The Dutch power grid regularly reaches its technical capacity limits in many regions, prompting grid operators to sound the alarm. The impending decommissioning of major gas-fired power plants further exacerbates the situation, as power outages appear likely from 2028 onward. Security of supply in the Rotterdam metropolitan area is particularly under pressure, while the grid has virtually no reserves during peak demand. According to the operators, a reliable bridging technology is lacking to ensure grid stability during fluctuating feed-in from renewable sources. (ad: 04.12.25)
Alarm due to structural weaknesses in the power grid
Tennet, Stedin, and Liander have all described a critical situation. In many places, the power grid is operating near its design limit, making it difficult to handle additional loads. Technical analyses show that increasing current flows are causing lines to overheat. In such cases, protective systems are triggered, resulting in targeted shutdowns. This alarm is not based on scenarios, but on measurable load values during operation.
The focus is on northern South Holland. Cities like Rotterdam, Capelle aan den IJssel, and Schiedam experience particularly high peak loads. Power outages there affect not only private households but also businesses and critical infrastructure. Port facilities and island regions are not affected, as they have different grid structures.
Gas-fired power plants remain systemically important
Gas-fired power plants provide readily available power and compensate for fluctuations when the sun and wind are not shining. Although their operating times are decreasing, they continue to ensure security of supply during peak hours. A complete shutdown of these plants would jeopardize grid stability, as there are no alternatives. In other countries, such power plants receive capacity payments to remain available as a reserve. This form of backup does not yet exist in the Netherlands.
Without these thermal power plants, dependence on the transmission grid would increase significantly. TenneT’s electricity grid would have to transport larger amounts of energy, even though key nodes are already overloaded. Experts describe this as a fragile overall system whose capacity remains limited.
Power outages threaten during peak hours
The greatest risk of power outages occurs in the mornings and evenings. During these times, consumption reaches its peak, while renewable energy sources often contribute only minimally. Network operators therefore focus their alerts on these hours, as even small additional loads can destabilize the power grid.
Companies are trying to counteract this. Greenhouse operators are reducing their lighting, and cold storage facilities are temporarily throttling their operations. These measures are having an effect, but they are not sufficient. Too few businesses are permanently adjusting their load profiles, even though flexible consumption management could significantly improve security of supply.
Private consumers influence security of supply
Households also bear responsibility for grid stability. Operating washing machines, dryers, or charging devices outside of peak evening hours significantly reduces the strain on the electricity grid. Grid operators substantiate this with concrete calculations. Even just a few hundred shifted usage patterns have measurable effects.
An example illustrates the scale: The energy from two hundred dryer cycles shifted in time is enough to heat a swimming pool for a day. One hundred shifted charging sessions can power the lights in a football stadium for several hours. Such effects underscore how effectively collective behavior can prevent power outages.
Investments only alleviate the alarm in the long term
At the same time, operators are investing heavily in grid expansion. TenneT plans to invest around €1.6 billion in South Holland. Fourteen high-voltage substations are slated for modernization, including sites in Rotterdam-Ommoord and Krimpen aan den IJssel. These measures will strengthen the electricity grid in the long term but will take years to complete.
Therefore, the grid operators remain alarmed. The transformation of the energy system is progressing faster than the expansion of the grid. Without viable transitional solutions, security of supply and grid stability will become less reliable. This is precisely the central risk for the coming years.