Cooperation between TenneT and E-MERGE: Crucial grid expansion for renewable energy

To make the existing energy grid in the northern part of Noord-Holland in the Netherlands robust for the future and to meet the growing demand for transmission capacity - including for renewable energy - TenneT is carrying out necessary grid expansion. From the E-MERGE consortium, Bilfinger Engineering & Consultancy, Witteveen+Bos and Antea Group are involved in this grid expansion.

Currently, the three parties are working on a plan environmental impact report (Plan-MER) that examines a route for the required connections of a new 380KV network. This includes two new high-voltage substations to be built, new overhead and underground high-voltage connections, and a new high-voltage substation to be looped into an existing high-voltage connection. The final environmental and technical assessment documents for the project are now being written. Once the Plan-MER is ready, the Minister of Climate and Green Growth can decide on the route and location of the transmission towers and substations. After decision, work can continue the Basic Engineering for this project.

“We are proud to be working with Witteveen+Bos and Antea Group on this important project for TenneT,” says Ingo Gatzen, Regional Director at Bilfinger Engineering & Consultancy. “Grid congestion is a problem in the Netherlands and projects like this are hugely important to future-proof the high-voltage grid. With our High Voltage knowledge and team of technical specialists, we are in an excellent position to support customers in this area.”

For Bilfinger Engineering & Consultancy, Witteveen+Bos and Antea Group, this is the first major TenneT project to be worked on from the E-MERGE consortium. The cooperation is going well and the parties are bringing their specific expertise to the project. For example, Bilfinger Engineering & Consultancy is responsible for the technical aspects of the grid expansion and Witteveen+Bos is taking care of the planning and spatial aspects. Antea Group is supporting with the preparation of specific sub-reports for the Plan-MER.