Expansion of Dutch electricity grid through sharply increasing energy production level
- The Netherlands as Europe’s power hub
- Greenhouses account for 13% of energy production in the Netherlands
- Potential to double production capacity by 2016
15-07-2010
The number of plans involving the construction of new power stations in both the Netherlands and neighbouring European countries is continuing to increase. If these developments persist, they will lead to a dramatic increase in the amount of competition on the European electricity market. Because of this, the Dutch high-voltage grid – which is currently being substantially expanded – will also take on an increasingly international role over the coming years. For the consumer, this means that the security of the electricity supply will remain consistently high and prices will continue to be stable.
This is all explained in the latest Quality and Capacity Plan, a bi-annual TenneT publication which looks ahead towards developments in the energy market. Three new power stations came into operation in 2009, the first in a series of major production units planned for development over the next few years. Between now and 2013, advanced investment plans have been drawn up for eleven new projects intended to collectively generate around 8,300 megawatts (MW) of electricity. Furthermore, the Dutch government has set its sights firmly on exploiting wind energy.
Doubling production capacity by 2016
In addition to the three power stations already in operation and the eleven production units at an advanced planning stage, TenneT is also aware of plans concerning the production of 13,000 MW of electricity. Aside from investments in major power stations, during the past few years large scale investments have also been made within the greenhouse horticulture sector in developing combined heat and power capacity. As such, this industry currently accounts for 13 percent (3,300 MW) of total electricity production capacity in the Netherlands. The current production capacity of electricity in the Netherlands can be doubled by 2016.
Development of the grid
Several scenarios involving potential future developments confirm the need for large-scale expansion in three areas: the southwest Netherlands, the northeast Netherlands, and the Randstad conurbation. TenneT has already begun to expand existing infrastructure in these areas. Over the coming seven years, TenneT is investing three billion euro into upgrading and expanding the grid in the Netherlands. These connections will not only be able to link new production units to the grid, but will also be instrumental in integrating wind energy from northern Germany and sustainable energy from Scandinavia into the grid. Because of this, the Dutch 380 kV transmission grid will play a pivotal role in the national and European ambition to develop a single electricity market in Europe. “The development towards a single European energy market facilitates a favourable investment climate and an enhanced security of supply in the future. The investments which we have already made in the national grid are in keeping with this development. Together with the integration of transpower’s German grid, we are moving more and more in the direction of becoming the power hub of the European electricity supply," TenneT CEO Mel Kroon says.
