The Netherlands, South Holland: Gas-fired power stations and combined heat and power plants at horticultural firms in northern South Holland will need to stay in use for longer than planned. This is necessary to stop the electricity grid from becoming overloaded in the coming years, according to new research carried out with regional grid operators Stedin and Liander.
Without these measures, forecasts show that parts of the grid could exceed their limits from 2028. Electricity demand from both households and businesses remains high, while too few companies are currently able to shift their usage away from peak times. As a result, there is still no space on the grid for businesses that are waiting for new or larger connections.
Grid operator TenneT warns that phasing out large gas-fired power stations too soon would remove a major source of local electricity production. Until the high-voltage grid is expanded between 2032 and 2035, this would put extra pressure on an already full network. Talks are ongoing with power producers, the Ministry of Climate and Green Growth, and the regulator to keep these plants available during this period.
The grid in South Holland has been under strain for several years due to rapid electrification. Businesses are switching to electric production and heating, while households are using more electricity for heat pumps and charging electric vehicles.
Studies into flexible electricity use and technical alternatives have so far delivered limited results. However, they do show strong potential in keeping gas-fired capacity available for longer. Grid operators are also working on other solutions, such as smart charging, grid-aware housing development and requiring large firms to offer flexible capacity.
Billions of euros will be invested in grid expansion across South Holland, but until upgrades are completed, avoiding peak demand remains key to keeping the lights on and connecting new users.
Source: TenneT
