+ RTE finds you the best flexible connection solutions to optimise your localisation, timelines and cost requirements.

Beneficiaries

The connection procedure, described in Chapter 1.2.1 and 1.2.2 of the “Documentation Technique de Référence”(DTR), applies to connection to the Public Electricity Transmission Grid :

• Of a new generation Facility with an installed capacity of 12 MW or more;
• Of a new storage Facility with an installed capacity of 12 MW or more;
• At a single point of the Public Transmission Grid:
  • Of a group of generation and/or storage facilities with an installed capacity of 12 MW or more;
  • Of a new Facility consisting of consumption facilities on the one hand, and generation and/or storage facilities on the other ¹ ;

• Of a new generation or storage unit or facility ² with an installed power of over 0.8 kW at a consumption, generation and/or storage facility:

  • For which a connection request (named Proposition Technique et Financière - see below) has already been accepted, or
  • Already connected to the Public Electricity Transmission Grid;

- A modification of the connection of an above-mentioned Facility, leading to a change in injection or withdrawal flows on the Public Electricity Transmission Grid.

This procedure does not apply to connection requests or changes in connection of a consumption-only Facility, for which the procedure is described in article 1.4.1 of the DTR .  

On receipt of the connection request, RTE checks within 8 business days, whether the project falls under the Public Transmission Grid and that the connection request is completed.

The main steps of the connection process

We guide you by proposing different steps for you to refine your project in line with the cost and timeframe of the works to be carried out on the Public Electricity Transmission Grid.

RTE provides personalised support throughout your project with a commitment to:

• Contact you within 2 weeks to discuss about your needs and priorities for developing your connection offer.
• Provide you with regular reporting on the key stages of your connection project.

When connecting a renewable energy generation facility, you benefit from Caparéseau and from our website dedicated to the view of forecast constraints in our grid planning schemes dedicated to renewable energy (S3REnR):

The site Caparéseau informs you about the opportunities for connecting electricity generation facilities to transmission and distribution grids. It was created by RTE in collaboration with distribution grid operators (ENEDIS, ESDB, ES-OMEGA, CESML, GEREDIS, PRIMEO ENERGIE, SICAE Est, SICAE Oise, SICAP Pithiviers, SRD, Synelva Collectivités, Strasbourg Electricité Réseaux, Réséda, VIALIS).

The information on renewable energy connection capacities published on the reception capacities of the grid website is provided for all generators.  The Caparéseau website provides additional information for the reception of renewable energy projects and the advancement of grid planning schemes dedicated to renewable energy.

Moreover, under the regional schemes for grid connection of renewable energies (S3REnR), grid operators develop and reserve reception capacities for renewable energies. 

View the transmission constraints forecast in the S3REnR

1. The exploratory study: an optional and free first study

An exploratory study allows you to benefit, within 6 weeks, from a feasibility study for the connection of your generation and/or storage facility to the Public Electricity Transmission Grid and an estimate of the cost and timeframe for the connection. It specifies:

• The connection diagram;
• An indicative assessment of the cost of the work to be carried out;
• An indicative assessment of the time required for the connection to be completed.

The exploratory study, which is not a prerequisite for a connection request, is optional and does not commit any of the parties. However, this “prospective” stage of exchanges between the project leader and RTE is highly recommended, especially if there are various scenarios concerning the location of the project or the power level of the facilities being considered. 

Submission of an application for an exploratory study:

• Case of a request for connection or modification of a Facility consisting of a Consumption Facility (already connected or to be connected) on the one hand, and of generation and/or storage facilities on the other : Using the collection sheets D1 available in sections 1.4.2, 1.2.3 and 1.2.4 of the DTR, please list all of the facilities or units making up the Facility, and send your request to us at the following links:
  • In the event of a request to add a generation unit less than 17 MW to a consumption Facility already connected to the Public Transmission Grid or for which a connection request has been accepted : rte-fcent-raccordement-conso-dist@rte-france.com
  • In all other cases: rte-fcent-dp-raccordement@rte-france.com
• In all other cases, through the specific data collection sheet D1 completed using the online form.

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2. Confirmation of the connection solution defined in a previous exploratory study (optional step)

If you have a previous exploratory study and then decide to request the submission of a Technical and Financial Proposal (in French : la Proposition Technique et Financière or PTF) you can email RTE (rte-fcent-dp-raccordement@rte-france.com or rte-fcent-raccordement-conso-dist@rte-france.com) to confirm whether the connection solution previously identified in the exploratory study is still feasible.

RTE will confirm within 15 working days whether or not the solution is maintained. Where applicable, RTE will also inform you whether there are any competing offers likely to have an impact on your project or its review period.

3. Technical and Financial Proposal (in French : la Proposition Technique et Financière or PTF)

 The purpose of the PTF is to establish the connection conditions based on the data provided by the connection applicant. It presents the chosen connection solution, the details of the work to be carried out, the details of the cost and the timelines for providing the connection. It constitutes the mandatory first step of the connection process.

A PTF request must be made by completing the D1 and D2 data collection sheets and transmitting to the contracting department of the RTE connection at the following link: rte-fcent-dp-raccordement@rte-france.com. If the Facility consists of several units or installations, as the connection applicant³ you will have to complete as many D2 collection sheets as the units or installations making up the Facility to be connected (including for installations already connected):

• Link to the data collection sheet for a generation facility (Article 1.2.3);
• Link to the data collection sheet for a storage facility (Article 1.2.4);
• Link to the data collection sheet for a consumption facility (Article 1.4.2).

In the specific case where you wish to install a generation unit of less than 17 MW at an existing consumption Facility, please use the following address: rte-fcent-raccordement-conso-dist@rte-france.com

The connection request must also be accompanied by proof of payment of the lump sum currently fixed at € 50 400 (including VAT), and other supporting documents such as the SIRET number and the intra-community VAT number of the connection applicant and the billing address. The full list of information to be provided to RTE is specified in Article 4.4 "La demande de Raccordement” (Connection Request) of Chapter 1.2.2 of the “Documentation technique de Référence”.

RTE then has 3 months to send you a Technical and Financial Proposal (PTF) or Technical and Financial Proposal needing construction of a new RTE substation (PTFp[1]) according to the terms and conditions specified below in paragraph 3.3), depending on whether the connection solution identified is based on existing infrastructures, or on a station to be created according to new development schemes dedicated to renewable energies (S3REnR). Please note that the 3-months deadline may be revised upon request from RTE (with your agreement) in the case of a complex request.

You have 3 months to accept the PTF unless a request for an extension of the validity period has been accepted by RTE (max 3 months).

A PTF is considered to be accepted, if within its validity period, and cumulatively, RTE has received from the applicant:

• A signed copy of the PTF or PTFp, with no reservations made by the Applicant; 
• A document amongst those listed in appendix 1 of Article 1.2.2  of the Connection Procedure attesting to the progress of the project, failing which a lump sum of 1000 EUR per installed MW is due;
• The first instalment for the cost of the studies; 
• If applicable, for renewable energy facilities, the first instalment payment corresponding to the “Quote-Part”;
•  A copy of a title of property, lease agreement, promise of sale or lease concerning the plot of land intended to receive the future Customer Substation;
• Where relevant, a mandate (also called “designation act”) if the connection request to a single point of the Public Transport Grid deals with the connection of several facilities from different companies.

Acceptance of the PTF (or PTFp) adds the project to the Queue (in french “File d’Attente”), provided that there is no other project in the Queue compromising the proposed connection solution. Once the customer has accepted the PTF or PTFp, the detailed studies and administrative procedures can be launched.

Within 3 months of acceptance the PTF, RTE will send you the specifications of your facility’s constructive capacities.

Within 6 months of acceptance the PTF, RTE will send the specifications of the protection, remote control and metering systems.

RTE keeps you regularly informed of the progress of your connection.

Waiting Queue Management:

To manage the connection requests of generation facilities on the same zone, RTE and the public distribution grid operators use a capacity reservation system known as a Queue (File d’Attente).

RTE ranks connection requests according to a "first come, first served" priority of processing.

Special case of the Technical and Financial Proposal for connection to a RTE substation to be Created (PTFp):

When examining a request to connect a renewable generation facility or a Facility made up of non-renewable and renewable generation facilities (including storage facilities) to be connected to a single point of the Public Transmission Grid, RTE may propose a lower cost connection solution on a RTE substation to be created under the current development scheme (S3REnR) but whose location is not final at the time of submission of the offer. This offer is known as a Technical and Financial Proposal for connection to an RTE Substation to Create (PTFp).

In this case, RTE will refund the lump sum you paid when the request was submitted.

Once accepted, your project enters the Queue, which implies reservation of the associated power, and this in the same way as for a "classic" PTF.

Once the substation location is validated (i.e., at the end of the Fontaine procedure), RTE notifies you of the final position of the future RTE Substation. You then have two months to send RTE your agreement for the continuation of your project by sending us a PTF request. Note that the characteristics of the Facility or facilities to be connected must remain the same as those considered for the establishment of the PTFp. 

4. The connection agreement

After signing the PTF, RTE proposes the connection agreement which takes into account the results of the complementary studies and the administrative procedures required for the connection of your facility.

Your connection agreement specifies the technical, legal and financial terms for the connection and specifically the conditions your Facility must meet in order to be connected to the Public Transmission Grid.

The signing of the connection agreement starts the connection setup phase and guarantees the financing of equipment orders and works.

There are two frameworks for the Terms and Conditions of the Connection Agreement:

One for the connection of Facilities consisting solely of generation and/or storage facilities (Article 8.4);

The other for the connection of Facilities consisting of a consumption facility, on the one hand, and one or more generation and/or storage facilities, on the other (Article 8.19).

5. Works phase

RTE carries out the work after signing the connection agreement and keeps you informed of the progress of the works.

Throughout the duration of the work, RTE will regularly transmit information about your connection.

At the end of the work, RTE notifies you that the connection is available.

6. Testing

The connection of your generation facility is subject to a testing phase with the objective of performing a performance check before its commissioning. In the case of a Facility consisting of several installations for which there is a staggered commissioning plan, partial testing and commissioning may be scheduled in agreement with RTE. Prior to the start of tests, you need to sign the transmission grid access contract (“Contrat d’Accès au Réseau de Transport” - CART) with RTE, as well as the operating and conduct agreement (“Convention d’Exploitation et de Conduite”).

The transmission system access contract (“Contrat d’Accès au Réseau de Transport” - CART) sets out the commitments for metering, subscribed power, and planned service interruptions. It also specifies the terms of liability, pricing and billing.

The operating and conduct agreement defines the responsibilities of each party to ensure proper insertion of the facility into the transmission grid and the rules of operation and conduct to be followed to ensure the safety of equipment and persons. This agreement is structured around two phases: first the “testing” phase, then the “operating” phase.

At the end of the tests, and subject to compliance with the requirements of the specifications, your facility will have final access to the grid (ARD).

7. Welcome to RTE

• Benefit from personalised services.
• Benefit from services regarding power supply quality.
• Access the electricity market.

See our solutions to access the grid and electricity markets - Cataliz

Contact

Your connection of generation or storage facility requests must be emailed to the contract department of the RTE connection at the following address: rte-fcent-dp-raccordement@rte-france.com. In the specific case where you wish to add a generation unit less than 17 MW to an already connected or to be connected power plant, please use the following address:  rte-fcent-raccordement-conso-dist@rte-france.com

Please copy in your usual account manager when modifying an already connected installation.   

Additional info

• Access your metering data
• Access your physical consumption and generation data
• Scan your metering to improve data access
• Providing voltage ancillary services