Major grid expansion involving deep drilling beneath the railway
The energy transition requires a major expansion of our electricity grid. At the 150 kV substation in Roosendaal, we are meeting that challenge with a large expansion project. We are not only building new infrastructure but also making the best possible use of the existing substation. As part of the project, we are laying no fewer than 39 new cable bundles using our largest 800 mm² cables. The substation is located directly alongside the railway line. To carry out the work safely, we completed a complex horizontal drilling operation 12 metres beneath the railway. To deliver this major project, we are working closely with contractor Baas Verkley, Infront, the Municipality of Roosendaal and the landowners.
Solving a complex puzzle together
What began as a relatively straightforward expansion of the electricity grid in Emmen-Bargeres/Zuidbarge soon turned into a complex puzzle. As Waterleidingmaatschappij Drenthe also had major works in the area, 80% of the design had to be revised. By working closely together, we were ultimately able to combine the works: a single excavation and drilling operation delivering two results. One of the technical challenges was a 473-metre guided bore beneath the railway line. We also had to work within a tight schedule due to the simultaneous reconstruction of the ring road, ensure access to the local fire station at all times, and take into account the potato harvest on the land of one of the landowners involved.
50th biomethane supplier
Enexis aims to facilitate and encourage as much biomethane feed-in as possible. In the first half of the year, we connected several new biomethane feed-in producers to our gas network. At the end of June, we welcomed our 50th biomethane feed-in producer. Contractor Leo van Amstel from Lith (North Brabant) has developed an advanced manure processing system capable of processing 180,000 cubic metres of pig and cattle manure and producing enough biomethane to supply 500 households. We now have a total of 52 biomethane feed-in producers. This keeps us on track to achieve our target of 20% growth in biomethane fed into our gas network.
Remote dimming of solar panels
Remotely dimming household solar panels to relieve pressure on the electricity grid: with Zonnedimmer, Enexis is the first grid operator to implement congestion management for households at a specific congestion point. Together with congestion service provider Zonnedimmer, we are making it possible to remotely dim household solar panel inverters at ten congestion points in critical parts of the electricity grid whenever the grid is at risk of becoming overloaded. In May, we invited 55,000 households in the selected areas to take part, and interest has been high. Participants receive compensation.
Cybersecurity was a key consideration in the development and implementation of Zonnedimmer and was explicitly incorporated into the decision-making process. Based on an internal risk assessment, an independent cybersecurity assessment, additional validation activities and the mitigation measures put in place, it was concluded that the residual cyber risks were manageable before the solution was brought into operation.
With Zonnedimmer Enexis is the first grid operator to conclude an operational agreement with a congestion service provider for KV Flex, the grid operators' initiative to enable small consumers to automatically reduce or shift their electricity consumption when the electricity grid is under pressure.
Changes to the boards
The Supervisory Board has appointed Walter Grootveld (photo) as Chief Transition Officer (CTO) and member of the Executive Board of Enexis Group with effect from 1 September. He succeeds Jeroen Sanders, who left Enexis in March this year. In recent years, Walter was Director of Energy Infrastructure Solutions at Essent.
In line with the retirement schedule, Joost van Dijk stepped down as Vice-Chair and member of the Supervisory Board in April. At the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on 16 April 2026, Ad Louter was appointed to fill the vacancy. He has been Managing Director of Urenco Nederland B.V. since 2015. At the same meeting, Jos Nijhuis was reappointed as Chair of the Supervisory Board for a further four-year term.