Procedure
The grid operators (both the TSO HOPS and the DSO HEP ODS) are obliged to formulate the grid development plans in accordance with measures and strategies outlined in the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan for the Republic of Croatia for the period 2021-2030. If the grid has to be further developed, or reinforced, in order to accommodate for a new grid connection, a procedure prescribed by the distribution system operator must be followed, in accordance with the Regulation on issuing the electricity assent and establishing conditions and deadlines for connecting to the grid (OG 7/18) (Grid connection Regulation). This also applies if the grid must be reinforced for the connection of a new RES plant. The procedure is slightly different for simple and complex connections. For simple connections, the distribution system operator decides if further development of the grid is required during the preparation of the electricity assent (EES, elektroenergetska suglasnost – a document defining technical and financial terms of a new grid connection), which is prepared according to the Grid connection Regulation and the Rules on connection to the distribution grid. This is initiated by the investor with the submission of the Request for Determination of Special Conditions and Connection Conditions. The distribution system operator (HEP ODS d.o.o.) issues the electricity assent along with an Offer for connection, which contains the price of reinforcement of the grid to be paid for by the investor. After the investor pays the price of the grid reinforcement and a new connection, the DSO reinforces the grid and makes the necessary connection, along with the signing of the Agreement on Grid Use. For complex connections, the project developer must request and pay the DSO for a Study of the optimal technical solution of the connection (EOTRP). The investor then must sign a Grid Connection Agreement and submit a Request for determination of special conditions and connection conditions, to which the DSO issues an electricity assent (EES) and also signs the Grid Connection Agreement. In the Electricity Assent and the Grid Connection Agreement, the DSO decides if further development of the grid is required in order to accommodate for a new connection and offers a price for the reinforcement of the grid and making of the connection. After the investor pays the price of the grid reinforcement and a new connection and makes a Request for the conclusion of the Agreement on Grid Use, the DSO reinforces the grid, makes the connection, and concludes the Agreement on Grid Use with the investor.
Obligations and rights of plant operators
In accordance with the Electricity Market Act, the TSO must connect all entities, including generators, to the transmission network on a non-discriminatory basis. In addition, the connection must be technically and economically feasible, and the applicant must satisfy the requirements for connection. Limitations to this general rule apply to wind generating stations, which require a certain level of base load. The grid capacity for wind parks, as determined by the TSO, is set to approximately 400MW, out of which 297.45MW is already taken by fifteen operating wind parks, and another 42MW is taken by a wind park that is currently in the test phase. According to the August 2014 published list of the Croatian TSO, the remaining capacity of approximately 81MW is currently reserved for seven projects. A generator must enter into a standard form connection agreement, which determines the obligations of the parties, in particular with respect to the payment of charges and relevant deadlines. The general rule is that the generators are charged the full cost of their connection, which is determined by the actual connection expenditure. This cost must be factored into project development costs for any generation facility connected to the transmission network (all plants with an output of more than 10MW) since the connection cost usually includes the cost of substation construction.