Industry associations are pushing for real reforms in grid connections and energy sharing
In the final phase of consultations on the amendment to the Energy Industry Act (EnWG), pressure from the industry is growing. The Federal Association for Renewable Energy (BEE) sees the legal reform as an important opportunity for restructuring the energy system – but only if the right adjustment screws are readjusted. The association is calling for precise legal regulations, more speed and concrete implementation strategies, particularly when it comes to grid connections and the new energy sharing model.
1. Bottlenecks in the grid connection block project success
Whether solar parks, Wind turbines or storage projects: Connection to the power grid is still considered the main brake on the expansion of renewables. Project developers report lengthy procedures, opaque data situations and technical requirements that vary greatly depending on the network operator.
“We urgently need uniform standards and digital interfaces so that grid connections no longer become the bottleneck of the energy transition,” emphasized BEE Managing Director Wolfram Axthelm during the hearing in the Bundestag. The association is also calling for a nationwide platform to display available network capacities – comparable to a digital situation report of the electricity network in real time.
The new §42c EnWG creates a legal framework for so-called energy sharing for the first time. The idea: Local communities, housing associations or cooperatives generate renewable electricity and use it collectively. However, the current draft envisages narrow spatial limits and complex billing processes.
The BEE sees this as a step backwards. “If energy sharing is to become a successful model, there must be a balance between participation and bureaucracy,” says Axthelm. The association is therefore calling for the definition of common consumption locations to be significantly expanded – for example to include entire districts or regions in rural areas. This is the only way this model can become scalable and economically viable.
There is still no concrete implementation perspective. How exactly energy sharing should work technically is still unclear in many cases. This new form of shared electricity use could provide an impetus for more citizen participation – provided that the administrative hurdles are reduced and access is regulated in a practical way.
2. Create framework conditions for investments and innovations
Clear legal requirements not only have a regulatory effect, but also economically. Uncertainties regarding connection conditions or lengthy approvals delay investments, make projects more expensive and deter smaller market players in particular. The BEE therefore not only requires legal deadlines, but also binding interfaces and transparent communication between all those involved.
This is particularly crucial for community energy projects, small municipal utilities and cooperatives in order to participate fairly in the market. Digital solutions could significantly reduce the effort, for example through automated connection requests, real-time data about network capacities or central contacts at network operators.
3. Coordination at the federal level is crucial
Another sticking point lies in the federal structure of the Federal Republic. While the federal government lays the legal foundations, states and municipalities are responsible for approvals and implementation. This leads to very different regional requirements – from the availability of space to the staffing of the responsible authorities.
The BEE therefore advocates a clear distribution of tasks and targeted assistance for underserved communities. Network operators also need more support in setting up digital infrastructure in order to meet the requirements of the amendment.
4. Energy sharing needs practical rules
In the BEE’s opinion, the legislature needs to step up, especially when it comes to energy sharing. It is not enough to make the model legally possible, because what matters is how practical it is to implement. Without transparent rules for billing, responsibilities and data access, the concept risks failing in reality.
The demarcation of common consumption locations should not become a hurdle for neighborhood projects. The BEE therefore calls for apartment buildings, neighborhood solutions or even regional associations to be permitted as shared users. This is the only way energy sharing can become a viable model for participation and decentralization.
5. Last chance for targeted improvements
The EnWG amendment 2025 undoubtedly contains progress – for example through the introduction of energy sharing or initial approaches to the digitalization of grid connections. But without improvements in key points, it could waste its potential. The BEE warns that existing obstacles will simply be shifted to new legal formulations.
“The energy transition needs plain language, not symbolic politics,” said Axthelm. What this means is that the will to change must also be reflected in concrete regulations, practical procedures and reliable deadlines. Only then can the amendment deliver what it promises, and that is a noticeable boost for the expansion of renewables as well as fair participation for all stakeholders.