stroomnet

Stroomnet, often translated as the electric power grid, is the system of generation, transmission and distribution that delivers electricity from producers to consumers. It comprises generation plants, a high-voltage transmission network, regional distribution networks, substations, and the control and metering systems that coordinate supply and demand.

In the Netherlands, the transmission network is operated by TenneT, a transmission system operator. Distribution networks are run by several regional operators, including Liander, Stedin, Enexis, and Alliander, covering different parts of the country. The high-voltage grid transports bulk electricity over long distances, while lower-voltage distribution networks bring power to homes and businesses. Balancing of supply and demand is managed by the TSO, with market operations integrated in the wider European electricity market.

Grid access is regulated by the national regulator Autoriteit Consument & Markt (ACM), which sets tariffs and reliability standards and ensures non-discriminatory access for producers and suppliers. European network codes coordinate technical and operational requirements across borders, facilitating cross-border trade and the integration of renewables.

Historically, electricity networks emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and gradually became more centralized. Liberalisation in the 1990s and 2000s led to unbundling of generation, trading, and grid activities, with a clearer separation between the TSO and DSOs.

Current challenges include integrating large amounts of renewable energy, maintaining reliability with aging infrastructure, expanding cross-border interconnections, and addressing cybersecurity and grid resilience. The stroomnet is central to the energy transition, supporting electrification of heat and transport and the growth of distributed generation.