German grid operators to test “maturity” of large projects for connections – TSOs

Germany’s four transmission system operators (TSOs) will change how they allocate scarce grid capacity for large electricity consumers, granting connection requests based on a project’s likelihood of being implemented rather than solely looking at its place in the queue, they said.

Competition for grid capacity at high and medium voltage levels has increased as demand for electricity rises through the expansion of data centres, large heat pumps, electric mobility charging infrastructure, and industry electrification. Connection procedures can take around seven years, according to industry figures. 

“Over the past two years, the first-come, first-serve principle has led to a disproportionate flood of applications that far exceed the available grid connection capacities and resources,” the TSOs – Amprion, TenneT, Transnet BW and 50 Hertz – wrote in a press release. 

In future, applications from large consumers will be evaluated collectively at regular intervals rather than individually, the transmission grid operators announced. If the number of submitted projects exceeds available capacity, approvals will be granted based on a set of “measurable and transparent” criteria termed “maturity”. 

Criteria include land availability, permitting status, technical connection concepts or the system benefits of the project. The procedure replaces Germany’s existing operational principle, under which projects are assessed solely by application date. 

The new “maturity procedure” will come into effect on 1 April. Similar systems already exist in the United Kingdom and Norway.