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, the steps are similar for the establishment of connection to electricity grid. The procedure may change if the necessary power exceeds the “usual” connecton. In accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet a final customer has the right to submit an application for a special connection to the transmission system or an amplification of the system connection capacity if the electricity consumption of such customer after installation of the connection increases by at least 100 000 megawatt hours per year or with a nominal connection power not less than 50 megawatts. The Cabinet shall determine uniform special connection regulations, providing for procedures for the submission and examination of the final customer application, the procedures for the connection installation and the required guarantees of the final customer regarding the use of the connection, as well as shall examine the final customer applications for the special connection to the transmission system or the amplification of the existing transmission system connection capacity and shall adopt a decision regarding the application of special conditions for a connection separately in each case.
Describe the comparable technology and its relevance with regard to hydrogen
Battery Storage

National legislation:

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.