Around 600 million euros in investments are at risk and 700 to 2,300 potential jobs are not available. According to advocacy group Ondernemend Emmen, these are the consequences of the delay in the construction of the new high-voltage station on the Boerdijk near Veenoord.
“A direct risk for the regional economy, housing construction and energy transition,” the platform describes in a statement addressed to both grid operator Tennet and the Ministry of Economic Affairs. The entrepreneurs therefore insist on maintaining the original delivery in 2029.
According to Tennet’s latest schedule, the station will only come into use between 2031 and 2033, so later than previously promised. This means that the Emmen region will remain closed to new connections until at least the end of this decade.
The business organization writes that expansion or new construction for companies is virtually impossible in the next 6 to 8 years. Necessary sustainability measures will also come to a standstill, as will the electrification of transport and technology. 155 companies are now waiting to connect or upgrade their network.
In addition, the grid congestion affects dozens of social and housing projects, says Ondernemend Emmen. For example, the opinion mentions a delay in the construction of 1,000 to 3,000 homes.
Director Herman Idema of Ondernemend Emmen emphasizes that the significant economic damage they mention did not just come out of the blue. According to him, the figures come from calculations made based on information requested from the province of Drenthe.
Idema outlines that the problem is much broader than growth alone. Sustainability measures are also stalling. “If you want to get rid of gas, you have to electrify. But that is often not possible at the moment. That is a real bottleneck for large companies: they want to electrify their fleet and install charging stations. But that is not possible at the moment.”
The horticultural sector, he says, is also reaching its limits. “Switch on all the water pumps there at the same time, and the net will flash here.”
Idema can be brief about the recent consultation with Enexis, Tennet and other parties: “It was a positive conversation with a poor outcome,” he summarizes. His hope that there would be room to bring delivery back to 2028 or 2029 turned out to be in vain.
What particularly surprised him was the explanation Tennet gave about the delay. According to Idema, the grid operator announced that they were surprised by the speed with which the municipality of Emmen and the Council of State had handled objection procedures and the necessary permits. As a result, Tennet had counted on a year and a half of extra time and in the meantime their people were assigned to other projects.
Entrepreneurial Emmen then started looking for alternatives in terms of the necessary manpower. “We have tapped into our network and found two large parties: one in Germany and one in the Netherlands. Both have capacity available. Those parties are happy to talk to Tennet.”
According to Idema, the possible consequences for the region are serious. “Companies that cannot become more sustainable or expand here may move elsewhere. Or they may stay put, but adjust their ambitions downwards.”
In the long term you will end up at a standstill. And standing still means going backwards, according to Idema. He emphasizes that the goal for Ondernemend Emmen has not shifted. “It is clear to us: the station must be ready by 2028 or 2029.”
The municipality is also preparing an opinion. The delay puts great pressure on the regional energy transition: numerous business, residential and sustainability projects are at risk of stalling due to the lack of grid capacity. Councilor Guido Rink previously indicated that the municipality has done everything to speed up the process and is now stuck with the problem beyond its control.
Emmen is also now committed to delivery between 2029 and 2031 and is currently having the possible damage mapped out. The outcome is expected by the end of this year.
With regard to the figures that Ondernemend Emmen mentions, the province of Drenthe speaks of ‘an estimate.’ “But we recognize the image that hundreds of millions worth of plans are on hold and that this is substantial for the regional economy and employment.”
The province will also submit an opinion. This will be discussed on Tuesday during the meeting of the Provincial Executive.