Grid code

Called Network and System Rules of the German transmission system operators, briefly Grid Code or Transmission Code, are a set of German transmission system operators for access to the German grid. Here are the minimum technical requirements and the procedure for connection and parallel operation of generation facilities are defined on high and extra high voltage network. The rules are the installers and operators of such systems as well as network operators as a planning base and decision support.

Objectives and Scope

By the rules is to be ensured that the network access as a condition of a free market - as required by the Energy Act - can be open, non-discriminatory and transparent. The aim of the rules is nevertheless to ensure even at varying or sometimes even strongly fluctuating feed with decentralized organization, the stability of the network and thus the reliability and the technical quality of the power supply to the users.

The rules apply to all types of systems that feed electricity into the grid, with a distinction on the power plant capacity: larger power plants and interconnectors to neighboring networks as well as smaller generation plants ( cogeneration plants, wind turbines, photovoltaic systems, ... ).

Although the rules apply only to the German network, but since this is integrated into the European power grid, the technical requirements of the Association of European Transmission System Operators (ENTSO -E, formerly UCTE) were considered.

History

The need for an appropriate set of rules was created in 1998 due to a revision of the Energy Industry Act ( Energy Act ) through which the liberalization of electricity markets and the organizational separation of power generation, transmission and distribution was effected.

A first version of the regulations occurred in mid-1998 under the title of co-operation rules for the German transmission system operators in force. The rules were drawn up by the then Association of German transmission system operators, the German composite Society ( DVG ), as a technical supplement to the first association agreement ( VVI ).

With the new version of the Associations' Agreement ( " VV II" ) were also revised the technical rules ( "Grid Code II " or "Grid Code 2000 " ) in 2000.

In 2003, the Grid Code 2000 by the Association of Network Operators (VDN ), was the successor organization to the DVG, revised and published under the new symbol " Transmission Code 2003." The change in the short term was to distinguish it from the technical rules for access to distribution networks ( " Distribution Code 2003 ").

In 2007, the rules were revised again ( "Transmission Code 2007 ").

At present ( end of 2011) of the Association of European Transmission System Operators ( ENTSO -E) is working on a design for a new network code at European level. These guidelines from various European policies and directives are to be considered and implemented. With its entry into force ( expected in 2013 [ obsolete ] ) is the European Network Code supersede the German codes of the content.

Content

The rules describe in detail the technical requirements and the procedure, divided into the following sections: