Space found for 300 Amsterdam businesses on the city's congested power grid
Grid operator Liander has managed to connect 305 businesses in Amsterdam by expanding substation capacity and introducing flexible energy contracts to manage peak demand. Despite these efforts, hundreds of companies remain on a waiting list due to ongoing grid congestion, with long-term solutions hampered by the complex challenge of acquiring sufficient land for new infrastructure.
Grid operator Liander has successfully connected 305 businesses in Amsterdam to the power grid over the past year, despite severe congestion. This was achieved through the expansion of the Oostzaan substation and the implementation of flexible contracts that allow companies to optimize their energy usage by shifting consumption away from peak hours. For example, family firm Afezo utilized such an agreement to power their electric fleet by charging during off-peak times. While these measures provide relief, 449 large-scale users remain on a waiting list, as the high-voltage network capacity remains insufficient for many. To address this, Liander and Tennet are planning extensive infrastructure upgrades across the city. However, these efforts face significant challenges elsewhere in the region, particularly regarding the acquisition of land. Difficulties with local decision-making, high costs, and land availability have caused delays in other municipalities, prompting the government to propose new measures to accelerate the procurement process for vital energy infrastructure projects.
Based on reporting by parool. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.
