The Netherlands – The Port of Rotterdam Authority is working together with TenneT and Stedin to find solutions for the full electricity grid in the port area. The parties want to form a Taskforce to investigate how they can create more space for companies.

Now that more and more companies are switching to electricity, there is pressure on network capacity. That is why the Port of Rotterdam Authority is looking for creative solutions with TenneT and Stedin to build faster and better utilize the existing network.

TenneT and Stedin announced that there will continue to be shortages on the electricity grid in the coming years and that there is a waiting list for new connections in Europoort, Botlek and Pernis. There is still capacity for new connections on the Maasvlakte and in the Waal-Eemhaven. In addition to increasing demand, the fluctuating supply of electricity due to the increase in wind and solar energy affects the grid capacity.

Expansion

TenneT and Stedin are working on expanding the electricity grid in the region, but this will take several years. According to the current schedule, TenneT will complete the most important expansion projects between 2027 and 2029. By 2030, TenneT will gradually expand the grid capacity by 2.5 times the current capacity.

Short-term

TenneT, Stedin and the Port of Rotterdam have now established a joint Port and Industrial Complex Energy Board. The three parties are working on a program plan that aims to build faster, plan better and create more flexibility.

The New Energy Taskforce looks at each bottleneck in the port area to see how it can create space on the grid in the short term with new solutions. The parties are looking at, among other things, storage options for energy and the use of reserve capacity. The task force is also examining whether it is possible to set up so-called ‘Energy Hubs’ in which companies can exchange and optimize capacity with each other.

The expansion of the electricity grid in the Port of Rotterdam is a major undertaking, but it is essential to support the port’s continued growth and to reduce its environmental impact. The Port of Rotterdam Authority, TenneT, and Stedin are working together to find solutions to the challenges facing the expansion.