How to Manage Grid Access for Renewable Energy

Last week I met with Al Gore and 13 solar CEOs from around the world to discuss what it's going to take to ensure the next decade of #solar growth - the most critical technology to solve climate. With COP this week and all the politics ringing in our ears, what - on the ground in the real world - are the big 3 policies needed? 1) Embrace open pricing - remove tariffs on clean tech (diversify supply of course but don’t tax clean energy) 2) Cut red tape - automate and digitise permitting and interconnection to the grid 3) Enact grid market design - to make the grid work for 100% electrification at lowest cost I’ve been heavily involved in the permitting side in the US with SolarAPP+ for years - and now I’ve really dug into no.3, the grid. I’ve come to realise we need a big new governing vision that enables the coming complex, distributed, bi-directional electric grid. We need an Electric Protocol. A set of rules to unleash the power of distributed energy on the world wide grid - akin to Internet Protocol, which unleashed the power of distributed information on the world wide web. What should those rules be? I’m delighted to be collaborating with grid and battery expert Prof Andrew Crossland PhD and to release our white paper today. The Electric Protocol is a set of uniform rules governing the grid, that provide for all power plants, regardless of size: a) transparency and open, easy access to the grid and b) uniform market-based compensation for energy and grid service value delivered. I urge you to take a look, comment & share with your network. I think this is the answer to net metering issues in the states, to creating the most efficient grid system for mass solar adoption, the protocol that emerging markets can leap straight to. But I’m keen to hear your views. Pop your questions below. This paper is to begin a consultative process. We've begun working with industry peers to try and shape this vision into an industry wide push for a fair and open and efficient gird, powered by the lowest cost energy - which is in most cases is consumer sited solar and storage. Read the full whitepaper here: https://bit.ly/3YMnOL4 #solarenergy #cleanenergy #electricprotocol Danny Kennedy, Alec Guettel, Liz Cammack, Mary Powell, Billy Parish, Sonia Dunlop, Chris Hewett, Bernadette Del Chiaro, Mark Twidell, Howard Wenger, Yann Brandt, NICO JOHNSON 🎙️, Grant McDowell

The U.S. #energy sector faces a critical bottleneck as renewable energy projects surge: the grid connection process. A Berkeley Lab article highlights these growing challenges, particularly for #solar, #wind, and #batterystorage. By the end of 2023, grid connection requests reached over 2,600 GW, more than double the capacity of the current U.S. power plant fleet, with renewables comprising 95% of proposed capacity. TO no ones surprise, the interconnection process is increasingly slow and expensive. Projects spend 70% more time in queues compared to a decade ago, with about 80% being withdrawn due to delays and financial hurdles. Costs have risen significantly, with renewable projects often facing interconnection costs making up 30-37% of total project expenses when withdrawn, compared to 6-8% for completed projects. To better understand these dynamics, Berkeley Lab compiled data from over 11,000 active projects seeking grid connection and cost data from more than 5,000 projects. The findings reveal renewable energy projects face higher interconnection costs than fossil fuels, significant geographic cost variations, and challenges with as-available service requests, which are often more expensive than expected. Much of the cost stems from network upgrades, typically borne by project developers. Berkeley Lab suggests reforms to address these barriers. Improved transparency in interconnection data could aid decision-making and navigation. Reassigning upgrade costs to consumers or adopting an average interconnection fee model may offer upfront cost certainty. Operational strategies like “connect and manage,” employed in Texas and the U.K., and technological advancements such as on-site batteries and grid-enhancing technologies, could reduce interconnection costs. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) of Energy’s Transmission Interconnection Roadmap outlines further solutions for clearing the backlog and integrating renewable energy. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission orders also seek to improve generator interconnection and transmission planning. Berkeley Lab’s findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive reforms to facilitate the #renewable energy transition. Transparent data, cost management, and technological advancements are essential to overcoming grid connection barriers and ensuring a reliable, sustainable, and affordable energy future

🚨 Faster, Cheaper Grid Connections: Lessons from ERCOT 🚨 In 2023, FERC issued a landmark order to streamline grid interconnection, targeting the massive backlog slowing energy and storage projects. While progress is being made, the ERCOT model—dubbed connect and manage—has sparked attention as a potential game-changer for the rest of the U.S. 🔑 How ERCOT Stands Out: The connect and manage approach focuses on local grid upgrades without requiring expensive network-wide changes. -Uses market redispatch and curtailment to manage grid congestion. -Brings projects online in 3.5 years vs. 6+ years in many regions. For developers, this means less costly interconnection and faster timelines. It’s why ERCOT leads U.S. grid operators, adding 14.2 GW of capacity in 2021-2022, compared to 5.6 GW in PJM, the largest U.S. grid operator. 💡 Why This Matters: As we accelerate the energy transition, ERCOT’s model shows that easing interconnection bottlenecks doesn’t just save time—it also saves money, reduces project risks, and builds resilience into the system. 📚 FERC’s 2023 order laid the groundwork, but adopting ERCOT-inspired innovations like energy-only interconnection options and streamlined study processes could improve grid access nationwide. The path forward isn’t without challenges—operational stability and long-term transmission needs must be addressed. And the connect and manage approach may be less effective in more compressed RTOs/ISOs regions, or smaller non-RTO/ISO regions—but ERCOT’s success proves we can build a faster, more efficient grid⚡ #interconnection #transmission #ERCOT #FERC

#BESS #Germany Germany’s shift from a “first-come, first-served” to a “first-ready, first-served” grid connection model marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of its energy system. From 1 April 2026, the four German TSOs, 50Hertz, Amprion, TenneT, TransnetBW, have introduced a grid capacity allocation model based on project maturity: technical robustness, permitting progress, financial credibility, and system value. From my perspective, this is more than a procedural change. It reflects a broader reality across Europe: grid access has become one of the most critical strategic bottlenecks of the energy transition. The scale of the challenge in Germany illustrates this clearly: ▪️ 717 grid connection applications ▪️ about 270 GW of requested capacity ▪️ 211 GW from BESS projects alone ▪️ 41–94 GW expected need by 2037 Demand now significantly exceeds available capacity, making a more structured allocation model increasingly necessary. ➡️ Why this matters Three implications stand out: 📌 Grid access becomes a competitive differentiator Success will depend less on the speed of application and more on execution capability. 📌 Capital discipline becomes more important Projects with credible financing, secured land, and advanced permitting are more likely to progress. 📌 System value may play a stronger role in investment decisions Projects contributing to flexibility, stability, and efficient grid use could gain priority. ☑️ How the new model works The Reifegradverfahren introduces a structured, cycle-based process: ▪️ A 3-month application window, with transparency on available grid capacity ▪️ A cluster assessment phase (~5 months), where projects are evaluated collectively ▪️ A scoring system based on maturity criteria (permitting, technical readiness, financial capability, system benefits) Successful projects receive a binding offer, backed by a realisation security of EUR 1,500/MW. 📄 The full TSO concept paper is available here: https://lnkd.in/de7KmXeP The energy transition is no longer limited by ambition. It is increasingly constrained by infrastructure. In my view, this makes grid policy one of the most important industrial policy discussions in Europe today.

In a significant step towards advancing renewable energy integration, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has released a comprehensive report titled “Grid Codes for Renewable Powered Systems.” The publication offers an in-depth analysis and a set of recommendations aimed at developing and implementing grid connection codes essential for power systems with high shares of variable renewable energy (VRE), such as solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind power. Grid codes play a crucial role in maintaining the stability, reliability, and efficiency of power systems, particularly as they increasingly incorporate renewable energy sources. The report underscores the importance of international cooperation and the harmonization of grid codes across regions to facilitate cross-border power trade and the sharing of technical knowledge. Examples from the European Union, North America, and other regions illustrate the benefits of coordinated efforts in developing robust grid codes. “Grid Codes for Renewable Powered Systems” provides a valuable resource for understanding the critical role of grid codes in the transition to renewable energy. By following the recommendations outlined in the report, policymakers and industry stakeholders can ensure the effective and reliable integration of VRE into power systems, thereby supporting the global shift towards sustainable energy sources. https://lnkd.in/ewe2qNPh

The California Public Utilities Commission has allowed renewable energy systems to connect into the grid via Limited Generation Profiles (LGPs). This approach aims to reduce the need for costly infrastructure upgrades and support more renewables on the grid by leveraging California’s public grid data. California utilities must create hourly capacity models for each node on their distribution system, known as an Integration Capacity Analysis. The new ruling allows developers to utilize these analyses to generate LGPs for projects. The LGPs will specify the maximum generation that a DER system can export at different times, ensuring project responsiveness to varying grid constraints. Following recommendations from the IREC, the commission places responsibility on utilities for upgrades, limiting long-term curtailment to sustained load reductions. #CleanEnergy #GridIntegration https://lnkd.in/gmk4Yw4S