Dutch Take Emergency Measures As Electricity Network Is Nearly Exhausted

By Paul Homewood

h/t Dennis Ambler

The Netherlands will take “extraordinary” measures to reduce stress on the national grid caused by electricity demand and supply reaching similar levels, such as proposing incentives for large companies to use less electricity at peak times, outgoing Dutch Energy Minister Rob Jetten (D66/Renew) announced on Wednesday.

Earlier this year, the country’s grid operators warned that the electricity network was almost exhausted in all provinces, mainly due to the growing demand for heat pumps, solar panels and charging stations for electric vehicles – a problem shared by many other European countries.

“Despite substantial investments by grid operators and previous measures, the power grid is reaching its limits in more and more places,” Jetten stated in a letter to parliament.

“Without action, this seriously impacts our sustainable ambitions and economy. That is why we are now taking new measures that go off track to accelerate the expansion of the power grid and create more space,” he added.

From 2023, the country’s grid operators will double their investment in the power grid from the current €4 billion to €8 billion.

The new measures seek to incentivise large electricity consumers to reduce their consumption during “peak hours” between 4 pm and 8 pm to prevent blackouts, as both industrial and household consumption is exceptionally high during that time frame.

Under the new measures, large consumers will pay less for electricity if they reduce consumption during these hours, while excess consumption would conversely lead to higher prices.

https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/dutch-take-measures-to-reduce-grid-stress/

The Netherlands still relies largely on coal and gas for its electricity, up to about 80% at times of low wind and high demand. If the grid cannot cope now, heaven knows how it will be able to when fossil fuels are abandoned.