New paper sets out need for careful integration
TenneT said the accelerating energy transition is increasing variability in supply as coal and gas give way to solar and wind.
The company said flexibility is essential to keep the system balanced and that large-scale batteries can store surplus energy and return it during scarcity.
TenneT added that batteries can generate revenue on balancing markets, support congestion management and provide system services such as maintaining balance and voltage regulation.
It said co-locating batteries with solar or wind farms avoids additional grid connections, cuts costs and reduces pressure on the network.
According to TenneT, demand for Long Duration Energy Storage is growing even though short-term deployment remains limited.
The company said the Security of Supply Monitor 2025 expects 5-7GW of battery capacity to be economically viable by 2030, rising to 14-27GW by 2050.
TenneT is preparing an overview of substations where TDTR capacity is available to support governments in reserving space for battery projects.
It said national and regional authorities want clarity on how much room to allocate and where battery projects should ideally be developed.
TenneT warned that batteries responding solely to market signals can increase pressure on the grid and said it uses tools including congestion management, capacity-steering contracts and TDTR to ensure system value.
The company added that the battery business case in the Netherlands is under pressure due to high transmission costs and an uneven playing field with Belgium and Germany.
TenneT said viable returns in the Netherlands are currently mainly possible through the TDTR contract, which uses residual grid capacity.
