Tibo Energy wins national innovation award for its approach to grid congestion
Smart Brainport solution honoured at Nationale Netcongestie Dag
Tibo Energy, based in the Brainport region, has won first prize in the Netcongestie Innovatie Competitie MKB 2026. The prize was presented on 18 May by the State Secretary for Climate and Green Growth, Jo-Annes de Bat, during Nationale Netcongestie Dag in Arnhem. The jury, comprising representatives from grid operators, research institutions and entrepreneurs, named Tibo’s solution the most scalable innovation to combat grid congestion in the Netherlands.
The prize recognises a smart energy application that enables buildings within the same grid connection to use energy more efficiently. This creates more capacity on the electricity grid without the need for immediate infrastructure expansion.
Smart energy management within existing capacity
Together with Unica Building Services, Tibo Energy developed a smart connection solution for a fire station in Zeist. Thanks to this system, the building can largely switch away from gas without requiring a higher-capacity grid connection.
According to the jury, the solution demonstrates how companies can make much smarter use of existing grid capacity. It is precisely this kind of application that is desperately needed now that grid congestion is increasingly hindering growth, sustainability and electrification.
“Grid congestion is often seen as an infrastructure problem,” says Tibo Energy. “But with smart software and energy management, you can already do much more within existing capacity.”
Innovative strength from the Brainport region
Tibo’s success once again highlights the Brainport region’s innovative strength in addressing societal challenges such as the energy transition. In Brainport, businesses, research institutions and public authorities work together on technological solutions that can be applied directly in practice.
Tibo’s solution is part of a wider movement within the region: rather than waiting for future grid expansions, it involves making smarter use of existing capacity through digital technology and scalable innovations.
Qurmit XL People’s Choice Award
Qurmit Energy Storage Systems won the People’s Choice Award for their energy storage system, which can be installed indoors with fire safety guarantees. Qurmit XL makes energy storage practically viable with a safe, indoor system without complex requirements. In this way, both companies demonstrate how smart technology can be used to achieve more within the limits of the electricity grid. These are solutions that can be implemented today and contribute to the energy transition in the Brainport region.
About the competition
The Grid Congestion Innovation Competition SME 2026 is an initiative of the National Expertise Centre for Grid Congestion and the Ministry of Climate and Green Growth. The competition is aimed at entrepreneurs and companies with concrete, scalable solutions for grid congestion.