Nuestras iniciativas
VISITA NUESTROS PORTALES EXCLUSIVOS

“Si no te posicionas otros lo harán”

No se encontró el campo "country".

octubre 30, 2024

Energy grid crisis in the Netherlands and Poland reveals urgent need for modernisation

With a centralised energy infrastructure and outdated regulations, the Netherlands and Poland face a grid crisis that limits small producers, creating bottlenecks and additional costs for inhabitants and businesses. "With the EU’s Green Deal goals on the horizon, both Poland and the Netherlands must pivot towards a resilient, citizen-powered grid," states Lukasz Jusinski, renewable energy expert.
By Lucia Colaluce

By Lucia Colaluce

octubre 30, 2024
Energy grid

The energy infrastructure in the Netherlands and Poland, centred on monopolised and highly centralised production models, faces a crisis that demands urgent modernisation. As renewable energy demand rises rapidly, the current centralised grids are overloaded and outdated, directly affecting small producers. “It’s time to invest in policies that empower individual energy producers and modernise our grid to support a decentralised and sustainable future,” states renewable energy expert Lukasz Jusinski to Strategic Energy.

Regulatory challenges and unequal access

Lukasz Jusinski, renewable energy expert

Lukasz Jusinski, renewable energy expert.

Grid regulation and management have fallen behind in both countries. In the Netherlands, the monopolised infrastructure continues to prioritise large-scale projects, managed by major energy companies, while residential producers, who have heavily invested in solar systems, face high costs to access the grid. “Despite government attempts to deter them, Dutch residents have continued installing solar panels on their rooftops,” explains Jusinski. The Dutch government has expressed intentions to reduce these charges, but conditions remain uncertain, and regulatory changes are not keeping pace with demand.

Poland, on the other hand, faces a similar situation, where historic dependence on coal and an infrastructure dominated by state-owned companies hamper the integration of small producers. The lack of financial incentives and bureaucratic complexity limits the entry of new players into the renewable energy market. Jusinski notes, “Poland’s centralised regulatory framework is a barrier that prevents local producers from having real opportunities to compete in the market.”

Lack of vision in the Netherlands and its impact

In the Netherlands, the centralised model, which for years favoured large solar and wind farms, has left an outdated grid with insufficient capacity to support new connections. Semi-governmental network management companies, with significant private sector participation, did not anticipate the growth of decentralised energy and postponed critical updates, focusing on large-scale projects. “For more than a decade, the necessary updates to the grid were ignored,” Jusinski points out. The situation has escalated to the point that new buildings cannot connect to the grid, forcing developers to temporarily rely on diesel generators.

growatt

Meanwhile, Dutch households pay an average of €364 annually for grid services, with a projected additional increase of €1,741 per household from 2025 to finance upgrades. “Taxpayers are financing grid connections for solar farms owned by foreign investors, while small producers bear the costs of the outdated infrastructure,” says Jusinski.

Modernisation measures: towards an inclusive grid

Both countries need to focus on a transition to resilient and decentralised grids, allowing the integration of small-scale renewable energy and improving access for local producers. Jusinski’s recommendations include the simplification of administrative processes and capacity maps. The adoption of more agile application processes and real-time capacity maps would enable producers to plan their access to the grid and reduce bottlenecks. Jusinski emphasises that “transparency in grid capacity, as in Finland, would allow small producers to better manage their investments.”

Investments in smart grids and storage technologies are essential to facilitate the real-time flow of renewable energy. Integrating advanced sensors and control systems would enable efficient demand and supply management. Additionally, energy storage through batteries and pumping systems would help reduce dependency on central infrastructure and maximise the use of generated renewable energy.

Implementing policies for energy aggregators, as in the UK, would allow small producers access to a broader market. Additionally, peer-to-peer energy trading could open new income opportunities. “Excess energy trading between small producers and consumers, as in Estonia, provides an economic incentive and promotes an inclusive market,” says Jusinski.

Both Poland and the Netherlands face a crucial moment in their energy transition. Infrastructure modernisation and a more inclusive and decentralised regulatory framework will not only benefit small producers but also improve the resilience and sustainability of the energy grid. As Jusinski concludes, “Investing in policies that empower individual producers and upgrade our grid is the path towards a sustainable and decentralised energy system, aligned with the EU Green Deal objectives.”

0 comentarios

Enviar un comentario

Tu dirección de correo electrónico no será publicada. Los campos obligatorios están marcados con *

Related news

Continue Reading