grid connection offers

IPTO moves fast to issue 4,250 MW in RES connection offers

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Power grid operator IPTO has issued connection offers totaling a capacity of 4,250 MW for RES projects seeking grid space since the arrival of a recent ministerial decision signed last August and revised in late January to shape the procedure’s details, including its fast-track priority system.

The operator has also received a substantial number of applications for a first wave of standalone batteries representing a total capacity of 5,340 MW. These applications have already received environmental permit, meaning the turnout for an upcoming investment support program expected to be staged by the end of June will be considerable.

A ministerial decision will need to be issued this month so that a first auction may be staged within Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) fund deadlines.

IPTO proceeds with priority list for pending RES applications

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Power grid operator IPTO is proceeding with a grading system for pending grid space applications submitted by investors behind renewable energy and combined cooling, heat and power (CCHP) projects, which will result in a prioritization list for these applications.

The procedure, resulting from a recent ministerial decision concerning pending applications, will include all applications submitted from the start of 2021 to August 10. An initial round is expected to be completed imminently.

Investors of projects making the upper section of this list will receive letters from IPTO notifying them of finalized connection terms offers.

The investors will be requested, by the operator, to inform if they accept these terms, while the overwhelming majority will also be asked to give their consent to a 20 percent project capacity cut, based on details included in the ministerial decision.

Agreeing to 20 percent project capacity cuts is not compulsory for investors. However, if they do not accept the finalized connection terms offered by IPTO, their applications will be automatically cancelled.

 

 

 

 

Abolition of non-binding grid connection offers proposed

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The abolition of non-binding (preliminary) grid connection offers is among a list of legislative proposals made by the energy ministry’s RES licensing committee, the objective being to further simplify the RES licensing process.

As part of the overall effort, RES production licenses have been replaced by RES producer certificates, obtained through a simpler online process.

The proposal to abolish non-binding (preliminary) grid connection offers means that RES investors will be able to apply to the distribution network operator DEDDIE/HEDNO (if projects are up to 8 MW) or the power grid operator IPTO for finalized grid connection offers once they have obtained producer certificates and environmental permits.

In another committee proposal, DEDDIE/HEDNO, during its examination of grid connection offers, will no longer be responsible for land title audits in cases where land to be used for RES project installations is privately owned. This task, according to the proposal, will be taken on by external lawyers.