News item | 10-12-2024 | 12:39
The renovation of the energy system in the Netherlands is in full swing. Construction has been completed or started on several major energy infrastructure projects this year. Significant progress has been made on the more than 60 major energy projects that are in preparation, so that the construction of these projects can start as soon as possible. At the same time, complexity also increases. For example, due to a lack of space and complex permitting. Today is the new overview of all ongoing major energy infrastructure projects in the Netherlands published.
The energy infrastructure must be significantly renovated to provide enough energy for new homes, sustainable industry and clean transport in the future. The national government is working hard with the parties involved on the construction of new high-voltage connections, pipelines for hydrogen and CO2 and new nuclear power stations. This is done, among other things, by determining the location of large projects more quickly and issuing the necessary permits via the so-called project procedure and with the Multi-Year Infrastructure Energy and Climate Program (MIEK), through which projects are given priority and supported by the central government in their progress. .
Important milestones in 2024
Important milestones were achieved for various projects last year, such as the choice of location or the completion of preparations so that construction can finally start. Examples of this are:
- It connecting offshore wind farms to the power grid. For example, the connection for the Hollandse Kust (west) Alpha wind farm was delivered for use. Preparations have been completed in Borsele (Nederwiek 1) and construction is about to begin.
- It electricity grid is being significantly expanded. This year, preparations started for new high-voltage projects at Moerdijk, Delfzijl and between Maasbracht and Eindhoven.
- Preparations for it hydrogen network: a preferred route has been chosen for the network in the North Sea Canal area. For other sub-routes such as in Groningen and Drenthe-Overijssel, this step will follow in 2025.
- The construction of the Porthos project for the capture, transport and storage of CO2 has started. The design permits were published for the Aramis project.
- Also the procedure for the construction of two new ones nuclear power plants has started.
Four new projects of national importance
This year, four new projects have been included in the Multi-Year Infrastructure Energy and Climate Program (MIEK) in which the government is taking more control:
- A CO2-pipeline (Delta Schelde Connection) between Antwerp, Moerdijk, Rotterdam and a branch to Zeeland;
- A pipeline tunnel (multi-Utilities Crossing Western Scheldt) for, among other things, hydrogen, heat, CO2 and raw materials under the Western Scheldt in Zeeland;
- A regional network for storage, transport and use of CO2 in the North Sea Canal area;
Expansion of the power grid in Northeast Brabant to meet the growing energy needs of Brainport Eindhoven and the region around Oss.
Complexity and bottlenecks in implementation
Realizing large-scale energy projects is complex. This is partly due to the scarce space for large energy projects, complex permitting, limited nitrogen space and scarcity of personnel or materials. This may lead to delays on some projects. The national government is working with grid operators, local authorities and other parties involved on various options to keep up the pace. Such as legal acceleration measures and an exploration into a nitrogen approach for energy infrastructure projects.