Grid congestion in Brainport

Across the Netherlands, and in the Brainport region in particular, a shortage of capacity on the electricity network is emerging. Companies are becoming more sustainable and growing. As the demand for power has exploded, the electricity grid is getting overloaded. Smart solutions are needed to create space on the congested electricity grid.

Explosive demand for electricity

Climate targets set by the Netherlands and the rest of the world are changing the way we generate and use energy. We are switching from fossil fuels to sustainable, CO2-free energy. The growth of solar and wind energy in the energy mix leads to fluctuating supply. Combined with growing power demand, the grid is becoming overloaded. To become more sustainable and grow, acceleration and innovative solutions are needed.

Individual solutions for more power

Companies can work individually with solutions to meet their electricity demand. First of all, companies can save energy, thereby reducing their demand. In addition, the company can spread the demand for energy more throughout the day. This avoids peak loads and the company makes more efficient use of the existing contract space at Enexis. Companies can be compensated for reducing their existing contract in consultation with the grid operator.

Subsequently, companies can provide for their electricity by generating renewable energy on their own roofs and land. To avoid burdening the grid, storing the energy is a solution to be able to use the generated energy over a longer period of time.

Collective solutions for more space on the grid

By collaborating with businesses, organizations and government in the area, solutions can be taken up collectively. These are called energy hubs, or local energy hubs. In such a hub, sustainable generation, storage and mutual exchange of energy flows take place. These energy flows are intelligently controlled on the basis of supply and demand with an energy management system. This requires good cooperation (on the exchange, but also on the deployment of flexibility) between several stakeholders, such as the connected companies, the grid operator, park management and possibly the municipality.

Enexis pilot Kempisch Bedrijven Park

Several companies at the Kempisch Bedrijvenpark in Hapert have started developing a Local Energy Hub together with the Kempen municipalities, Enexis and Brainport Development. Current and future energy consumption is being examined in order to determine which knobs can be turned in order to provide as many existing and new companies on the site with electricity as possible. This involves looking at saving energy, adding more sustainable sources of energy, combining energy contract values of the various companies, energy storage and coordinating power demand to prevent peak loads. The Kempisch Bedrijven Park is one of three national pilots launched by Enexis. The goal of Enexis is to gain experience in distributing grid use in case of transmission shortages.

Solving grid congestion

Stories of grid pioniers

These companies were without power — but not without ideas. Read how entrepreneurs are going strong despite grid congestion, thanks to smart solutions.