Affordable network connection through cable pooling

On January 31, 2025, a new EEG regulation was adopted in the Bundestag, which regulates the development of network connection points (NVP) (so-called cable pooling). The new Section 8a EEG 2023 generally allows plant operators to select an NVP that has already been used. In addition, network operators are required to specifically check the development of NVP if there is a lack of capacity at the nearest connection point.

In the event of a development, a so-called flexible grid connection agreement is concluded, which ensures that the newly connected system does not exceed the permitted feed-in capacity (or that this is only permitted within limited time windows). As a result, the operating degrees of freedom of the additionally connected plant are restricted. The development is therefore particularly useful for hybrid technologies that use the grid connection at different times.

One Study by the Federal Association for Renewable Energies, which was published in 2024, has modelled this development for various scenarios and comes to the conclusion that a development of up to 150% of the NVP with equal parts of photovoltaic and wind power does not produce any significant energy surpluses or revenue losses compared to stand-alone systems.

For connections that are covered by battery storage, the revenue losses are even lower, as the specific feed-in profiles are even more diverse. Ulrike Gunnemann from BayWa r.e. presented specific figures in SolarForum Plus in November 2024: A development of a 70MW solar park with a 17.5 MW storage system (125% expansion) results in revenue losses of just 0.4% for the storage compared to a stand-alone storage system. The development with a 35 MW storage system (150% development) results in revenue losses of 1.5%. On the other hand, there is, on the one hand, the provision of grid connection for the storage system and, on the other hand, significant investment and operating cost reductions for the solar park and storage system through the shared grid connection.

When planning the network connection of smaller and medium-sized plants, project developers should therefore also focus on existing NVPs and consider a development. dvlp.energy has created the GridConnect function to identify local NVPs that are available for development. GridConnect draws on a large number of registered NVPs and can refer them to locally active project developers. More detailed information about the process can be found at the following link.