Connecting electrolyser to the electricity grid (as a consumer)

This LAP is concerned with formal procedures and arrangements via a responsible/legal authority for access to the e-grid (at a local or other level) for electrolyser connection and whether an electrolyser connection is treated differently to connection of a conventional electricity consuming load. If an electrolyser load is treated differently then the variance in procedures are sought to be identified

Glossary:

Permission (process) and additional restrictions regarding the connection of the electrolyser to the electricity grid.
Is it a barrier?
Neutral
Type of Barrier
Operational barriers
Assessment Severity
NA
Assessment
Not significant

Questions:

Question 1 Which is the responsible authority/legal entity for connection of an electrolyser to the electricity grid?
The licensed electricity Distribution Network Operator (DNO) at the location where the electrolyser is connected
Question 2 Connection procedure and requirements: Are the steps different between an electrolyser and any other connecting consumer-facility (e.g.: industrial installation of similar demand)?
No, similar steps apply and the procedure is overseen – in the context of ‘access fairness’ and transparent pricing by the UK regulatory authority – the Office for Gas & Electricity Markets (OFGEM)
Describe the comparable technology and its relevance with regard to hydrogen
Other industrial or consumer related loads. Battery Storage

National legislation:

  • Electricity Act 1989
    .The act extends to 113 sections and sets out the overall framework for public supply and reorganisation of the electricity industry. Note that Scotland has separate, parallel arrangements and that nuclear power was assigned to a separate (public) company to operate in the generation sector. CHAPTER 29 – to provide for electricity market supply and to make new provision with respect to the supply of electricity through electric lines and the generation and transmission of electricity through networks and connections to those networks  
  • Utilities Act 2000
  • Gas and Electricity (Internal Markets) Regulations 2011
    Distribution Connection and Use of System Agreement (DCUSA) DCP110: Electricity and Gas (Internal Markets) – the DCUSA. provides a single centralised document that relates to the connection to and use of the distribution networks and is a contract between generation distributors and suppliers in Great Britain

EU Legislation:

  • Directive 2009/72/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 concerning common rules for the internal market in electricity
    Directive 2009/72/EC establishes common rules for the generation, transmission, distribution and supply of electricity, together with consumer protection provisions. It lays down the rules relating to the organisation and functioning of the electricity sector, open access to the market, the criteria and procedures applicable to calls for tenders and the granting of authorisations and the operation of systems. It also lays down universal service obligations and the rights of electricity consumers and clarifies competition requirements.


    Article 25 establishes the “Tasks of the distribution system operator” which include: ensuring the long-term ability of the system to meet reasonable demands for the distribution of electricity […] as well as to ensure that the system operator does not discriminate between system users or classes of system users including e.g. when setting rules for the charging of system users, etc. Article 25 allows, however to require the distribution system operator to give priority to generating installations using renewable energy sources or waste or producing combined heat and power.

    Article 32 sets the rules on “Third party access”: access to the transmission and distribution system, and LNG facilities shall be based on published tariffs, without discrimination between system users. The transmission or distribution system operator may refuse access where it lacks the necessary capacity. Duly substantiated reasons must be given for such refusal,
  • Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/1388 of 17 August 2016 establishing a Network Code on Demand Connection
    Regulation 2016/1388 establishes a network code which lays down the requirements for grid connection of:
    • transmission-connected demand facilities;
    • transmission-connected distribution facilities;
    • distribution systems, including closed distribution systems;
    • demand units, used by a demand facility or a closed distribution system to provide demand response services to relevant system operators and relevant TSOs.