Solutions to the Grid Congestion in The Netherlands - and the world
Watts to ADD
Episode 1 - The problem: Power in 2037
Watts to ADD – power off the grid is a podcast exploring how we can break free from grid congestion and power our lives with smarter, greener alternatives. Each episode connects ideas from Amstel Discovery District and beyond—where innovation, sustainability, and creativity spark new ways to live, work, and thrive. Join us as we ask What’s next? and add fresh energy to the conversation.
Episode 1: The problem: Power in 2037 – Watts to ADD | Power off the Grid [Dutch]
In this episode, Guusje Huybregts talks with Dirk-Jan Houben about one of the Netherlands’ most pressing challenges — the growing electricity grid congestion. They discuss what it really means when new projects are told they might “only get power in 2037,” why the grid is reaching its limits despite having enough electricity, and how electrification, sustainability goals, and infrastructure bottlenecks are colliding. Dirk-Jan explains the prioritization system that favors housing, defense, and healthcare over offices and industry, and reflects on the urgent need for alternative solutions as the energy transition advances.
Themes: #Sustainability, #WattsToADD, #EnergyTransition, #SustainableDevelopment, #GridCongestion, #FutureOfEnergy, #GasVsElectricity, #CleanTech, #DutchEnergy, #SmartInfrastructure, #ClimateTransition, #RealEstateDevelopment, #Amsterdam, #AmstelDiscoveryDistrict
Podcast Transcription [translated to English]
Guusje Huybregts: What exactly does he mean by “only electricity in 2037”?
Dirk-Jan Houben: That’s a good question. What I think they want you to think is that you will have electricity in 2037. But I also have my doubts about whether that’s even possible.
G: And how is it even possible that a situation like this exists in a country such as the Netherlands?
DJ: That has to do, strange as it may sound, with sustainability — the electrification of our vehicle fleet and industry. Because of that, even though there is enough electricity, it all has to go through cables that simply aren’t built for it. And those cables can’t handle moving the power from where it’s generated to where it’s needed. That’s why the grid is full, unfortunately.
G: So can a project even continue without electricity?
DJ: Yes, interesting question, of course. It’s not that there’s grid congestion everywhere, or that it’s completely full. So some things can still go ahead. For housing, we’ve reserved capacity. But that’s slowly running out too. Other sectors like defense, safety, and healthcare are prioritized — they get access sooner. But for offices, it’s becoming increasingly difficult. There are still some options: if you already have an electricity connection, you’re allowed to keep it. But for cases like ours, if you don’t have one, that’s it — you simply won’t get electricity.
G: And is this only in Amsterdam, or is it a broader issue?
DJ: No, this is nationwide. I always say very simply: there are two types of grid congestion. There’s the main grid, run by TenneT — that one’s red all over, meaning no more capacity. And then there are the local grid operators; they handle the reservations and prioritization, and that differs by area. In some places, housing is still possible. But in others, that’s no longer an option, and soon it won’t be anywhere in the short term.
G: And who decides that — who decides that housing, defense, etc., do get electricity, and for example, offices don’t?
DJ: There’s a prioritization list, determined by Netbeheer Nederland (the national grid association). I’m sure it was made in consultation with the government. They decided that the electricity we do have must go to certain sectors first, and that some others have lower priority.
G: And what does this mean concretely for construction?
DJ: It means — and you can already see it happening — that residential construction still has some room left. So you still see construction companies getting housing projects. But for offices, logistics, manufacturing — we’ll see fewer and fewer new developments there. And if things continue this way, it’ll become even more restricted.
G: Even though the Netherlands really needs it.
DJ: Exactly — the Netherlands has a huge need, and the transition is screaming for it. Yes. Yes.
G: Okay. And what is Liander actually doing to speed up solving this problem?
DJ: Well, it’s easy to say that Liander isn’t doing enough — but I think that’s too simplistic. I think they just don’t have the solution. So much needs to be built and upgraded that even if you shorten procedures and give Liander more manpower, we’re still short on space in this country. And simply, the materials aren’t there. And even if they are for us, they wouldn’t be available for other countries. So I think we need to look for other solutions.
G: Yes, this is really the problem we’re facing right now.
DJ: Which is why we’ve almost been unable to build anything, yes.
G: But we’re working on other solutions. Right — we’ll talk about those in a bit.
DJ: Yes. Stay tuned.
