{"id":1015,"date":"2025-09-17T18:01:24","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T18:01:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gopacs.eu\/?page_id=1625"},"modified":"2025-10-09T11:52:11","modified_gmt":"2025-10-09T10:52:11","slug":"congestion-management","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.gopacs.eu\/en\/about\/congestion-management\/","title":{"rendered":"Congestion Management"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n \n \"Congestiemanagement\"\n
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\n Congestion management<\/span>\n

Deploying flexible capacity where needed<\/h1>\n
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What is congestion management?<\/h2>\n

Congestion management is a set of measures that grid operators use to actively prevent impending congestion situations. Such a situation arises when the demand for transport capacity\u2014due to peak consumption or large-scale feed-in\u2014exceeds what the local grid can handle.<\/p>\n

To prevent this, large business users (with more than 3\u00d780 amperes) are asked to temporarily reduce their electricity consumption or limit their feed-in. The agreements for providing this flexible capacity can be laid down in various contract types\u2014also known as flex products<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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What do we ask of businesses?<\/h2>\n

Businesses with a large-consumer connection play an important role in preventing overload. We ask them to be flexible with their power use. That sometimes requires adjustments to business processes or investments in technology and data handling.<\/p>\n

Participation is currently voluntary. Participants make agreements with their grid operator about the availability of their flexible capacity. This capacity can be requested at fixed times, but flexible arrangements can also be made regarding time windows and volumes.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Being flexible\u2014 what do you get in return?<\/h2>\n

Taking part in congestion management asks something of you, but it also offers opportunities. Businesses receive financial compensation for providing flexibility and know where they stand for a longer period. Over time, this creates the room needed for more and larger connections.<\/p>\n

Through GOPACS, we put businesses in touch with grid operators and service providers, and we ensure their flexibility is deployed effectively. This way, companies can already extract value from their flexibility\u2014and actively contribute to a reliable, future-proof energy system.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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A (larger) connection<\/div>\n

Flexibility creates space on the grid. This can allow you to do more with your current connection, or get a (temporary) larger connection sooner.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Cost savings<\/div>\n

Smart management of your electricity usage brings financial benefits. Think of compensation for flexibility or lower costs during negative or peak prices.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Clarity<\/div>\n

Grid congestion creates uncertainty. By participating in congestion management now, you help define the terms and stay in control.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Compare the options<\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Prepare and join flex<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n
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Large Customers<\/h2>\n

Can your production or consumption sites temporarily adjust? Then GOPACS gives you access to a market where flexibility is rewarded. We help you take the first steps, ensure your site is correctly registered, and point you to a suitable service provider. This way, you get more out of your connection and contribute to the grid.<\/p>\n

Go to Large Customers<\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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CSP<\/h2>\n

As a CSP, you play a key role in making flexible capacity available. GOPACS supports you through the onboarding process, helps with asset registration and linking, and provides insight into congestion areas and market data. This enables you to serve your customers better and actively contribute to a future-proof energy system.<\/p>\n

View CSP<\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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News<\/h2>\n \n View all news<\/a>\n <\/div>\n
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\n \n \"Specification\n
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\n 17 April 2026\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

EU Report: GOPACS as a blueprint for the power grid of the future<\/h2>\n\n

The pressure on our electricity grid is felt daily. For entrepreneurs, this often means waiting for a connection, while we are simultaneously in the midst of a full-scale sustainability transition. However, there is good news from Brussels. In a recent report from the European Commission on local flexibility markets, the Dutch approach via GOPACS is highlighted as an international textbook example.<\/p><\/div>\n Read more<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n<\/article>\n <\/div>\n

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\n 3 April 2026\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

TEPCO Visit: Solving grid congestion is a global team sport<\/h2>\n\n

Reflecting on an inspiring visit: Last Monday, we had the privilege of hosting a distinguished delegation from TEPCO – Tokyo Electric Power Company at GOPACS!<\/p><\/div>\n Read more<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n<\/article>\n <\/div>\n

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\n 26 March 2026\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

Grid congestion is forcing a shift in energy consumption: flexibility is central to the RVO report<\/h2>\n\n

The RVO recently published a report on making electricity consumption more flexible. The solution lies in making smarter use of the grid.<\/p><\/div>\n Read more<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n<\/article>\n <\/div>\n

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\n 14 March 2026\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

Custumer story: Pricing is key to strategic energy management and market mechanisms<\/h2>\n\n

Energiebeheer is bij de klanten van Enova geen ondersteunende functie, maar onderdeel van de kernstrategie. Het bedrijf helpt hun klanten door samen met hen drie tot vijf jaar vooruit te kijken.<\/p><\/div>\n Read more<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n<\/article>\n <\/div>\n

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\n 20 February 2026\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

Smart Switching Behind the Meter<\/h2>\n\n

Historically, the Dutch power grid was not built for this shift. Where energy was transported via gas pipelines for decades, electricity must now be moved via cables and transformers. \u201cThat requires heavy infrastructure. High-voltage connections as highways, with regional and local grids beneath them that also need to be reinforced. That costs time, money, and […]<\/p><\/div>\n Read more<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n<\/article>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t
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What are flex bids (in redispatch)?<\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/summary>\n
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Flex bids are bids from market parties to temporarily adjust their electricity consumption or production at an agreed price. They form the basis of redispatch: the market mechanism grid operators use to resolve expected congestion on the electricity grid.<\/p>\n

When grid operators expect the grid in a certain area to become overloaded, they initiate a redispatch request via GOPACS. A market message specifies where and when flexibility is needed.<\/p>\n

Market parties \u2014 such as energy suppliers, CSPs, and large energy users \u2014 can respond with a flex bid. In this bid, they indicate how much flexibility they can provide and at what price, for example by temporarily producing less electricity, consuming more, or reducing their demand.<\/p>\n

GOPACS compares and combines these flex bids and selects the most efficient solution to resolve the congestion, while ensuring that no new bottlenecks arise elsewhere on the grid. If a flex bid is accepted, the party temporarily adjusts its consumption or generation and receives compensation.<\/p>\n

In this way, flex bids make redispatch possible: fast, targeted, and market-based congestion management.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Are congestion situations solved with flex bids (in redispatch)?<\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/summary>\n
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Yes. Flex bids are an important instrument for temporarily resolving congestion through redispatch.<\/p>\n

When grid operators expect the transport capacity in a certain area to be exceeded, they initiate a redispatch request via GOPACS. A market message specifies where and when flexibility is needed. Market parties can respond with a flex bid: an offer to temporarily adjust their electricity consumption or generation in exchange for compensation.<\/p>\n

GOPACS then combines these bids and selects the most efficient solution. For example, electricity production or consumption is reduced within the congestion area, while an opposite adjustment takes place outside that area. This keeps the electricity system balanced and prevents new bottlenecks elsewhere on the grid.<\/p>\n

If the selected flex bids are sufficient, the load remains within the available transport capacity and the congestion is resolved for that moment, without requiring structural grid reinforcement.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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What are the technical requirements for participating in GOPACS?<\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/summary>\n
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The connection must be measurable via an EAN code and equipped with appropriate metering equipment. Reliable and up-to-date measurement data must be available, and the flexible capacity must be controllable on request. In many cases, the flexible capacity must be at least 100 kW to qualify for available contract types.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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What congestion products are available?<\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/summary>\n
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Through GOPACS, grid operators use several congestion products to temporarily relieve pressure on the electricity grid:<\/p>\n