Excursion High-voltage substation Eindhoven East: grid congestion and improvement actions with Enexis

Brief report

A visit to Enexis took place yesterday at the high-voltage switching station Eindhoven East.

The topic was: grid congestion and improvement actions with Enexis.

Organised by KIVI Electrical Engineering (a specialist division of KIVI) in close consultation with Enexis. After checking and registering, there was an introduction about the grid and its implementation by Marcel Willems and Dennis Dircks. It became clear that Enexis' expansion plans to solve grid congestion are taking firm shape. It is opting to build the expansion on a separate site and of a modular, standardised, design so that existing facilities can remain in use. After connection to the Tennet network, the expansion will then be a reality. The expansion is expected to be functioning by 2027. Finding space is not a problem as the existing station still offers possibilities. Next, Rik Fonteijn talked about congestion management, how it is done now and what they are working towards in the future. Here, the GOPACS platform for making flexibility available plays a big role. To really get the taste for it, a tour of the grounds and buildings of Enexis followed, during which all current switching and connection elements were discussed in detail.

Below is an impression of the visit in a few overview photos.

Thanks to: Enexis, Marcel Willems, Rik Fonteijn, Dennis Dircks, Kevin de Jongh, Richard van Heijningen, Paul van Moerkerken and James Meijer.

High-voltage substation Eindhoven East: grid congestion and improvement actions with Enexis

Grid congestion

Together, we are working towards a sustainable future. One aspect is climate change as a result of the CO2 emissions we all cause together. Renewable electrical energy is being used on an increasing scale to reduce CO2 emissions. Often generated with solar panels and wind turbines on land and at sea. Electrification of much of the energy we use is then one of the necessary follow-up actions. But this creates a lot of electricity supply and demand that the electricity network is not designed to handle. The speed at which the grid can be expanded for this purpose lags behind the demand for capacity. Hence, we face grid congestion. Congestion is now hampering economic development. There is no room on the grid in many places for a new connection for (renewable) electricity production and/or consumption. We see this on the capacity maps as published by Enexis and Netbeheer Nederland. There is a National Grid Congestion Action Plan by Netbeheer Nederland to address this problem.

Solutions for Grid Congestion

On a national scale, grid operators are working with the government to find solutions to grid congestion. By adjusting regulations, by using the grid more intelligently with congestion management and by strengthening HS, MS and LS grids.

during this visit, Enexis will explain the issues with a focus on Brabant. What is the status now and what is being done and planned to achieve further improvement. This will lead to physical adjustments in the grid, not only strengthening, but also measures to work smarter with the grid. The plans and changes in hardware and software now being implied in the system will be discussed. The extent of the improvement actions will become even clearer with a tour of the Eindhoven East Station site.

Eindhoven East substation

Eindhoven East substation is an important link in the high-voltage grid in Brabant. The station was built at the time as the first phase of the 380 kV high-voltage grid in the Netherlands, according to Tennet on its renovation project webpage. There is also a 150 kV substation on the site, which belongs partly to Tennet and partly to Enexis.

This high-voltage substation is outdated and therefore it is necessary to take measures. How the expansion will be shaped is currently being studied by TenneT and Enexis.

Networking

During the presentations and after the tour, there will be ample opportunity for interaction with Enexis employees. The visit ends with the opportunity to network over a cup of coffee in the canteen of the switching station.

Safety requirements for visit:

Participants will ensure that they have safety shoes (S3) and helmet (not older than 5 years) with them. Furthermore, participants do the mandatory safety instruction in advance(https://poortinstructienetbeheernederland.nl/), to acquaint themselves with the Enexis safety regulations. Choose the TSO version of the instruction. The certificate obtained herewith must be shown upon entering the station.

The excursion requires some physical effort, adequate fitness and good walking skills are expected of the participant. Having a pacemaker at the station is prohibited.

Programme

13:00-13:15 Welcome

13:15-13:45 Enexis and explanation of grid surfaces

13:45-14:15 Congestion management and network adjustments

14:15-14:30 Break and forming groups

14:30-16:00 Guided tour (3 groups)

16:00-16:30 Afterwards discussion and questions