{"id":24356,"date":"2025-08-21T10:16:51","date_gmt":"2025-08-21T08:16:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cubeconcepts.de\/?p=24356"},"modified":"2026-04-28T11:11:53","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T09:11:53","slug":"cable-pooling-for-efficient-network-utilization","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cubeconcepts.de\/en\/cable-pooling-fuer-effiziente-netzauslastung\/","title":{"rendered":"Cable Pooling for Efficient Network Utilization"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cable Pooling<\/strong> describes the targeted combining of several power generation facilities (e.g., wind, PV, storage) at a common network interconnection point<\/strong>. The central goal: Existing grid connection capacity will be better utilized, as not every plant feeds in its maximum output at the same time. German law has explicitly permitted since 2025 for the first time that more generation capacity can be connected at the NVP than the grid can actually accommodate \u2013 so-called \u201eSuperstructure<\/strong>\u201cor\u201eOversizing<\/strong>\u201c.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Network bottlenecks and capacity limits due to classical network planning<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With the rapid expansion of renewable energies, Germany's power grid is increasingly reaching its capacity limits. Numerous new photovoltaic and wind power plants often wait for months or even years for a grid connection. This is because the available grid connection points are already at full capacity, and the expansion of the grid infrastructure is not keeping pace. Traditionally, grid connection points are designed so that each connected plant can feed in its maximum output at any time. However, the reality is different: solar and wind energy plants operate depending on the weather and season, meaning they generate rarely at their maximum performance simultaneously<\/strong>. This leaves a large portion of grid connection capacities unused for much of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Better utilization through cable pooling<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This inefficient use of infrastructure leads to avoidable Waiting times<\/strong> during project implementation and increased costs<\/strong>. Ultimately, it can also lead to renewable projects not being realized at all. With cable pooling, the existing grid is utilized much better because multiple plants and storage facilities share the grid capacity and balance each other out. This is also supported by current studies from the German Renewable Energy Federation (BEE) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System Technology (IEE). With a moderate oversizing of grid connection points, utilization increases without excessive electricity surpluses being created. This allows for Realize more projects faster, cheaper, and more efficiently<\/strong> \u2013 a crucial step towards achieving ambitious climate goals and strengthening energy security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How does cable pooling work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In practical operation, cable pooling means that several power generation facilities \u2013 for example, wind and solar farms as well as battery storage systems \u2013 share a common grid connection point and can use the available grid capacity more flexibly and jointly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Co-location projects<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In so-called Co-location projects<\/strong>, In cases where renewable energy systems (RE systems) and battery storage are connected at a grid interconnection point, co-use of the grid connection is explicitly permitted. In this scenario, the RE system and the storage are technically separate from each other. Each has its own metering concept and its own market location (MaLo). The key feature is that the large-scale battery storage can feed into the grid when the RE system is not fully utilizing the grid capacity. Therefore, the available grid connection for the storage is dynamic and depends on the current feed-in from the RE system. Through its own MaLo, the storage can also be flexibly used for grid procurement (gray electricity).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hybrid models<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In addition to traditional cable pooling, there are various technical and market-based approaches for sharing and optimizing resources. In a hybrid model, storage and the connected renewable energy plant are treated as a single common overall system<\/strong>. This involves economic optimum<\/strong> in the foreground. In combined operation, it can be meaningful to deliberately throttle the feed-in power of the renewable energy system to prioritize the storage system \u2013 for example, to be available for the grid balancing market or to optimally exploit market signals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EEG-subsidized facilities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For EEG-subsidized PV or wind power plants, a special model must be applied. In this case, the battery storage and the EEG-subsidized renewable energy system are connected behind the same feed-in meter. The difference: The operation is designed solely for renewable energy<\/strong> The storage may only be charged with surplus electricity from the renewable energy system; additional grid power, i.e., charging with grey electricity, is excluded. This option meets the funding requirements according to the EEG and guarantees that only green energy is temporarily stored and fed back in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flexible connection options with Cable Pooling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to modern technical control, separate measurement concepts, and clearly regulated market processes, significant efficiency gains can be achieved at grid interconnection points today. Thus, cable pooling and various optimization models open up flexible ways to optimally utilize grid connections and new business models around electricity storage and Sector coupling<\/a> to develop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Legal framework<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The current legal framework, particularly the EEG 2023 and the new regulations from February 25, 2025 (Sections 8 and 8a EEG), ensures legal security and planning certainty. These now expressly permit multiple actors to flexibly utilize their joint grid connection potential and Make better use of the network connection point<\/a>. Participants in cable pooling benefit from being able to conclude individual, flexible grid connection agreements directly with the grid operator. This creates the technical and regulatory conditions for various plant operators to collaborate lawfully at a single grid connection point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advantages of Cable Pooling in practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In practice, cable pooling offers numerous tangible benefits for everyone involved:<\/p>\n\n\n\n