TenneT pushes Dutch grid split and completes long‑delayed Rilland‑Tilburg line

TenneT is reorganising the Dutch high‑voltage transmission system by dividing the existing inter‑provincial grid into four separate sub‑networks. The split will give each region its own connection to the national 380 kV ring, increase capacity and reduce inter‑regional dependence. To enable the change, four substations – Lelystad, Dodewaard, Doetinchem and Breukelen‑Kortrijk – are being reinforced, with the Lelystad expansion project increasing the site from 3.6 to 4.8 hectares and slated for completion in 2029. The Dutch regulator ACM has voiced support for the partition, saying smaller congestion zones provide clearer signals for needed flexible power.

After a 15‑year delay caused by protests, complex permitting and political disputes, the new 380 kV line linking Rilland in Zeeland to Tilburg is finally under construction. Foundations for the first transmission towers are in place, and the line will facilitate the flow of wind and solar electricity from the west to major demand centres, including semiconductor manufacturer ASML. The Dutch government is considering a crisis law to prevent similar legal bottlenecks in future large‑scale energy projects.