TenneT is making haste with the expansion of the high-voltage grid in Brabant. A number of projects will be brought forward and the high-voltage grid in our province will be ‘cut up’ into pieces. Additional high-voltage substations must ensure that electricity can be transported and supplied more effectively to the national main grid.
The panic was great when Tennet decided in mid-June not to connect new companies to the electricity grid in Brabant and Limburg for the time being. There was also no more room for existing companies that wanted a heavier connection. The high-voltage grid in both provinces is almost at maximum capacity.
energy transition
The demand for capacity in the national high-voltage grid is high due to the rapid development of the energy transition and further economic growth. Demand is growing due to the arrival of wind turbines, solar parks, charging stations, heat pumps and the sustainability plans of the industry. The capacity of the electricity grid must be doubled in the next ten years in order to meet the climate ambitions and the sharply increasing demand, says TenneT.
In the Tuesday presented Investment plan provides an overview of major projects that TenneT will carry out or deliver in the coming years. The national grid operator divides the high-voltage grid into five sub-areas. Geertruidenberg, Tilburg Noord, Eindhoven and Boxmeer will have an extra coupling station for this.
Triple capacity
By dividing the long high-voltage cable into pieces, electricity can be better transported and supplied to the national main grid. This results in a tripling of capacity in many places. Where there are still major problems with the return of electricity over the cables, it is easier to transfer the ‘excess’ of power supplied to such a coupling station.
In addition, a number of large projects are highlighted. For example, the expansion of capacity at Geertruidenberg will be accelerated, the new high-voltage substation at Tilburg will be constructed earlier and the expansion at Eindhoven will be completed earlier. These three projects should be ready by 2025 instead of 2028.
Special coordinator
Due to the capacity problems in Brabant and Limburg, Energy Minister Rob Jetten has appointed special coordinator Ben Voorhorst. He is working with the central government, the provinces and the network operators to speed up planning and other procedures. This is crucial for the business climate and sustainability plans in both provinces.
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