BSW-Solar, a German trade association, is urging the government to simplify and standardize grid access for solar PV and energy storage projects. A recent survey revealed that project developers face challenges, such as poor communication with grid operators and slow application processes for grid connections. With a majority of responses indicating delays and lack of transparency regarding grid capacities, BSW-Solar emphasizes the need for accountability and reform in the grid connection process to facilitate energy transition efforts.
Carsten Körnig, managing director at BSW-Solar, highlighted the growing obstacles posed by inadequate communication from grid operators, asserting the need for politicians to ensure these entities are held accountable for improving processes and adhering to deadlines. The survey results indicated that 63% of respondents experienced issues with co-locating solar and storage projects, often receiving no response or rejections for their grid connection requests, with potential connections not available until after 2028.
Respondents also pointed out that the most significant barrier to constructing ground-mounted solar PV systems is the lack of transparency about available grid capacities. Additional concerns included missed deadlines for information dissemination and insufficient staffing by grid operators. The average wait time for a grid connection can be less than four months, while some extreme cases extend to years.
In response to these findings, BSW-Solar is advocating for specific amendments to the Energy Industry Act. These proposals include enhancing grid transparency by introducing preliminary grid connection information, creating binding reservations for network capacity that reflect project progress for better planning, and digitalizing the connection request process. The association also calls for universal deadlines in the process and penalties for non-compliance, along with a right for “overbuild” options at grid connection points to better utilize limited grid capacity. Notably, 90% of surveyed companies expressed intentions to apply for co-located solar PV systems paired with battery energy storage, exceeding their agreed feed-in capacity.