Nitrogen impasse putting 317 construction projects for power grid expansion at risk

Grid operator Liander warns that 317 projects to strengthen or expand the power grid are at risk due to nitrogen problems. Court rulings on limiting nitrogen emissions are making obtaining permits for these projects more difficult, causing them to be delayed or possibly scrapped.

According to Huibert Baud, director of the department that designs the power grid at Liander, the situation has become urgent because the government postponed decisions on nitrogen problems in its spring memorandum. In 2019, the Council of State declared the Dutch regulations to limit nitrogen, intended to protect nature reserves, invalid. At the end of last year, a ruling was added to this that limited the possibility for shifting nitrogen space within a permit.

According to an analysis by Liander, this means that 317 construction projects for the power grid require more permits than expected. In most places where this is the case, the regional grid operator also sees that there is little or no room for permits to emit nitrogen, such as in Gelderland. The result is that the projects are in a “danger zone,” said Baud.

Power grid operators are faced with a major challenge to expand the grid or make it suitable for more intensive use. The waiting list for new or heavier connections has grown to 20,000 applicants. In addition to the business community, this sometimes also affects buyers of newly built homes. Liander reported last month that 50 newly built homes in Wogum will not be able to get a power connection for the time being due to a lack of capacity on the electricity grid.

Liander and other grid operators are advocating for an exceptional position for their construction projects. “Clarity from The Hague is essential for the future; waiting will have consequences for the power grid challenges throughout the Netherlands,” said Baud.