National Contact Point for Renewable Energy Sources

• obtaining gas grid connection conditions from the gas system operator;
• signing a connection agreement with the gas system operator;
• concluding a contract for the provision of gas fuel distribution and/or transmission services.

Gas grid connection conditions are a document issued by the operator of the gas distribution or transmission system. They define the technical parameters and the costs associated with connecting a renewable energy installation to the gas network.

Unlike in the case of connection to the electricity system, the gas system operator is not required to publish information on the availability of connection capacity or network absorption.

Therefore, before submitting an application for the issuance of gas grid connection conditions, it is recommended to first submit a request to the operator for information on the possibility of connection to the network owned by the operator. Based on this request, the operator prepares information regarding the feasibility of connection at the network point indicated by the investor. Once the operator confirms the network’s absorption capacity and the possibility of receiving gas fuel, the investor may proceed with submitting the application for the issuance of gas grid connection conditions.

The application is submitted to the distribution or transmission system operator that owns the gas network to which the investor intends to connect.

The application typically includes:

• identification details and address of the applicant;
• location of the renewable energy installation;
• proposed location of the entry point to the network where gas fuel will be delivered;
• expected start date of gas fuel delivery;
• specification of the connection capacity of the installation and the expected volume of gas fuel to be delivered to the network (hourly, daily, and annually);
• specification of the gas fuel pressure at the delivery point and the delivery characteristics by month;
• a declaration by the applicant that the gas fuel meets the quality parameters specified in the IRiESD.

The following attachments should also be submitted:

• a document confirming legal title to the property or facility to be connected;
• a site map at a scale of 1:1000 (or 1:2000) indicating the entry point to the distribution system;
• a location map of the facilities at a scale of 1:25000;
• an extract from the National Court Register (KRS);
• a declaration regarding the legal title to use the facility or property;
• a power of attorney, if the application is submitted by a proxy.

Once the application is submitted, the operator assesses whether there are technical and economic conditions for connecting the generation unit.

Technical conditions are most often related to the absorption capacity of the local gas network. The operator checks whether it is possible to safely receive and transport gas fuel through the network and determines the quality parameters that the gas fuel must meet to be injected into the network at the given location.

Economic conditions include the assessment of the economic viability of the connection and the availability of financial resources for the network expansion required to connect the renewable energy installation.

If the operator refuses to issue gas grid connection conditions, the gas transmission or distribution company is required to indicate the nearest alternative location where the connection would meet technical and economic criteria.

The application must be processed within 90 days from the date of submission of a complete application.

Gas grid connection conditions are valid for 2 years from the date of delivery.

Unlike in the case of connection to the electricity network, the investor is not required to pay an advance for the issuance of connection conditions.

The connection fee is specified in the connection agreement.

If the operator refuses to issue gas grid connection conditions, the investor may submit a request for review to the President of the Energy Regulatory Office (URE) pursuant to Article 8 of the Energy Law.

The administrative rulings of the President of URE may be appealed to the District Court in Warsaw – Division of the Court of Competition and Consumer Protection, pursuant to Article 30(2) of the Energy Law.

It is generally possible to submit the application for the issuance of gas grid connection conditions electronically using dedicated online forms provided by the operator.

The connection agreement to the gas network constitutes the legal basis for connecting a renewable energy installation to the gas network. It defines the amount of the connection fee and the deadlines for its implementation.

It is a contract concluded between the distribution or transmission system operator and the investor, which constitutes a commitment to carry out connection works for the generation source, in accordance with the technical specifications defined in the gas grid connection conditions.

To carry out this task, both parties undertake to perform works aimed at connecting the generation source to the gas network.

The provisions of the connection agreement are based on the previously issued gas grid connection conditions, which define the terms of cooperation between the operator and the investor. The agreement also specifies the estimated amount of the connection fee, which is calculated as 100% of the actual expenditures incurred for the implementation of the connection.

Additionally, in order to enable the delivery of gas fuel to the distribution gas network, it is necessary to conclude a technical agreement specifying the conditions and methods of cooperation between the gas network operator and the operator of the renewable energy installation.

After signing the connection agreement and completing the connection to the gas network, in order to commence the delivery of gas fuel to the gas network, it is required to conclude a contract for the provision of gas fuel distribution and/or transmission services. Once the conditions specified in these contracts are met, the delivery of gas fuel through the gas network becomes possible.