System Battery in Kootwijkerbroek Provides Space for 60 Companies

A large-scale system battery was commissioned on July 17 at Energyhub Branderwal in Kootwijkerbroek. Thanks to the battery, available grid capacity can be utilized more efficiently. This creates space for approximately 60 businesses in the newly developed Harselaar-Zuid Phase 1b/2 industrial park, despite the strain on the power grid.

The power grid in the Barneveld region is at capacity, which means that companies looking to grow or become more sustainable are placed on a waiting list for a (higher-capacity) connection. The deployment of a system battery will add up to 20 MW of additional capacity to the local grid. The battery can store locally generated energy and release it when energy demand is high. This prevents grid overload and enables businesses and other developments within the energy hub to become more sustainable and continue to grow.

“Our batteries, combined with contracted capacity, are a key component of the energy system,” said Brand Jan van den Bosch of Energeion. “This will make it possible to provide companies in the new business park with capital in the coming years.”

Capacity Management as the New Standard: First CSC Contract in Gelderland

A Capacity Control Contract (CSC) has been signed with grid operator Liander for the deployment of the system battery. This is the first CSC contract within the high-voltage grid in Gelderland, marking an important step in the further development of flexibility solutions for the electricity grid. The battery charges when too much electricity is generated in the region and discharges when demand for electricity exceeds the grid’s capacity. This form of capacity management allows the existing grid to be utilized more efficiently and creates capacity for other users without the immediate need for large-scale grid upgrades.

“Due to the rapidly growing demand for electricity, the grid is becoming overloaded more and more often. To prevent this, we are working to provide customers with capacity outside of peak hours,” says Huibert Baud, Director of Customer and Design at Liander. “We enter into agreements with customers such as Energeion to help us reduce peak demand during busy periods. Through a capacity management contract, Energeion can do this for both generation and consumption. This way, we work together to make even better use of the power grid.”

Collaboration as the Key to Success

The project was made possible through a collaboration between Energeion, Huawei/Wattkraft, Zonneklaar, TTEP, Rabobank, grid operator Liander, local businesses, the province of Gelderland, Oost NL, and the municipality of Barneveld. This collaboration goes beyond local interests and contributes to a broader national challenge. Projects like this demonstrate how decentralized energy systems can be developed in which generation, storage, and consumption are increasingly well-aligned.

This not only creates greater flexibility in the power grid but also a higher degree of independence and self-sufficiency in energy supply. The project thus serves as a concrete example for other regions in the Netherlands that are seeking solutions to address grid congestion and build a future-proof energy system.