Grid congestion sets the pace for electrifi­cation in food

More and more food companies want to electrify their energy use. In practice, they are running into an increasingly hard limit. Grid congestion is hampering expansions, new construction, and upgrades of grid connections across many industrial areas. In a new report, ABN AMRO describes how regulations are changing, how cooperation is progressing slowly, and why customization remains necessary.

Grid capacity more often scarce than available

According to ABN AMRO, a growing number of companies that want to expand or electrify are running into grid congestion. In many locations, the electricity grid lacks sufficient capacity. As a result, grid operators are forced to reject requests for new connections or capacity upgrades. This has now become more the rule than the exception.

A key characteristic of grid congestion on industrial sites is its location-specific nature. Causes and solutions differ from one site to another. This makes standard solutions difficult to apply. Governments and grid operators have been working on measures for two years, but progress is slower than previously expected.

Legislation creates room, practice remains complex

On January 1, 2026, the new Energiewet entered into force. This law provides a framework to create more flexibility in the use of existing grid capacity. Through grid codes, the Autoriteit Consument & Markt had already created legal scope for flexible electricity consumption and supply.

In addition, new opportunities are emerging in certain locations. Electrification is progressing more slowly than grid operators had assumed in their forecasts. As a result, they can still allocate transport capacity to a limited extent. Better communication between electricity users and grid operators also sometimes leads to lower risk margins at substations, creating additional local capacity.

Cooperation requires paid facilitators

Although grid operators can free up additional capacity in some locations, grid congestion remains a serious problem. ABN AMRO sees cooperation on industrial sites as a necessary step. Through energy hubs, companies can better align their energy consumption.

The number of realized energy hubs remains limited, however. A key reason is the lack of coordination. According to the report, so-called “stroomkoppelaars” play a key role in this. These facilitators bring companies together, analyze the grid structure, and help bundle transport contracts. It is precisely this role that proves crucial in making better use of the available space on the grid.

Abnamro.nl