Extending and reinforcing the grid

Work on the grid might be needed to extend or upgrade the grid to enable it to accept electricity from renewable energy sources.

Grid upgrading obligations are less common than grid connection obligations. However, it is important to make these obligations clear. If no grid upgrading obligations are included, the effectiveness of the FIT law could falter.

It is also better to include these obligations in the law, and not in non-binding technical guidelines.

For example, undertaking grid upgrades are set out in guidelines in China, whilst a clear legal obligation has been enacted in Germany.

China

English

Management Guidelines, Clause 11 provides that:

Power grid enterprises should vigorously undertake power grid design and research according to the planning requirements, and conduct power grid construction and renovation based on the progresses and needs of renewable energy power generation projects to ensure supply of electricity to power grids at full load.
简体字

《可再生能源发电有关管理规定》第11条规定:

第十一条 电网企业应当根据规划要求,积极开展电网设计和研究论证工作,根据可再生能源发电项目建设进度和需要,进行电网建设与改造,确保可再生能源发电全额上网。

Germany

English

Renewable Energy Sources Act 2004, Article 4(2) and 4(3) provide that:

(2) The obligation under paragraph (1) first sentence shall apply to the grid system operator that is most closely located to the plant site and is in possession of a grid technically suitable to receive electricity if there is no other grid with a technically and economically more suitable grid connection point. A grid shall be deemed to be technically suitable even if - notwithstanding the priority established under paragraph (1) first sentence - feeding in the electricity requires the grid system operator to upgrade its grid at a reasonable economic expense; in this case, the grid system operator shall upgrade its grid without undue delay, if so requested by a party interested in feeding in electricity. If the plant must be licensed in accordance with any other legal provisions, the obligation to upgrade the grid in accordance with the second sentence above shall only apply if the plant operator submits either a license, a partial license or a preliminary decision. The obligation to upgrade the grid shall apply to all technical facilities required for operating the grid and to all connecting installations which are owned by or passed into the ownership of the grid system operator.
(3) The obligation for priority connection to the grid system pursuant to paragraph (1) first sentence shall apply even if the capacity of the grid system or the area serviced by the grid system operator is temporarily entirely taken up by electricity produced from renewable energy sources or mine gas, unless the plant does not have a technical facility for reducing the feed-in in the event of grid overload...
Deutsch

Gesetz für den Vorrang Erneuerbarer Energien 2004, § 4.2 and 4.3 lauten: 

(2) Die Verpflichtung nach Absatz 1 Satz 1 trifft den Netzbetreiber, zu dessen technisch für die Aufnahme geeignetem Netz die kürzeste Entfernung zum Standort der Anlage besteht, wenn nicht ein anderes Netz einen technisch und wirtschaftlich günstigeren Verknüpfungspunkt aufweist. Ein Netz gilt auch dann als technisch geeignet, wenn die Abnahme des Stroms unbeschadet des Vorrangs nach Absatz 1 Satz 1 erst durch einen wirtschaftlich zumutbaren Ausbau des Netzes möglich wird; in diesem Fall ist der Netzbetreiber auf Verlangen des Einspeisewilligen zum unverzüglichen Ausbau verpflichtet. Wenn die Anlage einer Genehmigung nach anderen Rechtsvorschriften bedarf, besteht die Verpflichtung zum Ausbau nach Satz 2 nur, wenn der Anlagenbetreiber eine Genehmigung, eine Teilgenehmigung oder einen Vorbescheid vorlegt. Die Pflicht zum Ausbau erstreckt sich auf sämtliche für den Betrieb des Netzes notwendigen technischen Einrichtungen sowie die im Eigentum des Netzbetreibers stehenden oder in sein Eigentum übergehenden Anschlussanlagen.
(3) Die Verpflichtung zum vorrangigen Anschluss nach Absatz 1 Satz 1 besteht auch dann, wenn das Netz oder ein Netzbereich zeitweise vollständig durch Strom aus Erneuerbaren Energien oder Grubengas ausgelastet ist, es sei denn, die Anlage ist nicht mit einer technischen Einrichtung zur Reduzierung der Einspeiseleistung bei Netzüberlastung ausgestattet... 

Include this feature in your proposed law

How do I compile my proposed law?

Here you can choose the draft sample text provided for ensuring reinforcement of the grid (Option A) or choose to draft your own text offline (Option B).

If you choose Option A, the text provided will appear as section 5(2) in your proposed law document with the section number and title. Terms in the text which have been defined appear in bold, and will automatically appear in the Definitions section at the end of your document.

If you choose Option B, the text in square brackets will appear in section 5(2) of your document with the section number and title.

 
5Grid connection, reinforcement and costs
Option A
(2) The Grid Operator shall, at the written request of an Eligible Producer, promptly reinforce the grid where this is necessary in order to accept electricity from that producer's Eligible Plant into the grid.
Option B
(2) [You have chosen not to use the draft sample text provided for ensuring reinforcement of the grid. You may insert your own text here after downloading.]

this is Option Z, normally would be hidden


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