ACM already gives the green light to cable pooling

The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has given electricity producers, battery systems, electrolyzers, and businesses the green light to share a single connection on the grid. Sharing a connection (also known as cable pooling) leads to improved utilization of the connection as well as of the grid itself.

Cable pooling can help accelerate the energy transition, and can alleviate congestion problems. By combining a solar park, wind park, and battery on a single connection, peak moments can be avoided, and more sustainably generated electricity can be fed into the grid. One good example thereof is the shared connection on Dutch distribution system operator Stedin’s grid in Koegorspolder (located in the southern Dutch town of Terneuzen). By combining types of sustainable generation with businesses, the sustainably generated power is consumed immediately. As a result, the businesses in question become more sustainable, and the burden on the grid is reduced because less power is fed into the grid.

At the moment, cable pooling is already possible for solar parks and wind parks. In the future Dutch Energy Act, cable pooling becomes possible for all types of buyers. However, a capacity threshold is in place, as well as a maximum number of market participants that can share a single connection. A connection can be shared starting from two megavolt ampere and with up to four market participants (meaning properties within the meaning of the Dutch Valuation of Immovable Property Act or WOZ). This follows from the Energy Decision (in Dutch: Energiebesluit). In advance of the introduction of the Dutch Energy Act and the Energy Decision, ACM has decided to make cable pooling already possible today. In that context, market participants will obviously have to comply with the requirements laid down in the Dutch Energy Act and the Energy Decision.

In the explanatory notes to the Dutch Energy Act, it is explained that market participants that share a connection should act as a single connected entity. In practice, cable pooling is currently often realized by invoking ACM’s MLOEA scheme (which stands, in Dutch, for meerdere leveranciers op één aansluiting, or multiple suppliers on a single connection). Market participants subsequently make arrangements among themselves about the use of the shared connection and access to the grid. ACM also offers scope to these types of constructions.

Market participants that wish to engage in cable pooling will have to notify ACM. In that way, ACM has an overview of how the use of shared connections evolves. Market participants that wish to notify ACM of their cable-pooling plans use the notification form that ACM has drawn up for this.

See also

• Notification form for cable pooling (in Dutch)