In Tholen, Zeeland, the first energy hub (e-hub) in the Netherlands has been put into operation. In this e-hub, companies can share power with each other. In September 2023, business collective REC Tholen and grid operator Stedin signed a group capacity agreement. After the installation of the battery, the e-hub could start.
Within the e-hub, the participating companies combine generation, storage and smart use of the electricity grid to handle peaks in supply and demand. This offers both the entrepreneurs on the Slabbecoornpolder and Welgelen industrial estates in Tholen a lot of extra space on the grid, but also leads to more grid capacity in the region.
On the business parks in Tholen, 31 companies have signed up to coordinate the supply and demand of energy, jointly purchase and sell energy, and sometimes even exchange energy. As a result, the electricity grid is used more efficiently. With smart steering, the entrepreneurs create more space on the grid for themselves. The connection of the battery by energy partner Kenter with a capacity of 2 megawatts, ensures that individual capacity can be shared. All companies will be connected to the battery one by one. The battery removes the peaks from the power grid and the imbalance on the grid is balanced. With the help of solar panels and occasionally some power from the grid, the battery is recharged.
More energy hubs
David Peters, CTO of Stedin: "Energy hubs are important in the development towards a sustainable energy system. Connecting the battery in Tholen to our grid is an important development step towards the new energy system. An energy hub can provide new space when companies can no longer grow due to grid congestion. This allows us to do more with our grid. Energy hubs remain customized. REC Tholen, as a pilot, is important to learn the lessons about the creation of an energy hub. Stedin is keen to contribute to getting more energy hubs off the ground."
Peter van Tuijl of On E Target, initiator of this project: "We are working with this e-hub on collective sustainability, this is an example for the Netherlands. The intention is to do this much more. By working together we make smart use of the grid. You can already see that more space is being freed up for the participating companies and in time it will also relieve grid congestion in Tholen and the surrounding area."
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