From Constraint to Connection: Flexible Connection Agreements for Charge Point Operators

Timely access to the electricity grid remains the single biggest barrier to the rollout of EV charging infrastructure in Europe. In many regions, grid capacity is either unavailable or highly constrained, leading to costly delays that threaten the pace of EV deployment and undermine the EV driver experience. Without faster and more predictable grid access, charging sites are postponed, investor confidence is weakened, and Europe risks falling short of its electrification and climate goals.

Flexible Connection Agreements (FCAs) can provide a valuable interim solution.

ChargeUp Europe recommendations:

• Establish EU-wide minimum standards for FCA contracts – including clear definitions of firm vs. flexible capacity, baseline availability, notice periods, and standardized digital protocols.

• Lower thresholds for eligibility – to ensure small and mid-sized CPOs can access FCAs, especially in congested areas, thereby accelerating deployment and supporting transport decarbonization.

• Guarantee grid transparency – DSOs must publish substation-level congestion maps, connection queues, and forecasted capacity data to support investment decisions.

• Standardize tools and processes – develop model contracts and interoperable APIs, with the Commission setting guidelines, ACER supervising consistency, and NRAs ensuring implementation.

• Ensure oversight and accountability – ACER and NRAs should monitor FCA rollout, publish performance metrics, and intervene where access is discriminatory or insufficient.

• Equip DSOs to deliver – provide EU-level funding and technical support for DERMS, telemetry, and staff training, particularly for smaller DSOs.

Read the full paper to learn how FCAs can improve the access to the electricity grid.

You can read the full paper on FCAs here.