We are consuming and producing more electricity than ever. This is partly due to economic growth and the ongoing transition to sustainable energy. As a result, there is not always enough transport capacity available on the electricity grid in certain parts of the Netherlands. This is known as grid congestion.
The grid operators are working hard to reduce grid congestion. They do this through three main strategies:
Making better use of the grid, which includes the role of GOPACS, comes down to coordinating and spreading electricity use together. This requires careful planning. That’s especially challenging because there is little available capacity, while at the same time more uncertainty — for example due to solar and wind energy. An unexpected change in electricity generation or consumption can lead to a congestion situation: more electricity needs to pass through a local bottleneck than can be transported safely.
GOPACS was established by the grid operators to help prevent and resolve congestion situations.
