News item | 31-03-2025 | 16:30
The power grid runs into many places in the Netherlands against the borders. As a result, companies and organizations that want a (heavier) electricity connection will be on a waiting list. Public transport companies can play an important role in relieving the power grid. The central government, network operators and public transport parties have made agreements today how the public transport sector can prevent the pressure on the power grid and to ensure that the public transport sector can grow within the (future) boundaries of the steam network. For the implementation of the measures, 3.2 million euros will be available from the central government over the next 4 years.
OV sector helps to tackle power grid to tackle the power grid
Public transport in the Netherlands is largely electric. Public transport is therefore highly dependent on the already overcrowded power grid, which means that public transport growth ambitions can get into trouble. At the same time, public transport with its own electricity grid can also help to prevent crowds on the power grid. This is also apparent from two external investigations commissioned by the government.
Minister Hermans (climate and green growth): “We do everything we can to tackle the problems with the full power grid. Not only from the government and the network operators, but also together with parties that use a lot of electricity. Large consumers can help spreading the peaks on the power grid. That is both in their own interests like that of all people and companies that are happy to solve it and I also think it is important and participating in it also important and participating in it also important and participating in it also important and participating. bottlenecks. ”
State Secretary Chris Jansen (Public Transport and the Environment): “Smart solutions are bringing the Netherlands further. The public transport sector in the Netherlands is smart and innovative. It is therefore fantastic that the sector can contribute to the approach to the full power grid and at the same time grow. Because to be able to run more trains, trams and electric buses, the public power network must of course be on that.”
New measures
A number of concrete agreements have been made with the parties from the public transport sector. For example, in collaboration with the municipality of Utrecht and network manager Stedin, ProRail will place a biodieselaggregate in Utrecht next to the railway to resolve an existing bottleneck on the power grid. This solution has the potential to be applied in more places.
Another good example is the Rotterdam transport company RET that has been supplying electricity to the municipality of Rotterdam and nature organization Zuid-Hollands Landschap since the beginning of this year if they do not use it for the trams and subways. This is especially outside rush hour and at night. The municipality of Rotterdam wants to provide two new charging squares for cars, delivery vans and construction traffic with RET power. Because this is possible within the existing contracts, no new or heavier connections are needed that now often take a long time. The parties involved have agreed to see together whether and how they can use these kinds of solutions in more places.
Regional bus companies are helped with concluding contracts with the network operators where they only charge electric buses at night, if it is quiet on the power grid. All these options are used in Stedelijk OV and unused capacity of their own power grid is also used to charge other vehicles.
The parties have agreed to scale up and expand solutions as much as possible. Carriers will ensure that smart energy consumption becomes part of regular business operations. The government invests in developing and distributing the required new knowledge and the connection between all parties. Finally, the Ministries KGG and IenW investigate which obstacles in legislation and regulations stand in the way and adjust the legislation and regulations where necessary and possibly.
Sector agreements
The cabinet previously concluded an agreement with the water boards to combat the full power grid and is in conversation with more sectors to make agreements. The advantage of agreements with an entire sector is that solutions can be used at the same time in several places in the Netherlands.
The agreement has been signed by the Ministries of Infrastructure and Water Management and Climate and Green Growth, DOVA, EBS, Municipality of Arnhem and Utrecht, GVB, HTM, Keolis, Metropool Region Rotterdam The Hague, Netbeheer Nederland, NS, ProRail, Province of Utrecht, Qbuzz, RET and Transport region Amsterdam.