Expansion in the south-west of the Netherlands

TenneT has developed a long term vision for the development of electricity demand in the Netherlands. Based on different scenarios, this vision illustrates how the Dutch electricity grid will need to develop to meet this demand. It also highlights the need for various new power lines to ensure security of supply in the long term.

The European and Dutch electricity markets are currently in a state of flux as a result of factors such as:

• the increasing demand for electricity in the national (and international) market;
• the increase in production capacity at major production sites, for instance in Zeeland province;
• the increase in small scale production capacity such as wind farms and CHP installations.

In addition, there is ample opportunity to perform maintenance on high voltage connections without having to utilise major production sites at a lower level.

TenneT will therefore be investing considerably in the high voltage grid in the south west of the Netherlands over the next few years. An additional 380 kV line is needed to connect the large scale production site in Borssele to its counterpart in Tilburg. This additional connection will allow the security of supply in the Netherlands to be structurally increased, and will enable producers to transmit their electricity safely to other parts of the Netherlands and abroad.

Together with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, TenneT is currently conducting a study into environmental effects associated with the definitive six alternative routes for the 380 kV line. The definitive six alternative routes were announced after the proposed alternative routes were discussed with local authorities, residents and other stakeholders in the autumn of 2009. As with local planning factors, technical issues and costs, the results of the (environmental) impact study will play a role in determining the definitive route.

The environmental impact study will result in a report known as an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which will be used to substantiate the National Integration Plan. The latter plan establishes the exact route of the new high voltage connection. The EIA will be completed by mid 2010. Based in part on the EIA, the Minister of Economic Affairs and the Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment will announce their decision regarding the definitive route after the summer, in consultation with the Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, the Minister of Defence and the Minister of Transport, Public Works and Water Management.

Local authorities and stakeholders will be involved in the decision making process. The final decision will be influenced in part by environmental considerations, spatial plans, policy frameworks, costs and the timeline of the project. Besides government authorities and other stakeholders, the regional grid operators will also have an important role to play in the discussions. TenneT is aware of its social responsibility and exercises great care when developing new sections of the high voltage grid. We will incorporate the new power line as unobtrusively as possible into the surroundings.

http://www.zuid-west380kv.nl/