What you should know about the new grid connection regulations

On 29 December 2020, the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge published Royal Decree 1183/2020, for access and connection to the transmission and distribution networks of electricity generation facilities. It was created as a measure to combat speculation in access and connection rights for generation facilities and to increase the commitment of projects.

Therefore, its objective is to establish the general criteria and procedures for applying for and obtaining such permits. Let us look at the most important aspects to be taken into account when deciding to apply for them.

What are the highlights of the Royal Decree?

• The obligation to designate a single interlocutor at the hub is eliminated. Thus, the applicant will liaise directly with the transmission system operator.
• This contact will be made through electronic platforms developed by the relevant grid operator and must be ready within three months of the enactment of this Royal Decree; until then, all applications processed will be rejected.
• The definition of installed power applicable in the case of photovoltaic technology installations is modified.

What deadlines are defined for the processing of the application process?

• The different deadlines will depend on the voltage level at the grid connection point.
• A simplified procedure will be available with a reduction of the deadlines by half for consumers and small generators.
• A technical access contract must be signed between the owner of the generating facility and the grid operator within a maximum of five months from the issuance of the permits.
• There is a period of 5 years to obtain the administrative operating authorisation before the permits expire.
• In the case of built facilities, their permits will expire if they cease to discharge energy into the grid for a period of 3 years.
• The influence of the generation facility on a grid other than the one to which it is connected will be determined in accordance with the provisions of Annex III of CNMC Circular 01/2021 for facilities with higher power, this being applicable to facilities of more than 5MW between distribution grids and 10MW between distribution and transmission (0.5MW in both cases on the islands). However, the issuing of the acceptability report will not lead to an increase in the deadlines as it will be carried out in parallel to the technical feasibility assessment (Annex II).
• Once the access and connection permits have been issued, both the technical and economic conditions linked to the connection may be modified in the 6 months following the issuance of these permits due to the entry of new applicants.

What are the grounds for refusal of the application?

• The lack of capacity in the node to which the request refers shall be sufficient reason for its refusal. In accordance with Annex I of CNMC Circular 01/2021, the access capacity at a node will be calculated according to technical criteria of short-circuit power, static regime and dynamic regime.

• These criteria will be developed in the Detailed Specifications of the Transmission and Distribution Grids, and the consultation period is open until 10 March.

• Only 80% of the guarantee deposited at the start of the process (€40/kW) will be recovered.

• The total amount of the financial guarantee can only be recovered if it can be shown that at 8 a.m. on the day the guarantee is lodged, there was capacity available at the node in question. This capacity must be consulted on the digital platforms developed by the grid operators.

Who is exempt from this procedure?

• Self-consumption installations without surpluses.
• Self-consumption installations with surplus power equal to or less than 15 kW.
• Consumers with supplies of up to 100 kW at low voltage and 250 kW at high voltage.

What will happen to hybrid generation facilities?

• Operators of generation facilities with access and connection permits already granted will be able to obtain an update of their permits and use the same connection point and access capacity already granted.
• New applications will be governed by the general procedure but with reduced financial guarantees.

What are the requirements for new generation facilities?

• As explained in previous posts, they must comply with the technical requirements set out in Regulation (EU) 2016/631, the assessment and certification of which are developed in the Supervisory Technical Standard.

Norvento’s Grid Studies team, among other engineering studies for the design of renewable generation plants, offers technical advice to our clients in the search for the most cost-effective solution to meet the requirements of the Grid Codes from the initial design phase.

References

• Royal Decree 1183/2020, of 29 December, on access and connection to electricity transmission and distribution networks.
• Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/631 of 14 April 2016 laying down a grid code on grid connection requirements for generators.