WEMO 2025 (complet) - Flipbook - Page 29
W E M O 202 5
O U T LO O K
In July 2024, total wind, solar PV and hydropower capacity
in various development stages waiting for grid connections
amounted to 3000 MW203 equivalent to around 昀椀ve times
the amount of solar PV and wind capacity added in 2024.
Streamlining connection processes through automation and
standardized protocols can reduce study times. FERC’s208
Order 2023 in the US mandates faster queue processing and
penalties for delays, aiming to cut wait times209. In Europe210,211
the November 2024 EU Action Plan for grids is aimed at 昀椀xing
structural issues but urgent short-term actions are needed
on the very long grid connection queues. In Germany, the
timelines for permitting have been signi昀椀cantly reduced
through reforms aligned with the EU RED III Directive. Standard
renewable energy projects are now capped at 12 months, and
in designated acceleration zones, at 6 months. Grid connection
processes are also being digitized and supported by expert
pools to speed up approvals.212
The United States has a very large queue of clean energy
projects with the wait average time up from 2.1 years in 2000
to 3.7 years in 2021204. In Europe 1,700 GW of renewables are
stuck in grid connection queues across 16 countries.205 Other
countries with signi昀椀cant backlogs include China206, where
rapid solar and wind deployment faces grid bottlenecks, and
India, aiming for 500 GW of renewable capacity by 2030207 but
hampered by grid infrastructure and 昀椀nancing challenges.
https://emp.lbl.gov/queues
https://www.iea.org/reports/renewables-2024/electricity, https://www.iea.org/reports/
electricity-grids-and-secure-energy-transitions/executive-summary
204
https://decarbonization.visualcapitalist.com/gridlock-visualizing-the-u-s-clean-energy-backlog/
205
https://beyondfossilfuels.org/2025/05/13/
outdated-grid-planning-and-weak-governance-stalling-europes-transition-away-from-fossil-fuels/
206
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/environment/2025/08/05/energy/china-renewables-power-grid/
207
bef.org/research/case-study/india-s-renewable-energy-boom-the-power-of-solar-andbeyond#:~:text=This%20includes%20a%20pledge%20to,zero%20carbon%20emissions%20by%20
2070.
Traditional grid protection systems are designed
for one-way power flow. DG can complicate these
systems, making it harder to detect and isolate
faults, potentially leading to wider-spread outages.
Finally, microgrids, which operate independently, challenge
operators with coordination issues. For example, their
islanding capabilities can disrupt load balancing if not
properly synchronized.
• Grid operators will also face challenges with Gen AI
increase (see above)
202
203
FERC: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (US).
https://www.ferc.gov/explainer-interconnection-昀椀nal-rule
https://www.eco昀椀nconcept.de/eu-grid-action-plan-will-help-renewables-but-urgent-actionneeded-on-excessive-connection-queues/
211
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2025/772854/
EPRS_BRI(2025)772854_EN.pdf
208
209
210
https://www.cleanenergywire.org/news/
germany-grants-fast-track-areas-shorter-approval-times-renewables-and-electrolysers
213
https://energy.sustainability-directory.com/question/
how-does-distributed-generation-a昀昀ect-grid-stability/
WEMO 2025
Globally, countries are addressing connection queue
bottleneck s through grid reforms, introducing
new measures to speed up connection timelines.
• Grid operators face signi昀椀cant challenges in managing
distributed generation (DG) and microgrid. This is due to
their decentralized nature, bidirectional power 昀氀ows, and
impact on grid stability213. Distributed Generation (DG), such as
rooftop solar and small-scale wind, introduces variability and
unpredictability, complicating voltage and frequency control.
Also when DG sources generate more electricity than local
loads consume, power 昀氀ows back up the distribution network
towards the transmission grid. This “reverse power 昀氀ow”
can overload distribution lines and transformers, creating
interferences potentially leading to equipment failures.
212
28
These delays result in signi昀椀cant project withdrawals, with
most queued projects in the US dropping out due to costs or
timelines. These grids connection ine昀케ciencies are depriving
the impacted regions of new renewable capacity they
would need to meet their 2030 energy and climate targets.
• Integrating decentralized renewable energy sources into
the grids is challenging. Connecting renewable capacities
necessitates complex studies to assess grid impact, which can
take years due to backlogs and understa昀케ng at grid operators.202
Regulatory and permitting delays, including environmental
reviews and local opposition, further complicate connections.
Additionally, the high cost of grid upgrades, sometimes
borne by developers, can render projects uneconomical.
