500 MW Temporary Transformer to Be Added at Europoort, Netherlands

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Dutch transmission system operator TenneT and distribution system operator Stedin have announced a temporary transformer plan for Europoort, under which a 500 MW temporary transformer will be deployed first at the site of the planned new 380 kV high-voltage substation in the Port of Rotterdam, in order to add electricity connection capacity for businesses and public institutions in the port area and parts of the South Holland islands that are waiting in line for grid access. The equipment is planned to be put into operation as early as the end of 2028, with the commissioning date depending on permit approval and the construction progress of the associated cable connections.

The temporary transformer will be installed at the site of the planned new 380 kV high-voltage station in Europoort. TenneT is currently calculating the actual impact of connecting this facility on the high-voltage transmission system, with the first calculation results expected by the end of 2026; Stedin will then determine, based on the capacity that can be released on the high-voltage grid, load forecasts for existing users and the progress of other expansion projects, which specific customers can obtain the additional transmission capacity. The full 500 MW rated capacity will not be allocated directly to new users; part of it will be used for grid security and the reliability of supply to existing connected users.

Several companies in Europoort are currently waiting for additional grid capacity. Stedin disclosed that the temporary facility will serve not only industrial enterprises in the Port of Rotterdam but also part of the electricity demand of the South Holland islands, and that public institutions such as schools and hospitals may also have the opportunity to obtain new connections. The specific capacity that can be released will be further determined after TenneT completes its high-voltage grid calculations.

The temporary facility is being advanced in parallel with the permanent grid expansion project in Europoort. Stedin's 2026–2028 investment plan has already included the Europoort substation expansion as a grid capacity project, involving the 25 kV and 10 kV networks, with the permanent expansion planned for 2031–2033. The latest timetable from the Port of Rotterdam Authority expects that the planned permanent grid capacity expansion in the port area will gradually create structural capacity after 2032.

Looking at the construction timeline, the current project has completed the determination of the temporary transformer plan. The next stage includes TenneT's system impact calculations, Stedin's customer capacity assessments, permit processing and the construction of the required cable connections. Under the earliest schedule, the temporary transformer will be put into operation at the end of 2028 and will then continue to provide transitional power supply until the permanent transmission and distribution expansion projects are completed in succession after 2032.

The Port of Rotterdam has previously used temporary high-voltage connection solutions to address the grid connection of large new loads. Shell is building the 200 MW Holland Hydrogen 1 hydrogen production project at Maasvlakte 2. Because the existing high-voltage substation lacked sufficient connection space, Shell and TenneT previously established a temporary restricted connection solution for it, which will be converted to a permanent connection once the new 380 kV high-voltage station at Amaliahaven is completed. That 380 kV station is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026.