At Zonnepark Eekerpolder, the GDS Avermieden is being developed since 2019. A closed distribution system that ensures that sustainable initiatives in the region can continue. Despite the full medium-voltage grid.
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In the Eekerpolder, Novar, together with technical consulting firm Emmett Green, has been developing the GDS Avermieden since 2019.
A Closed Distribution System (GDS) is a "proprietary" network. In this case, a private electricity network in the Eekerpolder area. To have your own network, you need an exemption from the ACM (Authority Consumer & Market). There are a number of requirements for a GDS:
A GDS can help reduce grid congestion. The power grid is congested in some places and at some times: more energy is supplied than demanded or than the grid can physically transport. Congestion occurs on the grid. With the GDS Avermieden, we feed electricity into Tennet's national high-voltage grid. In this way we relieve Enexis' regional medium-voltage grid.
In this way, energy sources can be efficiently distributed within a certain area: congestion is reduced and renewable energy can be further developed. It can be used within the GDS. Thanks to a GDS, the energy system becomes more reliable, energy costs are reduced and it remains possible to make our energy system more sustainable.
New renewable energy projects in the region cannot discharge their power due to Enexis' lack of capacity. Procedures to strengthen regional networks for this purpose only take five to ten years. The GDS ensures that these projects can be connected. A nice technical solution: "We cannot wait years in the Netherlands," says Novar director Jelmer Pijlman. ,,There are great ambitions with the rollout of renewable energy. Those will be seriously delayed otherwise."
A GDS is - as the name suggests - a closed network. Physical cables are laid: electricity from the Eekerpolder and Evenreiten solar parks is transported via a 33kV (kilovolt) cable to the transformer station, where it is connected to a 220 kV cable from national grid operator TenneT via the GDS Avermieden transformer station. Various sustainable initiatives can connect to this. In this case, a solar park to supply renewable energy. The possibilities of adding energy storage to the GDS are being explored.
Ultimately, a GDS connects to Tennet's high-voltage grid with a single connection. A major advantage of this technical solution is that everything "behind" this connection is privately managed and therefore fully paid for by the connected renewable generators. So nothing is passed on to consumers, which would be the case with a connection to a regular grid operator. Via this connection and our GDS transformer station, the generated energy is fed into Tennet's high-voltage grid and thus distributed to the rest of the Netherlands.
Our process
Design
Funding
Construction
In use
The design is complete and permits have been arranged. Construction of the GDS Avermieden will begin in mid-May 2024.
Last update: March 22, 2024
The GDS Avermieden consists of invisible cables underground and the GDS transformer station. To construct the GDS, a number of directional drillings will be made. The work will take place as much as possible with approach routes over private roads to minimize disruption.
The immediate area will receive more information about the work and potential disruption before the work begins.
Location
The GDS substation (transformer station) is located in the middle of the Eekerpolder solar park. The electricity from the assets is transported via a 33kV (kilovolt) cable to the transformer station, where it is connected to a 220 kV cable of national grid operator TenneT. This 220 kV cable runs from this GDS station on Eekerweg to Tennet's high-voltage substation near Meeden.
Planning work
Starting in mid-May 2024, construction of the GDS will begin. We expect to deliver the project in May 2025.
Novar and Emmett Green are jointly developing their own grid and transformer station to avoid delays in connecting new renewable energy systems due to capacity problems in Enexis' regional grid.
This initiative, designed to accelerate the rollout of renewable energy, offers a technically and financially efficient solution to connect new energy systems directly to Tennet's 220 kV grid.
Last edited May 7, 2024
