What does grid congestion mean for Zoetermeer? Municipality comes up with plan and insight
On Dec. 5, 2024, TenneT announced grid congestion until at least 2032-2035 for the high-voltage grid in virtually all of South Holland, including Zoetermeer. This means that (new) construction projects with a high-consumption connection cannot be connected to the power grid in the usual way until then. This has a major impact. Grid congestion hampers the development of many projects in Zoetermeer and thus also affects the city's ambition. Within this regional problem, the municipality has little room for maneuver. What we can do becomes clear from our impact analysis and grid congestion action plan.
Impact analysis
The impact analysis shows that the impact is large for all sectors with a large-consumption connection. Large-scale housing projects are also affected, because necessary social facilities, such as supermarkets, cannot be connected to the electricity grid at this time without delay. Small-scale developments can go ahead, however.
Councilman Bouke Velzen (energy transition) says: "Grid congestion is a serious problem and not solved today or tomorrow. It forces us to think differently about consumption, storage and flexibility. And not just to think about but to make choices in this that are certainly not easy. The municipality of Zoetermeer will continue its efforts to find solutions that offer perspective for our city and our resident."
Survey of priorities by project and area
Over the next few months, the municipality will be investigating for each project and area what technical solutions are possible to address grid congestion and what these solutions will cost. Based on that study, it will determine which projects will be prioritized for additional staff and budget. The college then submits this proposal to the City Council for decision. This is expected to be in the fall of 2025.