TenneT and Enexis (previously Essent Network) have reached an agreement on the take-over of the regional high-voltage grid of 110 kV and 150 kV by TenneT. The amount paid by TenneT for these grids and the corresponding telecommunication activities is € 356 million. The TenneT ownership of these grids will be retroactive as of 1 November 2008. TenneT has been the grid manager for these grids since 1 January 2008. For TenneT the integration of these grids is an important step forwards on the route to one single strong national high-voltage electricity grid.
With regard to this transaction, Mel Kroon, TenneT Managing Director states: 'With the purchase of these grids, TenneT further implements its strategy to create one single national grid. Now that TenneT has come to an agreement with Enexis, TenneT trusts is will be given the opportunity to take over the ownership of the 110- and 150-kV grids from the other regional grid owners as well. The regional Enexis grid consists of approximately 3,000 km of high-voltage connections and 123 transformer stations in the northern provinces (Groningen, Drenthe, Overijssel, Flevoland) and southern provinces (Brabant and Limburg) of the Netherlands. For TenneT this take-over means a doubling in ownership of the connections in kilometres (was more than 3,200) and stations (was 49), which befits the company’s ambition to expand.
In order to ensure an efficient management, TenneT opened two new regional offices, of which one is located in Hoogeveen and one in Weert. From these offices, approximately 140 new TenneT employees ensure the maintenance of the grids, all which were mainly taken over from Enexis. In 2003, TenneT took over the grids from Transportnet Zuid-Holland (TZH). Apart from the head office in Arnhem, TenneT now operates from four operational offices in the regions North, East, South and West. The official take-over of the grids of110 kV and higher was completed in accordance with the Dutch Independent Grid Administration Act (also known as the Segmentation Act). Under this Act, responsibility for the management of all transmission grids of 110 kV and higher was assigned to TenneT as of 1 January 2008.
The TenneT transmission grid is the backbone of the Dutch electricity supply, which is partly based on the fact that all major power stations are connected to the TenneT grid and the latter is connected to the European grid. In order to enhance the supply security, it is important that all transmission grids are organized and managed in a univocal, central manner. Grid development, management and control will therefore be at national level. Currently TenneT investigates how the secure supply of the 110- and 150-kV grids can be further improved. This investigation explicitly includes what is referred to as the “spurs”, such as in the Bommelerwaard and Haaksbergen. For this, TenneT has the intention to present an investment proposal in the second half of 2009.
In the coming years TenneT will invest hundreds of millions in the improvement and extension of the Dutch transmission grid. The investments are required in order to be able to continue to meet the increasing demand for transmission capacity and to continue to able to guarantee the Dutch standard of security of supply.Further to the new 380-kV line in de Randstad (Randstad 380 kV) an investment is now made in new 380-kV connections in the north (Noord-West 380 kV) and south-west (Zuid-West 380 kV) of the Netherlands.
