German DSO cuts residential solar grid connection approval time to 5 minutes
German DSO Netze BW cut residential solar grid connection approvals to five minutes via automation, reducing processing from 12 days in manual cases.
German distribution system operator Netze BW has introduced an automated assessment process for rooftop solar installations up to 15 kW, reducing grid connection approval times from an average of 12 days to approximately five minutes in areas with sufficient grid capacity. The system was launched in late July 2026 after a testing phase that began in November 2025, following a surge in connection requests for small-scale PV systems and battery storage across Germany.
The automated process, accessible through Netze BW’s online customer portal, issues binding approvals specifying the connection point for qualifying installations. According to company representatives, over 16,000 grid connection requests for small-scale PV systems have been received since the system’s rollout, with more than 5,000 applicants already receiving automated responses within five minutes.
Netze BW’s automated system relies on a digital grid model that evaluates available capacity, technical constraints, and previously approved connections to determine eligibility. Applications are only referred for manual review when grid capacity is insufficient, a process that can take up to 12 days. Currently, 99% of connection requests are submitted through the portal, which operates around the clock.
The company plans to expand automation to additional connection processes while ensuring grid stability. Netze BW’s performance in digitalization was highlighted in a summer 2025 index by Germany’s Federal Network Agency, where it recorded an average processing time of 12 days for manual requests compared to a median of 80 days across all operators.