Which grid connection procedure applies to your storage project?

How it works

Criteria-based allocation in semi-annual cycles. Applications are collected in the window, scored automatically and ranked; the grid compatibility assessment then follows this ranking. Ties at the same grid point are decided by lot. The submission time within the window does not matter.

Who must take part

Battery storage with more than 300 kW offtake/charging capacity and offtake customers above 1,000 kW (medium and high voltage).

Who is exempt

Household customers, green-power-only storage, generation-only plants and privileged public-service customers (e.g. hospitals, emergency services, schools) — first come, first served still applies to them.

Dates

• 12 Oct 2026Application portal opens, window starts
• 23 Nov 2026Window closes (documents + deposit)
• 15 Mar 2027Allocation feedback
• 10 May 2027Latest refund of the delivery deposit

Criteria

• Project maturity · max. 10 points
  Planning and permitting status at the time of application (incl. land security, permits, delivery horizon).
• Contribution to regional scenario (Sec. 14d EnWG) · max. 10 points
  How much the project supports the regional targets of grid planning. Technologies already exceeding regional quotas score lower.
• Co-location with renewable plant · max. 10 points
  Shared use of a grid connection point with a renewable energy plant.
• Flexibility commitment · max. 10 points
  Willingness to sign a flexible connection agreement (capacity curtailment during congestion). According to law-firm reports the declaration is already requested in the application form.
• Local infrastructure dependency · max. 10 points
  Reliance on local water, heat, transport, gas or data infrastructure.
• Existing grid connection point · max. 10 points
  Use of an existing connection point or site-specific investments already made.

Documents

• Complete application in the new portal (no automatic transfer of old portal applications)
• Delivery deposit: EUR 1,500/MW net (per the procedure description, as cited by MASLATON)
• Evidence of project maturity (land security, permitting status)
• Declaration on the flexible connection agreement

Pitfalls

• Since 13 Aug 2026 the old connection portal no longer accepts affected projects — anyone who has not switched loses the cycle.
• After allocation, according to MASLATON, there are only eight weeks (non-extendable) to prove full land availability — otherwise the reservation lapses.
• The exact scoring per criterion is not fully public. The self-check below is therefore an orientation, not a score forecast.

How it works

Deadline and points procedure: requests are bundled in application periods, evaluated once a year and served by score. It only opens in regions where grid expansion frees capacity. You self-assess the points and prove them with evidence; Netze BW verifies.

Who must take part

Storage with offtake from the public grid that needs a capacity increase or a new connection — regardless of size. Also offtake connections in medium and high voltage from 950 kW. Planning horizon up to 3 years.

Who is exempt

EEG/CHP plants incl. storage at the same connection without grid offtake; storage with offtake but no capacity increase; essential public services; offtake below 950 kW (for combinations below 950 kW if storage uses less than 50% of total capacity).

Dates

• 01 Nov 2026First application period opens
• 31 Dec 2026First application period closes
• 01 Mar 2027First allocation (expected)

Criteria

• Maturity — land security · 0 / 13 / 16 points
  Minimum: exclusivity agreement/owner declaration (≥ 12 months, no ordinary termination) + land register extract ≤ 12 months. 13 points: reservation agreement, preliminary purchase contract or option. 16 points: easement, permission or lease ≥ 10 years, purchase contract or ownership.
• Maturity — permitting · 0 / 7 / 19 points
  7 points: permitting strategy plus documented authority contact. 19 points: key permits enforceable or documented permit exemption.
• Maturity — substation status · 0 / 4 / 11 / 15 points
  4 points: project-specific single-line diagram (VDE-AR-N 4110/4120). 11 points: supplier quotes for time-critical main components (≤ 12 months old). 15 points: components contracted or production slot reserved.
• Site dependency · 0 or 34 points
  34 points only for extending an existing operating site or feeding process heat into a local heating network. A freely locatable new build — typical for standalone storage — scores 0.
• Timeliness · 0–16 points
  One point per started half-year of documented waiting since a complete request; max. 16 (8 years). Non-binding pre-enquiries do not count.

Documents

• Request via the Netze BW customer portal in the application period; upload evidence for each claimed score level
• Site plan with clear plot assignment, land register extract, land security contract
• Permitting overview and authority correspondence or permits
• Single-line diagram, supplier quotes or purchase contracts for the substation
• For EEG plant + storage with grid offtake at the same point: two separate requests (EEG first-come, storage in the points procedure)

Pitfalls

• Standalone storage without an existing site can reach at most 66 of 100 points — the 34 site-dependency points usually do not apply.
• If no points procedure is open in your region, submission is currently not possible. Use the Netze BW medium-voltage enquiry first.
• Incomplete or ambiguous evidence costs the respective score level.

How it works

Apportionment: the capacity available per grid group at the deadline is split equally "per head" among all complete applications — regardless of requested size. Anyone needing less passes the rest on. There are no points and no priority for unsuccessful applications in the next round.

Who must take part

All connections with offtake of 1 MW or more, including battery storage. Storage must run the feed-in connection procedure in parallel — even for zero export or co-location.

Who is exempt

Essential public-service requests (incl. utilities, education, hospitals, public transport, municipal heat-planning projects).

Dates

• 31 Jul 2026Last deadline (result by end of August 2026)

Criteria

• Completeness by the deadline · Yes/No
  Only complete applications take part (incl. documents per VDE-AR-N 4110/4120, site plan, single-line diagram, power balance; for storage also building permit or certificate of exemption).
• Per-head split · equal shares
  Grid operator recommendation: state a minimum capacity next to the requested one so partial allocations are possible.

Documents

• Connection application (online service), Annex 1 (request > 1 MW), power forecast (Excel)
• By email to repartierung@ww-energie.com by 24:00 on the deadline
• For storage additionally: complete documents for the binding feed-in request incl. building permit

Pitfalls

• The next deadline has not been published yet. Missing it means waiting a full round.
• For storage the building permit is a prerequisite — earlier than in most other procedures.
• Even after allocation, use may depend on internal WWN grid bottlenecks checked only when the offer is prepared.