Installation requirement

This LAP analyses:
• The qualification requirements for installers of electrical connections to the building ,
• The requirements for connecting the fuel cell to the gas grid,
• The training and certification requirements for technicians providing gas grid connections
• The differences in treatment between the stationary fuel cells and the benchmark technology.

Glossary:

Connection of the Fuel cell to the electricity system of the building and connection to the gas network.

Pan-European Assessment:

There is no common EU framework for installation of FC micro-CHP units in the buildings or for their connection to the gas grids.
Among the partner countries the qualification requirements for installers entitled to connect stationary fuel cells to the electrical systems of the buildings are similar. In general, the installations can be performed by professionals with an appropriate qualification for work with electric devices.
The connections to the gas grids must also be done by trained and qualified installers. In some countries, the works can be provided only by the distribution network operator, in others the gas professionals must be approved by the gas network operator.
Typically, the requirements for connection of the FC micro-CHP units to the gas grids are stipulated by the distribution grid operators. There are various regulations and standards at national level related to the gas grid connection. No harmonised EU framework in regards to applicable standards and codes is in place.
Is it a barrier?
Yes
Type of Barrier
Economic barriers
Assessment Severity
1
Assessment
The installation of fuel cells is not that common currently, thus the installation costs are relatively high (missing competition and experience), subsequently the already high investment for the fuel cell as such is increased by high installation costs. Besides there is a need to install – in addition – a domestic hot water tank (enabling a continuous operation of the fuel cell) and a heating boiler to be able to cover the peak heating demand since the generated heat capacity is relatively small and usually cannot cope with the needed capacity during winter time. Although high investment needs are an economic issue and not a legal or administrative barrier, it is obvious that the market penetration is hindered mainly by high CAPEX .

Questions:

Question 1 Who is entitled to make the connection to the building electric system?
Does it mean to connect the device to the electricity grid? If so it is a trained electrician. It the question is related whether consumers – like households – are entitle to install a fuel cell in their home and sell the surplus electricity then the answer is a bit more difficult since there are no regulations in place regarding price of the electricity to be sold and how the system fits into the electricity system configured in line with the requirements of the 3rd package. The so far used approach enables to sell surplus electricity – generated for example by PVs – to the grid so it should not be that difficult to enable such a system for electricity generated by fuel cells.
Question 2 Requirement to connect fuel cell to the gas grid.
There is a need for sufficient capacity in the gas grid and of course the fuel cell has to be able to “consume" the given natural gas quality. Since the connection of the fuel cell usually replaces partially the capacity of a heating boiler and in addition often shaves the required peak natural gas transportation capacity, the increase of needed capacity is relatively small - if any . A contract with the distribution grid operator is required. A metering point is required as well.
Question 3 Who is entitled to make the connection to the gas network?
Trained installer for heating systems.
Question 4 Technology to be compared with: Difference of treatment between the Fuel cells and the benchmark technology? If yes: what are the differences?
Gas fired (combination) boiler; there are no differences from the “connection to the gas network perspective”
Describe the comparable technology and its relevance with regard to hydrogen
Gas fired combination boiler respectively CHP units

National legislation:

  • Trade, Commerce and Industry Regulation Act
    Article 106 “Electro–technics”; Article 94” Regulated craft”; Article 150 “Rights of regulated crafts”
  • Natural gas act 2011
  • Electricity Act 2010
    Article 16 “Organisation of the access to the distribution grid
  • Austrian standard ÖNÖRM G 6 and ÖNORM G 55 and others (see below)
    ÖNORM G 6: Gas installations with pressure over 100 mbar and up to 5 bar – Technical rules for construction, modification, operation and maintenance of gas installations with operating pressures over 100 mbar and up to 5 bar: ÖNORM G 55: Gas service pipes with and operating pressure <= 5 bar – Functional requirements for planning, construction, operating and maintenance; ÖNORM B 2531: Codes of practice for drinking water installations – National supplements to the ÖNORMEN EN 806–1 to 5; ÖNORM H 5142 (Buidling services, hydraulic circuits for heating systems); ÖNORM B 8211: Smoke and gas exhaust chimneys /flues) – Flue gas exhaust from fan assisted atmospheric gas fired appliances; ÖNORM H 5170: Heating systems – Requirements for the construction and safety engineering as well as for fire and environmental protection; ÖNORM H 5190: Heating systems – Sound protection Engineering measures; ÖNORM H 6036: Ventilation systems – Demand based ventilation of apartments or individual living areas – planning installation, operation and maintenance; ÖNORM M 7780: Combined heat and power units – Terms with definitions; ÖNORM H 5151: Planning of central hot water heating systems with or without hot water – Part 1: Buildings with a specific transmission conductance of about 0.5 W/(K m2) – Collateral standard of ÖNORM EN 12828; ÖNORM M 7550: Boilers with operating temperatures of up to 100°C – Definitions, requirements, Tests, markings
  • Electrical Engineering Regulation 2002 – ETV 2002; Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulation – EMVV 2006; Low Voltage Regulation – NspGV 1995; Eletcrical Protection Regulation – ESV 2012

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,
  • Directive 2009/73/EC concerning common rules for the internal market in natural gas
    Directive 2009/73/EC establishes common rules for the transmission, distribution, supply and storage of natural gas.

    Its provisions and obligations apply to Hydrogen Gas by virtue of Article 1 (2), which states that the rules established by this Directive for natural gas, including LNG, shall also apply in a non–discriminatory way to biogas and gas from biomass or other types of gas in so far as such gases can technically and safely be injected into, and transported through, the natural gas system.

    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 gas […];shall provide any other distribution, transmission, LNG, and/or storage system operator with sufficient information […] as well as to ensure that the system operator does not discriminate between system users or classes of system including, including e.g. when setting rules for the charging of system users, etc

    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, applicable to all eligible customers, including supply undertakings, and applied objectively and without discrimination between system users.