For the first time since the Zeeland high-voltage grid reached its maximum capacity in the summer of 2023, a first group of customers is going off the waiting list. This involves companies and institutions spread throughout the province of Zeeland. The space became available because TenneT earlier this yeara contractclosed for flexible power with Lion Storage, for a large battery installation in the port of Flushing.
Grid operators Stedin and TenneT are expected to be able to give 61 Zeeland businesses and institutions the requested space on the power grid for a new or heavier connection. Businesses and institutions to whom this applies will be called about this this week by their grid operator. Some of the customers receiving space on the power grid are institutions that qualify first on the basis of social prioritization. Social prioritization means that socially important projects such as schools and hospitals are given priority access to the power grid according to the rules drawn up by the ACM for this purpose. All Zeeland customers with priority receive the power capacity they requested.
When space on power grid
When the flex contract with Lion Storage was announced in March this year, companies on the waiting list were again given the opportunity to apply for priority. After that, TenneT and Stedin worked to finalize the order of the waiting list. This first group of customers to receive transmission capacity will hear from the grid operator exactly when the space will be released.
Martin Martens, Zeeland regional director at Stedin: "This is good news for Zeeland companies and institutions. We can give 61 customers space on the electricity grid. This is a big step, allowing us to make up almost one-fifth of Zeeland's waiting list. We continue to work hard on new opportunities to make better use of the grid and free up power. The grid is not full all day."
Customers on the waiting list in the Walcheren Noord area remain on the waiting list for the time being because there is congestion not only on TenneT's high-voltage grid, but also on Stedin's medium-voltage grid.
Robert Kuik, director of grid planning at TenneT: "This new form of contract is one of the ways in which we, as grid operators, together with our customers, can use the grid more flexibly. This is badly needed, because space on the power grid is still very tight. We are therefore not sitting still and are in talks with other parties to free up more space in this way."
Carla Michielsen, member of the Executive Board, on behalf of Scheldestromen Water Board: "We are pleased that we have been granted more power and new connections, which is badly needed to be able to continue performing our core tasks. Since the problems with grid congestion, we submit our applications even earlier in the project preparation, and that is now bearing fruit. Of course, this has not solved the problems with grid congestion. It remains necessary to expand the grid, and to make agreements on flexibility in its use."
