An increasing number of construction projects in the Netherlands are being carried out emission-free, contributing positively to nitrogen reduction, climate goals, and air quality. Electric construction equipment plays a major role in this shift. Construction is not the only sector electrifying: from industry to mobility, more and more companies are switching to electric solutions.

This growing demand for electricity is leading to transmission scarcity and grid congestion, which can cause delays on construction sites due to insufficient grid capacity. It is therefore crucial to gain timely insight—during the preparation phase—into the required power capacity, so that construction can start without delays.

The Power Demand Tool was developed to help both clients and contractors secure sufficient power on construction sites, for both civil engineering (ground, road, and water projects) and residential construction (such as site preparation, demolition, and foundations).

When electric equipment is used, a larger grid connection than the standard temporary construction connection may be required. This must be requested from the grid operator in time, but waiting periods are often long, and sometimes a larger connection cannot be realized at all. The Power Demand Tool provides insight into total required capacity before a project begins. In some cases, this may show that an additional grid connection is unnecessary or that a small-capacity connection is sufficient.

Speakers

• Flip Oude Weerink works on behalf of ElaadNL, together with grid operators and other stakeholders, on the smart and sustainable integration of charging infrastructure for construction sites into the electricity grid. Relevant tools developed by ElaadNL include the Power Demand Tool (2025), the Charging Ladder (2024), and the Outlook Zero-Emission Construction including an interactive dashboard (2024). Flip also leads the BuildZero project, which focuses on interoperability and smart charging on construction sites.
• Rob Dekkers works at Heijmans and brings practical experience from the contractor’s perspective. During the masterclass, he will explain how organizations can safely and strategically transition to emission-free energy, how electrification works in practice, and what role the Power Demand Tool plays.
• Chair: Niek van Onna, Program Manager Clean and Emission-Free Construction at Connectr – Energy Innovation. He has extensive expertise in construction processes, tendering, and contracting for emission-free construction sites.

Objectives of the Power Demand Tool

1. Provide insight into required power capacity during preparation of emission-free construction projects.
2. Optimize power demand in planning and organization.
3. Enable timely coordination with grid operators or owners of existing connections.
4. Support contractors with estimates during calculation and tender phases.
5. Enable future updates of power demand during project execution (feature in development).
6. Use data to analyze power demand trends within a region or organization.

Target audience

• Clients: project managers, cost engineers, planners, technical managers.
• Contractors: equipment specialists, planners, estimators.

Expected prior knowledge

Participants are expected to:

• Understand the construction process from initiation to completion.
• Be familiar with the equipment used in projects.
• Know the Clean and Emission-Free Construction (SEB) agreement and its objectives.
• Have basic electrical knowledge (for example, the difference between kW and kWh).

What will you learn?

After attending this masterclass, participants will:

• Gain basic knowledge about electrification of construction sites.
• Understand roles and responsibilities in charging infrastructure within the construction process.
• Know the functions of the Power Demand Tool.
• Be able to apply the tool in both standard and customized situations.
• Learn from real-world experience shared by practitioners.
• Work on case studies to apply the tool in their own work.

Programme

13:00 – 13:05 Welcome
13:05 – 14:00 Presentation: context and the Power Demand Tool
14:00 – 14:30 Case study part 1 (basic project)
14:30 – 14:45 Break
14:45 – 15:15 Presentation: advanced use of the tool + practical experience
15:15 – 16:00 Case study part 2 (custom project)
16:00 – 16:30 Case discussion
16:30 – 17:00 Questions and closing
17:00 – 18:00 Networking drinks

Practical information

Date: 26 November
Time: 13:00–17:00, followed by networking drinks
Location: Electricity Campus, Arnhems Buiten B30, Utrechtseweg 310, Arnhem
Price: €99

This masterclass is organized by BuildZero, ElaadNL, Heijmans, and Connectr – Energy Innovation.