Regulation of small power plants connexion to the electricity grid (Royal Decree 1699/2011)

The Regulation for the Connexion of small power plants to the electricity grid determines the administrative, contractual, economic and technical conditions for the connexion to the distribution electricity grid for small renewable energy, energy from waste and CHP installations. Its main aim is to streamline administrative procedures to speed up the entrance of small power plants into the electrical system. The scope of application, subject to certain grid connection requirements, includes all renewable energy power plants, with the exception of CHP installations, of nominal power under 100 kW, and on the other hand CHP installations and biomass power plants of nominal power under 1000 kW. In addition, it establishes an a bridge procedure for the connection to the low voltage distribution grid of installations under 10 kW. The regulation will allow small businesses and the domestic sector to access small scale electricity generation so, once the upcoming net metering regulations are in place, they can self-consume the energy produced. The gradual entrance of these small power producers into the Spanish electrical system will pave the way for the development of distributed generation, replacing the current centralised model made up by big installations with a model more oriented towards distributed generation. Such change will translate in reduced energy losses within the grid and smaller economic investments in transport and distribution electric infrastructure, in addition to increased primary energy savings. With regard to consumers, they will benefit from higher security of supply and energy autonomy.

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