Green light for your mains connection
MKH Greenergy Cert GmbH services
Appraisals
MKH Greenergy Cert GmbH is your partner for everything relating to guidelines for mains connections and grid surveys. As an independent expert, we will use all our skills and experience to make your power plant a success.
Independent assessment for the planning stage and beyond
Questions of which electrical components to select or how to design these can crop up during the initial planning and design stage of your power plant. MKH Greenergy Cert GmbH is here to offer you independent and reliable support. We will evaluate your electrical planning in terms of compliance with the latest mains connection guidelines (VDE-AR-N 4110, VDE-AR-N 4120, VDE-AR-N 4130), as well as the technical connection conditions imposed by each grid operator. Take advantage of the years of experience our team has to offer to protect yourself against unexpected costs caused by retrofits or extensions to your power plant caused by power factor correction systems etc.
What does a power plant appraisal include?
At MKH Greenergy Cert GmbH, our appraisals of the electrical properties of power plants at the mains connection point are tailored to each project and conducted in consultation with you, our customer. Elements they assess include:
- dimensions of the power plant’s operating equipment with respect to short-circuit resistance and constant current load;
- reactive power provision and static voltage stability at the mains connection point;
- circuit feedback from the power plant (flicker, harmonics etc.); and
- the dynamic behaviour of the power plant in case of network errors (LVRT, HVRT, voltage support through feeding in reactive power etc.).
Important: Please note that this is a simple appraisal and assessment of the power plant for conformity with the mains connection guidelines and mains connection conditions. Because of our accreditation, we cannot offer advice or help with planning for your power plant. We will happily answer any questions you may have regarding the appraisal and assessment. Get in touch now: buero@ge-cert.de!
Plant certification
According to the German Regulation on Providing Evidence of Electrotechnical Characteristics (NELEV), depending on the agreed real power of the connection, a plant certificate must be presented for connecting a local power plant to the mains in Germany. This applies to both new plants and to extensions or significant technical changes to existing plants with one or more generation units on a shared mains connection point.
Plant certificates for all local power plants
As an accredited certification body, MKH Greenergy Cert GmbH issues plant certificates for all types of local power plants – regardless of technology (wind, solar, combustion engine/CHP unit, storage system) or connected voltage (medium, high and extra-high voltage network).
Guidelines for plant certification
Plants are certified according to the Technical Guidelines for Generation Units and Power Plants, Part 8: “Certification of Electrical Properties of Generation Units and Power Plants, Storage Systems and their Components on the Energy Grid” (FGW TR8). The certification confirms compliance with the electrical requirements at the mains connection point according to the requirements of each grid operator and according to the latest technical guidelines:
- VDE-AR-N 4110 – Connecting to a medium voltage network
- VDE-AR-N 4120 – Connecting to a high voltage network
- VDE-AR-N 4130 – Connecting to an extra-high voltage network
What certification processes are there for power plants?
The type of plant certification you need depends on the real power of the connection of the entire power plant agreed on with the grid operator at the mains connection point. The following plant certificates are available:
- Plant certificate Type A (for power plants with real connection power of ≥ 950 kW)
- Plant certificate Type B (for power plants with real connection power of ≥ 135 kW and < 950 kW)
- • Plant certificate Type C (individual evidence process)
What are the necessary inspections for power plants?
The analyses in the plant certificate are based on the electrical planning of the power plant in conjunction with the type certificates for the generation units and components. You will receive a checklist from the certification body prior to the certification so that you can put together all the documents and information required for the inspection of the power plant. Based on the documents submitted, the electrical behaviour of the power plant is then calculated using static and dynamic simulations. The results of this evaluation are subsequently presented in an inspection report. If the assessment produces a positive result, a plant certificate will be issued confirming that the plant satisfies the applicable technical guidelines and conditions of connection. This certificate also acts as evidence that can be submitted to the grid operator to demonstrate that the planning of the power plant conforms to the guidelines.
What is the deadline for submitting the certificate to the grid operator?
Generally speaking, the plant certificate needs to be submitted to the grid operator in good time before the power plant is put into operation. Ask the relevant grid operator for the exact deadline. Our tip: for a smooth certification process, we recommend commissioning plant certification from MKH Greenergy Cert GmbH at least a few months before you plan to put your plant into operation.
How long are the plant certificates valid for?
Pursuant to FGW TR8, the validity of a plant certificate ends when the declaration of conformity is issued – no later than twelve months after the first generation unit in the power plant is put into operation.
We are more than happy to answer any questions you may have about plant certification. Get in touch now: buero@ge-cert.de!
Declaration of conformity
A plant certificate is only evidence that the electrical planning for connecting a power plant to the mains is compliant with the guidelines. Grid operators additionally require a so-called power plant declaration of conformity in order to ensure that the power plant is set up correctly after being put into operation. This declaration is also issued by an accredited certification body such as MKH Greenergy Cert GmbH.
What is checked in the declaration of conformity?
A declaration of conformity checks that the power plant has been set up in compliance with the certified planning and therefore confirms that the applicable mains connection regulations have been fulfilled in practice. The inspection covers elements such as the implementation of:
- requirements from the unit certificate(s);
- requirements from the component certificate(s);
- requirements from the plant certificate (functionality of control and protection systems, parameterisation of generation units, dimensions of operating equipment etc.).
Presenting this evidence to the grid operator represents the end of the statutory evidence process required for connecting a power plant to the mains.
What is the deadline for submitting the declaration to the grid operator?
Pursuant to the latest technical guidelines (VDE-AR-N 4110, VDE-AR-N 4120), the declaration of conformity for a power plant must be submitted to the grid operator six months after the entire power plant is put into operation, and no later than twelve months after the first generation unit is put into operation. Following this, the plant operator will receive final permission to operate their power plant.
What is important in the commissioning declaration?
The declaration of conformity is based on the plant certificate and also the commissioning declaration for the power plant. This commissioning documentation is prepared either by the connection recipient themselves or by a qualified body commissioned by the same, before being provided to the certification body. These bodies include electrical planners and plant builders.
We are more than happy to answer any questions you may have about the declaration of conformity. Get in touch now: buero@ge-cert.de!