“Looking for grid! 💕” – A step-by-step guide to analyzing grid connection capacity

Who wants to wait months for a network operator to respond on a grid connection request? With the right data, you can gain a good understanding of the local grid situation yourself and prioritize projects for new power generators or consumers accordingly. 

Here is a guide on how to do this:

⚡️Substation utilization: Compare connected generation vs. consumption capacity to determine whether the substation is generation- or load-dominated

🗺️ Grid area class: The same comparison at the municipal level to determine whether the municipality is generation- or load-dominated

--> For generation-dominated substations/municipalities, connecting a data center is a good option, for example, while for load-dominated ones, connecting new solar or wind farms is a good option—for balanced substations, BESS are suitable

 

🥤Congested lines: Identification of lines/areas that, according to the grid operator, are characterized by grid congestion

--> These should be avoided unless the congestion is resolved in a timely manner or is clearly due to generation or load

 

🚧 Grid expansion measures: Analysis of planned measures with regard to added capacity and schedule – the justification also includes information on the current grid situation

--> Grid areas with high expansion indicate current high utilization, but may be suitable for new generators/consumers with a similar schedule

 

🤹 Redispatch: Examination of these interventions, with which grid operators respond to acute generation-related grid bottlenecks (i.e., shutdown of wind and solar) – they often provide deeper insight into whether bottlenecks are caused by too much solar or wind power

--> Similar to bottleneck lines, these areas should be avoided by new producers using the same technology; depending on where exactly the bottlenecks are located, these regions may be well suited for new consumers.

 

✅ Fast grid connection check (SNAP): Review of grid connection points identified by the grid operators' daily tools

--> In regions where many grid connection points for large capacities are identified, a cost-efficient grid connection is likely

 

💕GridConnect: Search for potential partners for a grid connection in the region

--> It may be that developers/operators in the region have been allocated or promised grid capacity and can realize this with your help – if other developers in the region are also just searching, this confirms the hypothesis of low grid connection probability

➡️ All data and functions for this can be found in the dvlp.energy web GIS!

Our blog goes into even more detail about the specific procedure: https://www.dvlp.energy/en/blog/netzanschluss-gesucht---ein-leitfaden-zur-analyse-der-netzanschlusskapazitat 

We would be happy to give you a personal demonstration at HUSUM WIND in Hall 1 at Stand 1C14 (Berlin-Brandenburg joint stand).

Let us know if you'll be there!