Nathalie Ahsmann

Alliander is a group comprising various operating companies. As one of these operating companies, network operator Liander is responsible for the gas and electricity grid for a large part of the Netherlands and manages the energy distribution across all grids, day in day out. Liander’s professionals keep the lights on and the heat going at around 3 million homes and businesses in the Netherlands.

The number of requests from large business customers asking to be connected to the electricity grid or be given access to increased capacity is growing. At certain points in the electricity grid, capacity is scarce and the grid cannot always be upgraded quickly enough to meet this extra demand, which means that a transmission limit must be imposed on customers.

Therefore, we have decided on an Innovation Challenge. For this challenge, we are focusing on the problems caused by the large amounts of solar energy being generated. Because electricity generation by solar panels largely takes place at the same time and also in places where there has previously only been limited demand for electricity, there is a shortage of transmission capacity. Given that solar energy is difficult to control, we are looking for ways to shift the demand for electricity to, or increase it during, the hours when the sun shines the most. This way local balancing of supply and demand can be ensured.

We want to facilitate the development of solutions that stimulate the electricity consumer to consume more electricity when the sun is shining. This prevents us having to impose transmission limits and/or having to expand/upgrade the grid.

Do you have a good idea or do you want to read more about this challenge? Visit our Innovation Challenge on StartHubs via https://starthubs.co/en/alliander/zonnige-elektriciteitsvraag