Support for customers in making choices
We want to make it more attractive for customers to use energy when supplies are plentiful, feed power back into the grid when supplies are low, and use the energy network as little as possible during times of peak load. This can be achieved in several ways. For example, in the form of solutions to make better use of the existing network, such as non-redundant connections, flex-markets and better switching between substations. A further solution involves stimulating local markets, because this prevents congestion on higher-level networks. As a neutral market facilitator, we also want to make it possible for customers to have control over their own data and decide who has access to it. For example, a customer can choose to share it with a service provider, which then automatically controls the home battery based on current market prices.
Solutions like this ensure that the available network capacity is used to the maximum degree, prevent peak loads as far as possible, and allow us to design the best possible energy system for the future.
Rising number of renewable feed-in customers
We are connecting ever more charging points, wind turbines and solar farms to the power grid. Green gas producers are also increasingly turning to us for connections so that they can feed their renewable gas into the natural gas network. This trend was again apparent in 2020, with the number of registered connections with an active feed-in installation in our service area increasing from around 381,000 to roughly 494,000 (up 29%). This now represents 8.5% of our total connections.
Sustainable developments in our service area
Solar energy installed capacity
2,222MW in 2019
Wind energy installed capacity
1,321MW in 2019
Quantity of green gas fed in
41.4 million m3 in 2019
Number of public charging points
6,066 in 2019
Electrification in the area of mobility
The number of electric vehicles is increasing rapidly. This phenomenon places a strain on the electricity grid, but also creates opportunities. In response, Alliander is acting to encourage ‘smart charging’ as the new standard. This involves tailoring charging and discharging sessions to the local restrictions in the networks and applying schedules and methods that are favourable for network balancing. In this approach, costly and labour-intensive grid upgrades can be avoided and (peaks in) locally generated renewable energy can be used efficiently. In addition, we advocate including electric vehicles and the associated charging infrastructure in spatial planning policies to optimally match integration in the networks to the available network capacity. Finally, we want to see a free choice of energy supplier at the charge point, in an accessible market in which parties cooperate and share information. The initiatives for this will come from the market itself, with Alliander assuming a facilitating role. In 2020, we connected 2,400 public charge points (2019: 1,700). Liander participates in the ElaadNL knowledge and innovation centre and the Nationale Agenda Laadinfrastructuur (National Agenda for Charging Infrastructure).