In the Netherlands, the electricity grid is under increasing pressure. A growing number of regions are experiencing grid congestion, making it increasingly difficult to realise new or expand existing connections. his development also affects the heat transition: moving homes and buildings away from natural gas requires a substantial shift towards electric heating solutions and district heating.
Broadly speaking, the heat transition follows two main pathways: an all-electric approach, based on the widespread deployment of individual heat pumps, and the development of district heating networks, in which collective systems play a central role. Both pathways place demands on the electricity grid, but the nature and magnitude of these impacts differ.
In particular for heat networks combined with geothermal energy, questions arise regarding the required grid connection capacity, how this varies across system configurations, and how it compares with alternative heating solutions.
To provide insight into this, CE Delft, at the request of EBN, has carried out a quantitative analysis of the electrical capacity required for various heating options