ARNHEM, On Wednesday evening, the Provincial Council of Gelderland unanimously expressed its concerns about a looming connection stop on the already overloaded electricity grid. Deputy Ans Mol reported shortly before the emergency debate that this could jeopardize the construction of more than 100,000 homes in the coming years. However, the province has limited options to solve the problem itself.

According to Mol, many solutions must come from The Hague, such as emergency legislation to speed up procedures and enable faster construction of high-voltage substations. She emphasized that it is important for the province to send a strong signal to the parties involved.

Urgent request for emergency measures

That signal was indeed sent. A motion to “do everything possible” to prevent a connection stop in Gelderland received broad support. The national government is also urgently requested to take emergency measures.

Although political parties differ in their views on how the energy supply should be organized, they agree on preventing a connection stop, said Gerben Hillebrand (JA21), who requested the debate.

Earlier this month, grid operator TenneT sounded the alarm after alarming new calculations showed that the overloaded electricity grid is far more congested than previously thought. If nothing happens soon, no additional homes or businesses can be connected in the short term, possibly as early as this summer. At that point, not only this province but also Utrecht and Flevoland could effectively be locked. Large-scale disruptions and power outages are looming.

A connection stop for homes and small businesses would not only concern new connections, but also requests for heavier connections. These may be required when people install a heat pump, charging station, or electric stove.

Homes or businesses that already have a contract for a grid connection do not need to worry. All contracts will be honored, according to TenneT.

VVD representative Koos de Looff argued for a more rigorous approach, for example by placing coordination under a single authority — in his view, the province. “We keep consulting and promising to do better next time, but time is running out.”

Ben Bloem (ChristenUnie) used a biblical metaphor: just as Joseph stored supplies in times of abundance for lean years, the electricity grid must also be brought back into balance.

“You had one job”

A proposal by D66 to give entrepreneurs more room for innovative projects addressing grid congestion also received majority support. The SP proposal to ask the national government for an independent investigation into the origins of the electricity grid crisis was also adopted.

“You had one job,” said SP parliamentary leader Eric van Kaathoven about the role of grid operator TenneT.

Role for Arnhem expertise center

Last year, the National Expertise Center on Grid Congestion opened in Arnhem at Cleantech Park Arnhem. Chairman Marcel Hielkema emphasized that in addition to expanding the electricity grid, smart solutions are also needed.

“Building and expanding the electricity grid is absolutely top priority. But there are also smart solutions, improved behavior, flexible deployment and innovations that will not solve the problem entirely but can create additional capacity.”

The province is making €10,000 available for demonstration days of the expertise center.

Waiting for the next administrative consultation

Following the provincial signal, it remains to be seen what the administrative consultations will deliver. The next meeting is scheduled for March 25. Mol expects clarity then about possible measures to prevent a connection stop.

Source: Omroep Gelderland
Authors: Huibert Veth & Gerwin Peelen