDH. Diverse requirements from network operators significantly hinder the reduction of bureaucracy.

The German Confederation of Skilled Crafts (ZDH) also calls for better consideration of the interests of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs ). For smaller projects, simplified procedures, reduced documentation requirements, and appropriate de minimis thresholds are necessary.

According to the ZDH, when prioritizing connection requests, the security of supply of critical infrastructures and their supply and value chains must also be taken into account.

Source: ZDH

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