German network authority the Bundesnetzagentur has made changes to the terms of its solar tenders in response to a call from developers last week to delay grid-connection deadlines for facilities being built under the national procurement program for large scale PV.
“The coronavirus has created an exceptional situation,” the authority said after taking measures to avoid penalties being applied for missed project completion deadlines. Developers made the call because of the disruption they are suffering thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Tenders which are under way will experience a delay but the Bundesnetzagentur said developers should follow the existing timetable to lodge project bids. Rather than publishing the results online, which would trigger new deadlines under the normal procedure, the outcomes will be announced in another manner once an assessment of the Covid-19 situation has been made.