Dutch electricity transmission system operator Tennet has announced that it will invest 13 billion euros to expand the Netherlands' high-voltage grid. The plan includes the construction of 40 new onshore high-voltage stations in all Dutch provinces.

The company said more grid capacity was needed to cope with continued growth in wind and solar, as well as electric vehicles and heat pumps. The capacity of the electricity network must double over the next 10 years to meet the Netherlands' climate ambitions and skyrocketing energy demands.

The new plan is part of an overall plan that also includes an investment of 9 million euros to expand the country's offshore grid capacity and enable the connection of new wind farms in the North Sea.

The company also operates in Germany and currently operates 380 and 220kV high voltage grids in the Netherlands and interconnects with neighbouring countries. The Dutch government, which is considering privatizing Tennet, believes that cross-border operators can be a driving force for the Netherlands to become stronger in its energy transition, as more and more electricity from renewable sources has to be transported over greater distances. Keywords: engineering news, overseas news

In January 2019, Tennet and Enexis first warned about very limited solar capacity in the provinces of Groningen, Drenthe and Upper IJssel. Three months later, the companies said they would increase solar connectivity over the next few years, especially in the less populated eastern part of the country.Editor/XingWentao