Congestion

2. Where does congestion mainly occur in the Netherlands? Congestion mainly occurs in areas with many solar parks, wind turbines or industrial users. Examples include parts of North Brabant, Flevoland and Groningen. Grid operators publish current congestion maps showing where restrictions apply.

3. What does congestion mean for my company? During congestion, you may not receive a new connection or may not be allowed to produce or consume at full capacity. This impacts your operations, business case or investment decisions. It can also cause delays in sustainability plans.

4. What is congestion management? Congestion management is a tool used by grid operators to temporarily free up extra capacity by controlling flexible power. Market parties can then consume or feed in electricity on request of the grid operator, against compensation, so the grid does not become overloaded.

5. How can I participate in congestion management? You can participate via your BRP or through a recognised Congestion Service Provider (CSP). For this, you must be able to control installations within agreed time windows. Participation is increasingly mandatory for large consumers with connections of 1 MW or more.

6. What are the financial benefits of congestion management? Compensation usually consists of an availability fee and an activation fee. This can amount to tens of euros per MWh depending on the congestion level and location. For flexible users, this is an attractive additional income source.

7. What role do batteries play in solving congestion? Batteries can locally store surplus electricity and deploy it later. They help absorb peaks and spread grid load. In congestion areas, batteries are becoming increasingly important, provided they are well integrated into the EMS and market structures.

8. What is the congestion management services code decision? Since August 2023, this decision requires companies with large connections (≥1 MW) in congestion areas to participate in congestion management. You must then make flexibility available to the grid operator. This strengthens control over grid capacity.

9. Can I collaborate with other companies against congestion? Yes, through energy hubs or local energy communities you can bundle flexibility. By jointly reducing peaks, more opportunities arise for new connections and utilisation of sustainable generation. This requires cooperation and data exchange.

10. How do I strategically anticipate congestion in my region? Conduct a capacity analysis of your connection, check grid operators’ congestion maps and inventory your flexibility. Consider investing in batteries or CHP. Seek cooperation with local parties and register with a CSP. By acting proactively, you retain control over your grid usage and investment space.

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