Article from the AD of Friday 13 January 2023
Network operator Tennet is taking into account a shortage of electricity in the Netherlands after 2030. This is partly because the Netherlands will get more and more renewable electricity in the coming years, which depends on weather conditions. And these are uncertain.
According to Tennet, for now there is enough production capacity to supply the Netherlands with electricity, at least until 2025. But the demand for electricity will increase further after that, the grid operator expects. And that demand goes hand in hand with declining electricity generation from European coal, gas and nuclear power plants.
Meanwhile, countries are seeking refuge in generating renewable energy, for instance from wind and solar. But these are making the electricity system increasingly dependent on the weather, according to Tennet, which sees the security of electricity supply declining as a result.
Climate targets
Operational director of Tennet, Maarten Abbenhuis, thinks it is good that security of supply is now in the spotlight, from both politicians and society. Especially since the availability of energy is no longer as self-evident as before since the outbreak of the war between Russia and Ukraine and the subsequent energy crisis. ”The aspiration to meet the climate goals, where we are not or much less dependent on fossil fuels is only real with strong European cooperation. From this, new challenges are emerging that will require increasing attention in the coming years,” Abbenhuis said.
One of the challenges is that an electricity shortage could arise from 2030 onwards, the grid operator believes, “which may not allow the desired electricity demand in the Netherlands to be fully met at all hours of the year ‘.
The Netherlands should look at expanding connections with the UK and Scandinavia. These could make an important contribution to security of supply after 2030, according to Abbenhuis ‘.