The issue whether the generator is synchronously connected to the grid will be among the main criteria for differentiation of the legal status of power producers in the Internal Electricity Market.
Therefore specific requirements for non-synchronously connected Power Generating Modules (so-called Power Park Modules) are introduced.
Draft for the Network Code Requirements for Grid Connection Applicable to all Generators (NC RfG) appears to enter in its final stage of development (on 27 March 2013 ACER issued recommendation to the European Commission to adopt the Code).
The technological neutrality poses the fundamental issue that may crucially impact nearly all remaining provisions of the NC RfG but also many other electricity market arrangements. Thus, the question whether the technology-neutral approach should be adopted in the code, is significant.
ACER's opinion of 13 October 2012 on NC RfG acknowledges the principle of uniform application of the requirements regardless of the generation technology. However, it can be anticipated that further controversies may arise in that regard.
Pursuant to the ENTSO-E assumptions adopted in the NC RfG, major differences in the capability requirements of Power Generating Facilities should not result from the primary energy source used (wind, solar, gas, coal, nuclear, hydro, etc.) for conversion into electricity, but from the type of generator connected to the network, in particular whether the generator is synchronously connected to the grid (like for the vast majority of conventional thermal Power Generating Modules) or via a power converter installation (like for wind farms or PV installations).
Therefore three categories of requirements are distinguished in the NC RfG:
- general requirements which apply regardless of the type of connection, because they are not influenced by it;
- specific requirements for synchronously connected Power Generating Modules;
- specific requirements for non-synchronously connected Power Generating Modules (so called Power Park Modules.
For further details and dossier on NC RfG see here.