Virtual network saturation: a vicious cycle between connection and authorization processes

According to a survey conducted by ANIE, there are about 6,300 ongoing RES and ACCUMULI connection requests on the transmission grid. Overall, a cumulative power of about 400 GW is estimated. By 2030, 15 percent of GW from RES and 75 percent of GW from ACCUMULI are to be realized. Despite the fact that investments in grid infrastructure are substantial and are being accelerated also thanks to the NRP, the combination of several factors has resulted in virtual grid saturation. Among the factors are the lack of coordination between the process for defining the connection solution and that of the authorization process, outdated connection solutions, technical tables for sharing connection solutions, technological developments related to the new 36 kV connection standard, rather that related to the introduction of power limitation systems. All this is generating a lot of uncertainty. The conference aims to bring out through stakeholder dialogue possible solutions that can improve the current situation so as to increase the required renewable generation by 2030.