Can the current energy grid handle the energy transition?
Grid operators in the Netherlands are struggling to keep up with the development of solar energy projects. As a result, the availability of capacity often does not adequately match the number of developments in that region and energy projects cannot be connected.
There can be many different causes including, voltage problems, lack of capacity on the high-voltage grid, lack of capacity or fields at the regional grid operators, short-circuit problems and more. What the actual problem is within an area is becoming clearer from the grid operators. In order not to further delay the energy transition, the and-and principle works:
- Continue to expand the electricity grid both nationally and regionally
- Better "setting up" the power grid as TenneT is doing now by, for example, setting up pockets and possibly partially abandoning redundancy in the power grid
- Applying technological and/or legal solutions, often already available today, to use grid infrastructure more efficiently
The above is also a new "fact" that municipalities should take into account when drafting permit requirements. It happens that municipalities adopt policies that are not in line with the capacity of the current network and do not take into account future developments. For example, there may be no space now, but there will be one year later. The permit is then still rejected. A shame!