{"id":10281,"date":"2026-06-15T13:03:22","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T11:03:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/?p=10281"},"modified":"2026-06-15T20:53:52","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T18:53:52","slug":"der-flaschenhals-der-energiewende","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/en\/der-flaschenhals-der-energiewende\/","title":{"rendered":"Survey confirms: Grid connection is the bottleneck of the energy transition for local authorities"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In some places, the sun may already be shining on entire streets, but the <strong>Pipes remain empty<\/strong>. The one issued in April 2026 by <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/initiative-klimaneutral.de\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">IKND<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/heimatwurzeln.de\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">heimatwurzeln e.V.<\/a><\/strong> published <a href=\"https:\/\/heimatwurzeln.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2604_IKND_HW_DE_BM_Befragung.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Survey on local energy policy<\/strong><\/a>, in which over 600 local authorities took part, identifies a <strong>a major \u201eshowstopper\u201c for the expansion of solar power<\/strong>: the <strong>Mains connection<\/strong>. Whole <strong>97 % of the local authorities surveyed <\/strong>state that <strong>Network connections: a (very) big challenge<\/strong> pose when implementing energy projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where the problem lies: distribution networks and substations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A mere 3 out of 10 of the local authorities surveyed reported that the process went smoothly. The <strong>The problems run deep within the infrastructure<\/strong>, see also the chart below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Lack of capacity:<\/strong> Almost <strong>every other local authority<\/strong> (46 %) states <strong>a lack of capacity in the distribution network as the main problem<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Infrastructure bottleneck:<\/strong> With <strong>39 % are bottlenecks at substations<\/strong> the reason for the delays.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is consistent with analyses carried out by the German Association for New Energy Economy in the field of electricity grids, where we regularly report on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bne-online.de\/flexible-netznutzung-im-eeg-statt-individueller-netzanschlussvertraege\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">necessary modernisation of the network infrastructure<\/a> report on how to integrate solar parks efficiently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-2-1920x1080.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10238\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-2-1920x1080.png 1920w, https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-2-960x540.png 960w, https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-2-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-2-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-2-2048x1152.png 2048w, https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-2-18x10.png 18w, https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-2-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-2-480x270.png 480w, https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-2-640x360.png 640w, https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-2-720x405.png 720w, https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-2-1168x657.png 1168w, https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-2-1440x810.png 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Figure 1 \u2013 The biggest hurdles to grid connection<\/strong> (Source: Heimatwurzeln)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bureaucracy and long waiting times<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Alongside copper and concrete <strong>there is often a lack of digital transparency<\/strong>. <strong>Long processing times<\/strong> from network operators and <strong>extensive compatibility tests <\/strong>is taking its toll on the local planners. Yet, in theory, the process of connecting to the grid should only take a few months, as is also the case in <a href=\"https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/en\/pv-wissen\/stromnetze\/\">SonneSammeln Fact Sheet: \u201eElectricity Networks\u201c<\/a> is carried out. <strong>In reality, the whole process takes<\/strong>, depending on various technical requirements, slow network roll-out, poor communication, etc., <strong>several months to a few years<\/strong>. This is a difficult situation for everyone involved, but particularly for the local authorities concerned, which often find themselves <strong>further exacerbated by the difficult financial situation<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The call: simpler and faster grid connection procedures&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The energy transition needs <strong>high-performance, digitalised networks<\/strong>, in order to make the best possible use of renewable energy and storage facilities. As monopolies, grid operators are obliged under Section 8 of the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) to connect renewable energy installations promptly and to support the energy transition. To this end, they must <strong>simplify the process of connecting to the grid<\/strong> \u2013 particularly for <strong>stand-alone storage systems and solar parks with storage facilities<\/strong>. This would particularly benefit the <strong>Local authorities benefit from energy transition projects<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\" src=\"https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Foto-Strommast-Sunset-1920x1440.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9498\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Foto-Strommast-Sunset-1920x1440.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Foto-Strommast-Sunset-960x720.jpg 960w, https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Foto-Strommast-Sunset-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Foto-Strommast-Sunset-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Foto-Strommast-Sunset-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Foto-Strommast-Sunset-16x12.jpg 16w, https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Foto-Strommast-Sunset-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Foto-Strommast-Sunset-480x360.jpg 480w, https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Foto-Strommast-Sunset-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Foto-Strommast-Sunset-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Foto-Strommast-Sunset-1168x876.jpg 1168w, https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Foto-Strommast-Sunset-1440x1080.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">CR: bne e.V.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Background:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/initiative-klimaneutral.de\/publikationen\/befragung-kommunale-energiepolitik\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Nationwide survey<\/a>&nbsp;<\/strong>A survey of more than 600 mayors was conducted by the <strong>Initiative for a Climate-Neutral Germany (IKND)<\/strong> and&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/heimatwurzeln.de\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">heimatwurzeln e.V<\/a>. <\/strong>initiated. The result: <strong>The energy transition at local level rarely fails because of a lack of commitment on the part of those in charge<\/strong> \u2013 but rather to <strong>a lack of grid capacity, a lack of funding and complicated procedures. <\/strong>To mark the survey, we are publishing a <strong>Blog post series <\/strong>to selected results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An article on the survey results of the <strong>Subject area <a href=\"https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/en\/wunsch-und-wirklichkeit-wie-kommunen-zum-solarparkausbau-stehen\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">You can read about acceptance here<\/a><\/strong>, an article on the subject <strong>Municipal participation <\/strong>follows.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The new survey on local energy policy shows that grid connections are the main obstacle to the expansion of solar power.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":9502,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,7,281],"tags":[106,283,306,308,307],"class_list":["post-10281","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-kommune","category-netze","tag-akzeptanz","tag-netzanschluss","tag-netzausbau","tag-netzinfrastruktur","tag-umfrage"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10281","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10281"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10281\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10299,"href":"https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10281\/revisions\/10299"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9502"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10281"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10281"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sonne-sammeln.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10281"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}