Perspective amid grid congestion: Capacity map offers insight into grid space
Challenge
Grid congestion is making it increasingly difficult to gain access to the electricity grid. Netbeheer Nederland aims to offer governments, industry associations, and companies a perspective for action by providing deeper insight into current and future grid capacity.
Results
Together with Netbeheer Nederland, the grid operators, and other stakeholders, we developed the national Capacity Map: an interactive map that shows, by region, available capacity and planned expansions.
Client
Netbeheer Nederland is the association of all electricity and gas grid operators in the Netherlands.
In brief
These days, obtaining an electricity connection is much harder than it used to be. Increasingly, applicants end up on a waiting list. Netbeheer Nederland aims to make this process more transparent by providing involved companies and municipalities with greater insight and a clearer action perspective. After extensive research among a diverse group of stakeholders, the Capacity Map was developed. With this open data map, everyone can see where there is still room on the grid and, if there isn’t, when it is expected.
Increasingly, applicants and parties, including municipalities, are using the insights provided by this map.
Challenge
Companies in line
The energy transition is in full swing. This is good news, but it also brings significant challenges. In fact, the pressure on the electricity grid is increasing at a rapid pace. So fast that grid managers cannot possibly keep up with demand. Despite record investments to expand and strengthen the grid, applicants are increasingly being placed on waiting lists. Companies are unable to develop sustainability plans, and construction projects are delayed.
Call for insight and perspective
In short, the call for action is getting louder. Governments, industry associations, and companies are seeking more insight to make targeted decisions. Where is expansion still possible? Is it wise to wait until capacity becomes available again in the municipality? What options are available if we are flexible with our offtake?
From need to insight
Netbeheer Nederland would like to offer this insight, but that is easier said than done. First, market need is not always clear: what information do stakeholders need, and how best can it be provided? There are also significant challenges on the provider side: how do you consolidate the fragmented data from all grid operators into a single, unambiguous view of the Dutch grid?
Process
We started by identifying the needs of the various stakeholders. We then examined how best to translate these into a product. From this, a digital open-data map emerged as the most suitable solution. We then started developing this map, incrementally adding new insights and functionalities.
Deepdive in the process
A range of needs
To gain a clear picture of the needs, we held discussions with a broad range of stakeholders: municipalities, provinces, ministries, industry associations, large enterprises, and industry partners. From these interviews and working sessions, a range of needs emerged – ranging from “please explain to me what congestion is at all” to “can you tell me where I am in the queue?” and everything in between.
One umbrella product
The input from all these parties formed the basis for the next step. In several working sessions, together with all the grid operators – TenneT, the three large regional grid operators, as well as the smaller ones – we explored how best to meet those needs.
A single public tool had to be created for all stakeholders; a map appeared to be the most logical form, and it was impossible to meet all needs immediately. After all, not all information was immediately available. A comprehensive map would take years, even though the need is urgent. So we opted for a minimum viable product (MVP): launch quickly and then expand incrementally.
Many tracks, one direction
With the course set, it was time to find a party to build the map. That role assumed EDSN, the implementing organization, was already developing many data services for and with the grid operators.
The national Capacity Map
From nlmtd, we are responsible for the integral project and product management. To this end, we have set up several tracks. One track focuses on properly defining the intended functionalities and the required data. A second track focuses on the uniform collection of data from network operators, ensuring the map is filled with comparable insights. A third track focuses on building functionality step by step.
In addition, we regularly coordinate with stakeholders to confirm the functionalities we are developing and whether they still meet your needs. In this way, we follow the same series of steps in an upward spiral toward an ever more complete Capacity Map.
The playing field is complex. Seven grid operators, Netbeheer Nederland as the industry association, EDSN as the builder, and on top of that, the many stakeholders on the customer side. All with their own wishes, interests, and ideas. Effective stakeholder management is therefore crucial: constantly balancing interests and priorities to arrive at a shared outcome. Or, as the saying goes: alone you go faster, together you go further.
Our strength lies in the combination of deep substantive knowledge and the ability to operate effectively in such a complex landscape. We understand the congestion issue and network topology, and can translate that into manageable information for stakeholders who are less deeply involved.
Results
From a simple 'no' to action perspective
In just over half a year, we went from the initial stakeholder survey to an MVP. Applicants who previously received only a simple “no” answer now have insight, and that is growing step by step.
The first version of the map offers several insights: the current capacity for off-take and feed-in, the regions where congestion is present, and congestion management is applied, as well as the most recent status of the ‘congestion on the power grid’.
Additional functionality, more layers
Since then, the functionality has been gradually expanded to include information from the regional grid operators on available and required transmission capacity, the number of applicants in the queue, and requested power. Meanwhile, it also shows where and when extensions to the electricity grid are planned.
In addition, new map layers have been added: one layer showing overall congestion in the Netherlands, one layer with information on TenneT’s national high-voltage grid, and one layer showing the situation at regional grid operators at the medium-voltage level, including indirect congestion at TenneT in that area.
Transportation capacity information is updated quarterly; queue data is updated monthly.
Next steps
The map is continuously being improved and expanded. While the current version focuses on high- and medium-voltage, we are now also developing a low-voltage layer, relevant for smaller companies and housing associations.
In addition, we are mapping how available capacity is evolving in relation to demand. What is currently relatively static must become more dynamic. For example, it will soon be clear whether a significant expansion is planned, so parties in the queue will know when they can expect a connection.
The next important step is to provide more insight into the locations where market flexibility is needed. After all, in many areas, temporarily turning a wind or solar farm on or off can create capacity to connect more customers.
Conclusion
This aligns with one of the project’s key benefits: the Capacity Map provides additional insight that not only broadens organizations’ and governments’ action perspectives but also increases their awareness of their role in the broader picture. What can they do to contribute to more grid capacity?
Thus, the Capacity Map shows that a single product can serve multiple purposes and is increasingly responsive to diverse needs. And that is badly needed, because although network operators are working at full capacity, grid congestion will remain a reality in the coming years, and we in the Netherlands must learn to deal with it. We are doing this together, just like the entire energy transition. The Capacity Map helps with this.
Want to know more? We worked on this!
Carlijn Hutter
Carlijn Hutter
