Allocation procedure for an output greater than 3.5 MVA

We require the following for the establishment or modification of a connection:

• the completed forms E.1, E.2 and possibly E.8 of the VDE AR N 4110^*,
• the anticipated power requirement (power balance); if you specify the desired contractual power in kW (active power), we will set this equal to kVA (apparent power) - unless you specify the apparent power value or the cosϕ shift factor,
• a scaled site plan with the local location of the property to be connected. If you already have a suggested location for your transfer station, please enter this and the desired cable route on the property or in the building on the site plan.

Forms TAR medium voltage from appendix E of VDE AR N 4110^*

^{* VDE-AR-N 4110 is part of the VDE regulations and can be purchased from VDE-Verlag.}

We require the following for the establishment or modification of a connection:

• the completed forms E.1, E.2 and, if applicable, E.6 of VDE AR N 4120,
• a true-to-scale site plan in accordance with form E.4 of VDE-AR-N 4120,
• an overview circuit diagram according to form E.4 of VDE-AR-N 4120,
• the expected power requirement (power balance).

TAR Hochspannung – forms from appendix E of VDE AR N 4120^*

Further information

Since 1 January 2015, the VDE-AR-N 4120 has replaced the Transmission Code 2007 as well as the VDN guideline "Renewable Energy Power Plants on the High-voltage Network" (EEG-Anlagen am Hoch- und Höchstspannungsnetz) for 110 kV grid connections.

Information of the VDE on the topic of high-voltage connection

Note

Since May 2016, the "Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/631 of 14 April 2016 establishing a network code on requirements for grid connection of Generators" has applied. At present, this is being transposed into national law by the relevant bodies, such as the VDE-FNN, and we expect an amendment to the technical connection regulations (TAR).*

^{* The VDE-AR-N 4120 forms part of the VDE regulations and can be purchased from VDE Verlag GmbH.}

^{All documents in German language only.}

Information on contract documents and technical documentation can be found on our page connection medium and high voltage.

• We shall carry out a capacity assessment by the end of the first quarter of a year in order to determine the available capacities for the upcoming round of proceedings. The data available to us for grid expansion and connection planning and the actual occurring load development will be taken into account.
• The result of the capacity assessment for the coming allocation period will be published on 14 April of each year, and no later than on the last working day before the start of the participation procedure.
• The publication is made by naming at least one output value, e.g. 50 MVA, and by a supplementary overview map with the Berlin area for a power allocation (topogram).

• The participation procedure starts on 15 April each year.
• Binding requests for connection can be submitted between 15 April and 30 June of a year. Only complete and plausible enquiries received by 30 June of the year will be considered in the further procedure. We have summarised the conditions of participation and the required documents below.
• A request must be submitted for a new connection or an extension of an existing connection for a (total) power > 3.5 MVA.
• The complete connection request must be sent by email to [email protected].
  The time stamp for the receipt of the e-mail (no later than 30 June, 23:59:59 CET) is relevant for determining the timely receipt of a request. Connection requests received late will not be considered in the further process flow.

• All binding connection requests received within the enquiry period and thus in good time will be checked.
• Once all the binding connection requests have been checked, the available capacities will be allocated proportionally to the successful connection requests, up to the maximum of the requested capacity.
• Applicants will be informed in writing by 31 July of the capacity that has been allocated to them.

• After allocating the service to a connection enquiry, we will start preparing a grid connection concept that includes a cost calculation and framework scheduling.
• After completion, we will prepare and submit a binding offer by 31 January of the following year at the latest to establish a grid connection.
• The offer will be sent in writing.

• Parties who have requested a connection will receive a binding offer for the allocated service.
• The offer will be binding for two months from the date of the written offer.
• If the offer is accepted within this period, the procedure for establishing the connection will begin.
• If the offer is not accepted or not accepted in due time, the offer will cease to be valid. The capacity previously allocated to the connection applicant will expire and be made available again to all connection petitioners in the following procedure period, subject to the capacity determination to be carried out upstream.

The aim of the repartition procedure is to distribute the limited grid capacities in Berlin in a transparent, non-discriminatory and fair manner. Its introduction enables us to ensure the security of supply and support the energy transition. Information on the procedure can be found here on this website and in the conditions of participation.

The regulation applies retroactively from 1 January 2024.

Previously, the principle of "first come, first served" applied to enquiries from very large customers for very large grid connections with a connected load of more than 3.5 megawatts each, regardless of the size of the enquiry. We do not believe that this is fair in the long term, and so we share the available power equally among the requests received by a specific deadline, regardless of the desired output.

We have compiled the following three examples in the conditions of participation to explain the procedure (petitioner = applicant).

The figures stated refer to the information in the conditions of participation.

Example 1

Output capacity determined and published for the respective grid area in accordance with item 1: 120 MVA

1^st petitioner: Request for 5 MVA without accepted partial output
2^nd petitioner: Request for 10 MVA with accepted partial output ≥ 5 MVA
3^rd petitioner: Request for 100 MVA without accepted partial output
4^th petitioner: Request for 80 MVA with accepted partial output ≥ 25 MVA
5^th petitioner: Request for 65 MVA with accepted partial output ≥ 50 MVA

Power capacity allocated in accordance with item 3:

• Level 1:
  Total requested connected load (260 MVA) > published output capacity (120 MVA), i.e. repartition required.
  
• Level 2:
  Each petitioner initially accounts for a partial output of 24 MVA (120 MVA : 5)
  
• Level 3:
  The first petitioner’s output request is lower. The petitioner is allocated 5 MVA. The remaining output of 19 MVA is shared among the other petitioners. The second petitioner’s output request is also lower, and this petitionier is allocated 10 MVA. The remaining output of 14 MVA is shared among the other petitioners. Each of the remaining three petitioners - 3, 4 and 5 - will therefore receive 35 MVA
  ([24 MVA + 24 MVA + 24 MVA + 19 MVA + 14 MVA] : 3).
  
• Level 4:
  The third petitioner’s request is not considered because the acceptance of partial output was refused. The remaining output of 35 MVA can be shared between the other two petitioners.
  
• Level 5:
  This means 105 MVA are available for petitioners 4 and 5; each will therefore receive a partial output of 52.5 MVA (105 MVA : 2)
  

Example 2

Output capacity determined and published for the respective grid area in accordance with item 1: 130 MVA

1^st petitioner: Request for 10 MVA without accepted partial output
2^nd petitioner: Request for 30 MVA with accepted partial output ≥ 25 MVA
3^rd petitioner: Request for 100 MVA without accepted partial output
4^th petitioner: Enquiry for 40 MVA with accepted partial output ≥ 20 MVA
5^th petitioner: Enquiry for 60 MVA with accepted partial output ≥ 50 MVA

Power capacity allocated in accordance with item 3:

• Level 1:
  Total requested connected load (240 MVA) > published power capacity (130 MVA), i.e. repartition required.
  
• Level 2:
  Each petitioner initially accounts for a partial output of 26 MVA (130 MVA : 5)
  
• Level 3:
  The first petitioner’s request for output is lower. The petitioner is allocated 10 MVA. The remaining output of 16 MVA is shared among the other petitioners. 120 MVA remain, so each of the four petitioners - 2, 3, 4 and 5 - will receive 30 MVA The second petitioner will therefore receive the requested capacity of 30 MVA, leaving 90 MVA.
  
• Level 4:
  

  The third petitioner’s request is not considered because the acceptance of partial output was refused. That petitioner’s remaining output of 30 MVA can be shared among the other petitioners.

• Level 5:
  This means that 90 MVA are available for petitioners 4 and 5, i.e. 45 MVA each. The fourth petitioner’s request is lower, and that petitioner is allocated 40 MVA. This petitioner’s remaining output of 5 MVA will be allocated to petitioner 5, meaning that petitioner receives a total of 50 MVA.

Example 3

Output capacity determined and published for the respective grid area in accordance with item 1: 130 MVA

1^st petitioner: Request for 10 MVA without accepted partial output
2^nd petitioner: Request for 30 MVA with accepted partial output ≥ 25 MVA
3^rd petitioner: Request for 100 MVA without accepted partial output
4^th petitioner: Request for 60 MVA with accepted partial output ≥ 40 MVA
5^th petitioner: Request for 80 MVA with accepted partial output ≥ 70 MVA

Power capacity allocated in accordance with item 3:

• Level 1:
  Total requested connected load (280 MVA) > published output capacity
  (130 MVA), i.e. repartition required.
  
• Level 2:
  Each petitioner initially receives a partial output of 26 MVA (130 MVA : 5)
  
• Level 3:
  The first petitioner’s request for power is lower. The petitioner is allocated 10 MVA. The remaining output of 16 MVA is shared among the other petitioners. 120 MVA remain, so each of the four petitioners - 2, 3, 4 and 5 - will receive 30 MVA The second petitioner is therefore allocated the requested capacity of 30 MVA, leaving 90 MVA.
  
• Level 4:
  The third petitioner’s request is not considered because the acceptance of partial output was refused. This petitioner’s remaining output of 30 MVA can be shared among the other petitioners.
  
• Level 5:
  This means that 90 MVA are available for petitioners 4 and 5, i.e. 45 MVA each. The second petitioner is allocated an output of 45 MVA. The fifth petitioner is not allocated an output because their stated partial output is higher than the available output. Of the remaining share (of 45 MVA), a further 15 MVA are allocated to petitioner 4, who thus achieves the requested capacity of 60 MVA. The remaining 30 MVA will be considered in the bidding process for the following year.
  

All potential connection customers who have a requirement for a grid connection capacity > 3.5 MVA can submit applications.

Applications must be submitted on a property-by-property basis in accordance with enclosure 1 of the conditions of participation. Applications must contain all the required information and documents listed in enclosure 1 of the conditions of participation (including application documents in accordance with VDE-AR-N 4110 or 4120, site plan, overview circuit diagram, power balance, etc.), and must be received by 23:59:59 on the day specified in Section 2 a. by the e-mail address [email protected].

Further information on the application requirements and applicable deadlines can be found in the conditions of participation.

The procedure applies to requests for the provision of electrical services in a capacity > 3.5 MVA.

Yes, the procedure also applies to existing customers who increase their power consumption - if a total connected load of 3.5 MVA is exceeded. (Example: existing connection of 2.8 MVA + desired power increase of 1 MVA = total connected load of 3.8 MVA = participation in the repartition procedure.)

We have summarised the detailed structure of the procedure and all the relevant dates and periods further up on the website. You will also find the conditions of participation and the additional attachments (application, landowner's declaration) for a connection enquiry there.

We have summarised the detailed structure of the procedure and all the relevant dates and periods further up on the website. You will also find the conditions of participation (enclosure 1) and the additional attachments (enclosure 2, landowner's declaration) there. This provides details of all the documents that are relevant to the application for your connection enquiry.

If an undeveloped property is to be connected to Stromnetz Berlin's distribution grid for the first time, the connection customer must provide suitable proof of their authorisation under public law to build on the respective property (e.g. a copy of the building permit or the application for a building permit) if the development requires authorisation under public law. If the connection customer is not the owner of the property, they must submit a declaration from the property owner in accordance with the sample in enclosure 2 or an extract from the land register showing that a priority notice of conveyance has been entered in their favour for the property in question. All the information on the application procedure and the requirements can be found in the conditions of participation. 

Subsequent changes to the type of use are not possible across the board. By submitting the application, the applicant assures that they require the requested service for the supply of their own consumption facilities on a permanent basis. A change in the type of use must therefore be checked on a case-by-case basis, as this can have an impact on the power balance and the consumption parameters. We recommend contacting us directly to discuss individual cases.

From 2025, binding requests for connection with complete documentation can be submitted in the period 15 April to 30 June, 23:59:59 (CET). If 30 June is a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday in Berlin, the request can be submitted by the end of the following working day.

The deadlines for accepting an offer are set out in the conditions of participation and shown in the process overview on our website. The binding offer period is two months.

Yes, you can also participate again in the following year if you need additional capacity. As before, the new request must be made between 15 April and 30 June of each year. Information on the process and deadlines can be found on our website and in the conditions of participation. 

Complete requests for connection can be submitted in the period 15 April to 30 June, 23:59:59 (CET). Complete and timely connection requests will be checked and the available capacity allocated to all requests in equal shares. Once the allocation of capacities has been completed, the applicants will be informed of the results in writing by 31 July.

As part of the application process, we check the requests for completeness. The required application documents are listed in appendix 1, enclosure A of the conditions of participation. The allocation of the available power is divided equally ("per capita") irrespective of the desired output. In the conditions of participation, we have compiled a number of examples to explain the procedure. After completion of the application review and allocation of the available capacities, the applicants will be informed in writing by 31 July.
The webinar on the allocation procedure also shows you how the procedure works and the criteria used to allocate capacity.

We have described all the steps transparently and comprehensibly in the conditions of participation. No distinction is made between customer groups. The procedure was agreed with the Federal Network Agency prior to its introduction.

The repartition is carried out for the capacities - if available - in the respective grid areas, not for the entire capacity of Berlin. The Berlin distribution grid is divided into seven grid areas. Once a year, we determine the capacities for connection services currently available in the respective grid area and those that will be available in the foreseeable future. To determine these capacities, we consider the following ten calendar years in each case. We use a map (topogram) to schematically visualise the geographical location of the available capacities and those that will be available in the foreseeable future.

No, there is no automatic prioritisation for the next round. All requests must be resubmitted in full each allocation period and will be assessed on an equal footing.

The capacities to be distributed are determined once a year and published on the Stromnetz Berlin website. An advance prognosis is not possible. For up-to-date information, we recommend regularly checking the website. Further information on the determination and publication of the capacities to be distributed can be found in the conditions of participation.

As a grid operator, Stromnetz Berlin is legally obliged to act in a non-discriminatory manner. No customer groups are favoured or disadvantaged. The repartition procedure was developed with the aim of ensuring a transparent and fair distribution of grid capacities. Allocation is based on clear and objective criteria.

It is generally possible to participate in several allocation rounds in order to accumulate the desired total capacity. However, in order to prevent speculative reservations, the completeness of the information is comprehensively checked as part of the application process. The required application documents are listed in appendix 1, enclosure A of the conditions of participation. This includes detailed information on implementation planning, the commissioning date and the track record to ensure that the project is actually realised.
With each enquiry, connection customers also confirm that they require the requested service for the provision of their own consumption facilities (also in the form of self-supply) on a permanent basis, i.e. not just for a short, temporary period.
If it turns out that the information was incorrect, we reserve the right to take legal action, e.g. also in the form of extraordinary cancellation of the contract. In this way, we want to ensure that capacities are utilised efficiently and that all connection customers are given a fair chance to access the resources.

The repartition procedure does not favour or discriminate against any customer groups. Nevertheless, the limited capacities make it necessary for major connection customers in particular to organise their projects flexibly by planning for the risk of staggered allocation.
The repartition procedure does not prioritise the complete coverage of individual major projects, but leads to a fair distribution of the available capacities. A gradual expansion of the grid connection should therefore be planned from the outset during project realisation. This is taken into account by the option of specifying a minimum output in the repartition procedure, with higher output commitments up to the total desired output also being possible.
The conditions of participation contain practical examples that illustrate this.

If only a partial capacity is allocated, the requested grid connection will be designed for the total connection capacity originally applied for (insofar as this is technically feasible), as the connection customer has the option of being allocated further capacity in subsequent years as part of the repartition procedure.

The requirements of the repartition procedure makes staggered requests appear sensible. The limited capacities and pro rata allocation of these capacities to the requests received in a given year require applicants to plan ahead.
Applicants can request capacities in stages, but must submit a new request each year to secure additional capacities.
However, it is also perfectly permissible for customers to request the full capacity if their plans are within our ten-year horizon.
Specifying a minimum output can be particularly helpful here, as it equates to a gradual allocation.
It should also be taken into account that future higher outputs may require a different dimensioning of the grid connection, which will trigger new investment costs.

No. Applications must be submitted on a property-by-property basis in accordance with enclosure 1 of the conditions of participation. As a general rule, each connection customer will only receive one grid connection per property.

The repartition procedure is designed primarily for the distribution of connection capacities. Pure feed-in systems are generally not affected, provided that the consumption of these systems does not exceed 3.5 MVA. Storage systems must be registered via the repartitioning procedure if their requirement is > 3.5 MVA.

Self-supply via a stand-alone grid is generally possible and does not require connection to the public distribution grid. However, it is subject to the legal requirements of the Energy Industry Act (EnWG) and requires extensive technical and regulatory measures, including any necessary authorisations.

The procedure applies indefinitely and will be maintained as long as the requests exceed the existing and foreseeable service capacities. The long-term outlook for grid capacity depends heavily on the development of electricity demand, the expansion of the grid infrastructure and the energy transition. Stromnetz Berlin is constantly working to improve the grid situation through investments and technological innovations.

We determine the available capacities annually and publish them on our website. An advance prognosis is not possible. For up-to-date information, we recommend regularly checking the website. Further information on the determination and publication of the capacities to be distributed can be found in the conditions of participation.

The demand for electricity in Berlin is constantly growing. We have a very long-term plan for this that recognises and incorporates all the requirements at the earliest possible stage. Stromnetz Berlin is constantly working to improve the grid situation through investments and technological innovations. The repartitioning process is a tool for structuring this part of the energy transition in a sensible, constructive and practicable way.

Major projects such as data centres or electrical heat generation plants with high connected loads must gradually adapt to the available capacities if the project developers or operators want to realise the project in Berlin. This can be achieved by staggering the planning of connection services over several years.
Stromnetz Berlin is working on expanding its grid capacities in the long term in order to support such projects as well as possible. However, the allocation currently remains limited.

Non-discriminatory procedures for dealing with shortages are the first-come, first-served principle (based on the time of receipt of applications), the lottery procedure, and the allocation procedure (repartitioning) that we have now introduced.
The repartition procedure is already being introduced by other network operators with a large number of very large connection requests as a replacement for the first-come, first-served procedure.
The procedure had already been presented to the Federal Network Agency prior to its introduction.

Allocation is based on objective, transparent criteria that result from the conditions of participation.

The repartition procedure was developed with the aim of ensuring a transparent and fair distribution of grid capacities. Allocation is based on clear and objective criteria with no political influence. As a grid operator, Stromnetz Berlin is legally obliged to act in a non-discriminatory manner.

There is a connection obligation for low-voltage grid connections up to 1,000 volts, i.e. house connections, heat pumps, charging points for electric vehicles, etc. At higher voltage levels, grid operators can organise the connection procedure differently.

Yes, there is and will continue to be a sufficient electricity and grid capacity in Berlin for all household and commercial customers and also for the grid connection of solar systems, heat pumps and wallboxes in the coming years.
Grid capacity is also available for larger grid connections (> 3.5 MVA). However, in future this capacity will be distributed proportionately to the individual grid connection requests. This applies, for example, to factories/plants in the manufacturing industry, large electrolysers and battery storage facilities or large commercial data centres.