The share of electricity generated from renewable energies in gross electricity consumption in Germany should be at least 80 per cent by 2030. Accordingly, the expansion path in Section 4 EEG 2023 stipulates that the installed capacity of onshore wind power is to be increased to 115 gigawatts and solar power to 215 gigawatts by 2030. This also requires the corresponding grid capacities. In many cases, however, grid operators delay or refuse the grid connection, citing capacity bottlenecks. This is where the ‘RE grid integration’ project comes in.

A central focus is on simplifying and accelerating the expansion of the distribution network. On the one hand, this relates to aspects of planning and authorisation law, but also to financial processing by way of incentive regulation. The focus is also on forward-looking or even precautionary grid expansion. In addition, the grid connection and access of renewable energy plants will be analysed in more detail, especially against the background of current developments in the area of flexible grid connection agreements. Issues of multiple utilisation and the creation of synergy effects also play an important role here, for example when it comes to ‘overbuilding’ and the joint use of grid connection points (‘cable pooling’).