Building the energy system of the future

The Netherlands is changing fast. We are switching to energy from renewable sources and using more and more electricity. For our heating, we are switching to sustainable alternatives. This development calls for a new energy system; a system that is both aligned with how we use energy today and ready for the future.

Why the energy system
needs to change

Energy used to be generated by power plants. From there, the energy went to households and businesses. Today, things are different. We now generate energy in a lot more places, such as through solar panels and at wind farms. At the same time, electricity demand is rising rapidly and is expected to increase even further in the years ahead.

The supply side is also changing. Solar and wind power are renewable, but they are not always available. As a result, the energy system is a lot less predictable. This means we need more flexibility. To increase flexibility, we are building a system where various sources of energy work together and complement each other.

Today’s reality:
a congested electricity grid

Rapid growth in electricity consumption and generation is creating a new challenge: the electricity grid has reached its capacity in many places. This is known as grid congestion. Put simply, grid congestion is like a traffic jam on the road, but for electricity. It means that there is too much electricity demand or supply at any one time. The grid is not always able to accommodate such peaks in demand or supply.

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The consequences
of grid congestion

A congested power grid creates a lot of challenges for our customers and in society as a whole. It makes it harder for businesses to grow or go sustainable. But it also affects consumers, such as when housing development projects are delayed because new properties cannot be connected to the grid. Or when someone is unable to get a higher-capacity connection for a charging station, for example. Given these challenges, it is important that we find solutions for customers as quickly as possible and utilise the grid as efficiently as possible.

Finding
solutions

In order to tackle these challenges, we are focusing our efforts on both expanding and innovating the grid.

We keep building,
together

The energy transition is a shared challenge. No single party can solve it on its own.

That's why we work closely together with customers, partners and public authorities. Together, we explore what is possible and develop solutions that work in the real world. Sometimes this means making different choices and adopting new ways of working. By working together, we are making a real difference.

Building a future-proof
energy system

The transition to a new energy system is a major and complex challenge. Even so, we are making progress every day. We are building, innovating and finding solutions together. With these efforts, we are making sure that energy continues to be available to everyone – both today and in the future.