Netbeheer Nederland expects 800,000 low-voltage connections at risk of outages by 2035

The number of connections to low-voltage grids with an increased risk of outages is expected to rise from about 400,000 in 2025 to about 800,000 in 2035, according to an analysis by Netbeheer Nederland, the association of grid operators. It published the analysis, on small consumers and grid congestion (netcongestie), on 9 October.

Problems are expected to be greatest with solar panels, and in areas with a high take-up of charging points, heat pumps and solar panels.

The organisation adds a caveat. The energy transition may in practice proceed more slowly, so future electricity demand could be lower than the scenario assumes. That is an uncertainty in the analysis and could lead to an overestimate of the problem, it says.

On 16 October, MP Kops of the PVV put written questions to the climate ministers. He accuses the government of pushing climate policy onto households that will be hit hardest by outages. He asks: “What are you going to do to prevent households from literally ending up in the dark and the cold?” He also asks whether stopping climate and sustainability policy altogether is the best solution.

Kops also asks whether the planned reinforcements and expansions of the electricity grid are already counted in the 800,000 figure.