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Simplification and acceleration of grid connection applications

grid connection request

Actively shaping the energy transition in SAP

Private households can benefit from the connection of an energy generation plant with direct feed-in of electricity into the operator grid. On the grid operator side, however, mapping these connections has so far involved a considerable amount of manual administration. CLC xinteg has worked together with established grid operators to develop a solution that simplify processes and significantly reduce the workload - naturally in compliance with current legal regulations.

The EEG

Legally binding principles

All legal framework conditions for this are regulated in the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG), among other things. Here, too, digitalization plays an important role in simplifying and streamlining processes. From January 1, 2025, new legal requirements (Section 8 (7) of the EEG) will come into force, which will make the Processing grid connection requests clear Simplify and at the same time accelerate should.

RE systems up to 30 kW

Specifically, this change means that grid operators will have to comply with certain obligations in future that affect RE systems up to 30 kW with existing house connections. The extension of the law provides for the following:

Network operators must Processes for submitting connection requests and the necessary Digitize information exchange. This process also requires Web portals to be provided.

Network operators must Format and contents of information and web portals largely standardize.

Mapping the management of energy generation plants in SAP much more efficiently

 If energy supply companies have to process a large number of applications for new installations, extensions or dismantling of EEG generation plants of private end customers, this is usually not possible without considerable effort. In particular, the current predominantly manual processing of forms that are filled out by hand and scanned in again, which arrive at the operator by email or even by post, cause a large part of the administrative effort - and the number of applications here doubles almost every six months. With the help of modern Fiori apps these processes can be designed much more efficiently, including a direct data link to legally prescribed web portals (e.g. the Market Master Data Register/MaStR).

"S/4 HANA Utilities"

The SAP for Utilities (IS-U) or "S/4 HANA Utilities" module in a modern HANA context is used as the main tool in the energy supplier and grid operator sector to manage associated master data such as technical systems, business partners, connection objects and metering points, etc. Also Further processes and workflows take place here, from energy data management (EDM) based on the specified technical performance data to customer management, tariffing & billing, metering point operation and smart metering. Nevertheless, the integration of data from external sources is not just an important step, but a Necessary prerequisite for mapping all approval processes. CLC xinteg uses a tried-and-tested SAP add-on, CLC-PADD®, to ensure that the connection functions smoothly.

SAP customization by CLC xinteg

Digitized inquiry processes for EEG generation plants

The manual processing effort required to date is not only inefficient, but also harbors great potential for errors. The goal: A fully digitalized process, starting with the end customer, who operates the web portal independently and enters the data there directly, through to the automated creation of a suitable process in the SAP system with simultaneous Reduction of manual effortalso for all subsequent activities.

Free webinar

Digitally map the inquiry process for EEG generation plants

 Learn from the best-practice example of a grid operator how their grid connection applications can be simplified and accelerated in order to reduce the time it takes to connect to the grid. legal requirements by 01.01.2025 to be able to fulfill them.

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Ideally, such an EEG request process should be mapped completely digitally:

The end customer submits the EEG application independently directly in the web portal.

This automatically creates a corresponding transaction in the SAP system.

Created requests require a technical check, particularly with regard to feasibility on the local low-voltage grid. The request is sent to a defined pool of processors as a work item in the SAP MyInbox. Processors can reserve this, return it or process it directly themselves.

If the result of the check leads to an approval, a letter of approval can be generated automatically via a PDF form and also sent to the customer by post as a printout. The decision made by the person in charge and the resulting customer document are also digitally linked to the process.

In the event of a rejection, the maximum power values to be approved for a system at the system location in question can be entered for a potential rejection letter, provided that a rejection by the grid operator is legally possible in the specific case. If a rejection is not possible, other necessary follow-up steps can be derived from this.

Once the EEG generation system has been successfully approved, the system is constructed by a specialist electrical company. Once construction is complete, this status is reported to the grid operator, usually in the form of a commissioning report, including the actual performance values of the system.

This triggers further possible process steps such as the new installation process in SAP IS-U, meter installation or meter change, the creation of a budget billing plan (tariffing), contract creation and dispatch, the entry of further master data such as the bank and tax data of a business partner, the creation of the business partner in SAP itself, etc.

Requests from balcony power plants (BKW) are also becoming increasingly important for grid operators. These can also be covered on the basis of the same transaction type. However, this often only requires a reduced process, which can be mapped here at the same time.

Through the Fully digital mapping of the EEG request, errors are minimized, the time required is significantly reduced and full traceability is guaranteed. The complete new installation process, which usually follows an EEG new installation, can also be started and implemented from the EEG request to generate the IS-U master data object "installation" by using the data already available as the basis for this.

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