GCELS members Lea Diestelmeier and Jamie Behrendt were interviewed by Jaap Ploeger for the University of Groningen about one of the Netherlands' most pressing energy challenges: grid congestion. In the interview, they explain why the issue is not simply a matter of laying more cables, but also requires smarter coordination of existing grid capacity, new legal frameworks, and changes in the way businesses and households use electricity. Below, we share an excerpt from the interview.

Grid congestion is not just a lack of cables

Why new agreements and changes in behaviour are the solution to the full power grid

The Dutch power grid is grinding to a halt. Not because of a lack of electricity, in fact there is sometimes too much electricity, but because of an increasing lack of coordination between demand, infrastructure, and regulations. This is affecting the house building sector, ongoing sustainability, and economic growth. However, energy law experts Lea Diestelmeier and Jamie Behrendt do not think that the answer is simply to lay more cables. We also need smarter ways of using the existing capacity, new legislation and regulations, and changes in the way households and businesses consume electricity.

The power grid is not full

According to Lea Diestelmeier, the first step is to put this into perspective: grid congestion is often described as a shortage of capacity on the electricity grid, but in her view the reality is more nuanced. The available capacity is not the only problem; we also need to look at how we distribute and use this capacity.

‘There is still capacity available on the grid. The main problem is how to coordinate it,’ she says. But she admits that the consequences could be huge. ‘The situation is fairly serious. There are already waiting lists to build houses and industrial parks.’ This is restricting project developers, housing developers, and businesses in their wish to expand.

According to her, for many years, the Netherlands assumed that its power grid would always be able to meet demand. There would be power for anyone, whenever they need it. ‘We’re talking about the copper plate scenario: the idea that power can be supplied anywhere, without constraints. This system and the underlying regulations are based on the assumption that all power that reaches the grid ends up where it is needed. However, this is not the physical reality. And that’s the crux of the problem we’re now facing.’

To continue reading the full article written by Jaap Ploeger, see here.