Do you have an account?
Why create an account?
After creating an account you will :
- have access to the “favourites” feature,
- be able to download certain data published by RTE,
- have access to forms (PKI certificate, EIC code, Customer questionnaire - KYC),
- have access to notifications.
If you are an RTE customer, feel free to contact your administrator so that he or she can give you access to your company’s services.
+ RTE finds you the best flexible connection solutions to optimise your localisation, timelines and cost requirements.
Beneficiaries
This connection procedure applies to :
- the connection of a new power generating facility or group of power generating facilities with an installed capacity of 12 MW or more at a single point on the public electricity transmission grid
- the connection of a new power generating unit with an installed capacity of more than 0.8 kW on a site already connected to the public transmission grid (excluding back-up units that cannot operate in parallel with the public electricity transmission grid for more than 5 minutes per month).
- the modification of an existing power generating with an impact on the injection flows on the public electricity transmission grid.
On receipt of the connection request, RTE checks whether the project is part of the public transmission system and that the connection request is complete within 8 business days.
The main steps of the connection process
We guide you by proposing different steps for you to refine your project.
Note: Step 02: Entry-into-queue proposal and/or technical and financial proposal
You get personalised support throughout your project with a commitment to:
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Contact you within 2 weeks to clarify your needs and priorities for developing your connection offer.
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Provide you with regular reporting on the key stages of your connection project.
You can benefit from the caparéseau service to connect an RE generation facility:
The Caparéseau website aims to inform you on the opportunities for connecting electricity generation facilities to transmission and distribution systems. It was created by RTE in collaboration with distribution system operators (ENEDIS, ESDB, GEREDIS, SICAE Est, SICAE Oise, SICAP Pithiviers, SRD, Strasbourg Electricity Networks, URM, VIALIS).
The information on reception capacities published on the website is provided for all generators. However, under the regional schemes for grid connection of renewable energies (S3REnR), system operators develop and reserve reception capacities for renewable energies. The Caparéseau website provides additional information for the reception of renewable energy and the advancement of these schemes.
The Technical and Financial Proposal (TFP) request or, if applicable, the Queue Entry Proposal (PEFA) request is your entry into the connection process. Please be aware that administrative procedures may affect the timeframe of the project before the work can begin. We also encourage you to prepare ahead for your connection application.
1. The exploratory study: an optional first study
An exploratory study allows the applicant for the connection to benefit, within 6 weeks, from a feasibility study for the connection of the applicant’s facility to the public transmission system and an estimate of the cost and timeframe for the connection. It specifies:
- the connection diagram;
- an indicative assessment of the cost of the work to be carried out;
- an indicative assessment of the time required for the connection to be completed.
The exploratory study, which is not a prerequisite for a connection request, is optional and does not commit any of the parties.
A request for an exploratory study is made through the completed specific data collection sheet D1 which is sent to the grid connection department of RTE at the following address : rte-fcent-dp-raccordement@rte-france.com
In the specific case where you wish to add a power generating unit of less than 18 MW to an existing consumer installation, please use the following address: rte-fcent-raccordement-conso-dist@rte-france.com
2. The connection request
To manage the connection requests of generation facilities on the same zone, RTE and the public distribution system operators have put in place a capacity reservation system known as "File d’attente” or Queue.
RTE classifies connection requests according to a "first come, first served" priority of processing.
There are two steps involved for you to add your project to the Queue.
2.1 Request a Queue Entry Proposal (Proposition d’Entrée en File d’Attente PEFA) from RTE
The PEFA allows the connection applicant who has not yet finalised the details of the project to evaluate, with RTE, the technical and financial conditions of the connection.
The PEFA is an optional step in the connection process.
The PEFA request is made through the completed specific data collection sheet D1 et D2 which is sent to the grid connection department of RTE at the following address : rte-fcent-dp-raccordement@rte-france.com).
In the specific case where you wish to add a power generating unit of less than 18 MW to an existing consumer installation, please use the following address: rte-fcent-raccordement-conso-dist@rte-france.com
From receipt of the complete data, RTE has a standard period of three months to carry out the connection study and provide the PEFA. However, this deadline may be revised at the request of RTE with the agreement of the applicant for the connection in the case of a complex request.
Once the PEFA is signed, the connection applicant’s project is added to the queue. The cost and lead time information is indicative and is not a quote.
Useful links:
2.2 Request a Technical and Financial Proposal (PTF) from RTE
The PTF is the first mandatory step in the connection process. The purpose of the PFT is to establish a connection offer on the basis of data provided by the connection applicant. It presents the chosen connection solution, the details of the work to be carried out, the details of the cost and the timelines for availability of the connection. The PFT constitutes a quote which commits RTE.
RTE sends the PFT to the applicant within three months of receipt of the full application. However, this deadline may be revised at the request of RTE with the agreement of the applicant for the connection in the case of a complex request.
A request for PFT is made through the completed specific data collection sheet D1 et D2 which is sent to the grid connection department of RTE at the following address : rte-fcent-dp-raccordement@rte-france.com
In the specific case where you wish to add a power generating unit of less than 18 MW to an existing consumer installation, please use the following address: rte-fcent-raccordement-conso-dist@rte-france.com
Once the cusqtomer has signed the PFT, the detailed studies and administrative procedures can be launched.
Within 3 months of signing the PTF, RTE will send you the specifications of your facility’s constructive capacities.
Within 6 months of of signing the PTF, RTE will send you the specifications of the systems of protection, telecontrol and metering.
RTE keeps you regularly informed of the progress of your connection.
Useful links:
3. The connection agreement
After the signing of the technical and financial proposal, RTE proposes the connection agreement which takes into account the result of the complementary studies and the administrative procedures required for the connection of your facility.
Your connection agreement specifies the technical, legal and financial terms for the connection and specifically the conditions the facility must meet in order to be connected to the public transport system. This connection agreement must be signed in advance of the connection work.
Connection agreement design:
- General Conditions.
- Special conditions "Specifications of Connection Elements": Description of the connection elements.
- Special conditions "Characteristics and Performance of the Facility": Description of the connected facility and its performance including the following 4 specifications (CDC): Specifications for the constructive capacities of the facility, Protection system specifications, Telecontrol system specifications, Metering specifications.
- Special Conditions "Implementing and Financing Connection Elements": Description of the technical, legal and financial conditions of the connection.
See the generator connection agreement template
4. Works phase
RTE carries out the work after signing the connection agreement and keeps you informed of the progress of the works.
Throughout the duration of the work, RTE will regularly transmit information about your connection.
At the end of the work, RTE notifies you that the connection is available.
5. Testing
The connection of your generation facility is subject to a testing phase with the objective of performing a performance check before commissioning the facility.
To do this, you need to sign the transmission system access contract with RTE, as well as the operating and conduct agreement.
The transmission system access contract (CART) sets out the commitments for metering, subscribed power, and planned service interruptions. It also specifies the terms of liability, pricing and billing.
The operating and conduct agreement for testing defines the responsibilities of each party to ensure proper insertion of the facility into the power system and the rules of operation and conduct to be followed to ensure the safety of property and persons.
At the end of the tests, your facility will have final access to the network. A final operation and conduct agreement is then contracted.
- Generator CART template
- Operating and conduct agreement template for tests
6. Welcome to RTE
- Benefit from personalised services.
- Benefit from services regarding power supply quality.
- Access the electricity market.
Reference documentation
For further information, please access to the library to read following documents:
- PEFA template
- Generator PTF template
- Generator connection agreement template
- Facility compliance checks
- Generator CART template.
- Operating and conduct agreement template for generator tests
Contact
To submit a connection application of a generation facility, please contact the grid connection department of RTE at the following address: rte-fcent-dp-raccordement@rte-france.com
In the specific case where you wish to add a power generating unit of less than 18 MW to an existing consumer installation, please use the following address: rte-fcent-raccordement-conso-dist@rte-france.com
If you are modifying an existing installation, please copy your usual sales contact.