Netherlands eases grid congestion, removes 173 firms from waiting list

Stedin and TenneT report that electricity demand has pushed the high‑voltage network in the Barendrecht‑Ridderkerk area of South Holland to full capacity. The 38.5 MW transport limit is expected to rise to 40.5 MW by 2033, prompting a phased expansion that includes a new Langeland sub‑station in 2029, a combined Ridderkerk‑Bolnes station by 2031 and a Barendrecht station by the end of 2033. Stedin is also studying congestion‑management agreements with large consumers to create temporary flexibility.

In the neighbouring province of Zeeland, grid operators have removed 173 companies and institutions from the connection waiting list by signing flexible power‑use contracts that shift consumption to off‑peak periods. The move, described as a test case for smarter use of existing capacity, contrasts with the national backlog of roughly 15,000 pending connections, which continues to grow as households and businesses apply for higher‑capacity supply.

Both developments illustrate the Netherlands’ ongoing struggle to match rapidly rising electricity demand—driven by heat pumps, electric vehicles and new construction—with network upgrades and demand‑side measures.