Finding space for electricity substations is becoming increasingly difficult
The expansion of the electricity grid is increasingly clashing with other claims on scarce land.
The Netherlands must build thousands of new electricity installations in the coming years, but suitable locations are scarce. Municipalities, provinces and network operators are therefore looking for ways to secure land earlier and speed up procedures.
Demand for electricity is growing due to electric transport, heat pumps, new homes and businesses switching to electricity, among other things. At the same time, more renewable energy is being generated. This requires additional cables, high-voltage connections, substations and neighbourhood transformers. The Dutch central government warns that this infrastructure must share space with housing, nature, agriculture, businesses and recreation.
The scale of the task is considerable. According to the Dutch central government, the future energy system will require more than 100,000 kilometres of electricity cable. It will also require more than 670 high-voltage substations and around 50,000 neighbourhood substations. Altogether, this amounts to a land take of approximately 11,000 football pitches, although that figure also includes other energy infrastructure such as pipelines and storage.
The network operators are already expanding, but demand is growing faster. In 2025, the government reported that work was under way at around 250 locations on the high-voltage grid, with 70 projects under construction. In the two preceding years, almost 50 new medium-voltage substations had been built and more than 2,400 transformer kiosks added. Nevertheless, the waiting list for companies and institutions seeking a new or larger connection doubled.
The puzzle is particularly complicated in urban areas. Cables, pipes and sewers already run underground, while above ground homes, roads and business parks compete for the same space. High-voltage connections also bring requirements concerning safety, nature and access to substations. Nieuwsuur previously described how TenneT negotiates with farmers, municipalities, water authorities and nature organisations on hundreds of expansion projects.
The government is trying to speed up decision-making. Since 1 January 2026, a standard obligation to allow access has applied to preparatory surveys, such as soil measurements. According to the government, this can shorten the procedure by several months to a maximum of 18 months. Municipalities and provinces can also draw on an expanded pool of experts for site selection and permitting. For this expansion, €22.5 million has been made available from the Climate Fund for the 2026–2030 period.
From 1 October, municipalities can, according to the Dutch central government, request capacity on the electricity grid at an early stage of the construction process. This should prevent housing plans from running into problems at a late stage because a connection is unavailable. The measure does not solve the lack of physical space, but it may help align grid planning and spatial planning more effectively.
In 2026, the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets assessed the network operators’ investment plans, which look 15 years ahead. These plans also form the basis for future network tariffs. The core of the problem therefore remains twofold: construction must be accelerated, while governments and network operators must simultaneously determine where infrastructure fits best and who should give up space for it.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The Netherlands must significantly expand its electricity grid in the coming years.
- The infrastructure required needs space above and below ground.
- That space competes with housing, agriculture, nature, businesses and recreation.
- The government has taken measures to speed up site selection, surveys and permitting.
Left
Arguments The energy transition must not be imposed on residents, farmers or nature areas without strong participation and fair compensation. The government should take public control, save energy and first look for smart combinations of infrastructure before claiming new space.
Values Spatial justice, protection of nature and democratic participation.
Consequences A more careful process may delay projects, but according to this approach it reduces the risk of social resistance and irreversible damage.
Centre
Arguments Grid expansion is necessary, but site choices must be transparent, technically substantiated and coordinated regionally. Acceleration is defensible when procedures remain predictable and those affected can arrange objections and compensation.
Values Reliable public infrastructure, feasibility and institutional diligence.
Consequences A combination of early planning, better use of space and targeted legislative acceleration can support both the construction task and the energy transition.
Right
Arguments The Netherlands cannot allow housing construction and economic growth to grind to a halt because every site choice is delayed for years. The government must set national priorities, shorten procedures and clearly compensate owners.
Values Security of supply, economic freedom, property rights and decisive governance.
Consequences Faster decision-making may make connections and investment possible sooner, but increases the risk that local interests feel insufficiently heard.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The article’s central points are based on current information from the Dutch central government and the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets, supplemented by public reporting from NOS Nieuwsuur. Figures are linked to the periods in which the sources reported them; the scale of the specific land shortage in 2026 has not been quantified precisely.
- confirmed The future energy system will require more than 100,000 kilometres of electricity cable, in addition to more than 670 high-voltage substations and around 50,000 neighbourhood substations. — These figures appear on the Dutch central government’s information page on energy infrastructure. source
- confirmed The total land take of the new energy infrastructure is estimated by the Dutch central government at approximately 11,000 football pitches. — The Dutch central government gives this figure and states that it also includes other energy infrastructure. source
- confirmed In 2025, work was under way at around 250 locations on the high-voltage grid, with 70 projects under construction. — This is stated in the government announcement of 24 March 2025. source
- confirmed Since 1 January 2026, a standard obligation to allow access has applied to preparatory surveys, potentially saving several months to a maximum of 18 months. — The Dutch central government describes this measure and the stated range for the procedure time. source
- confirmed €22.5 million from the Climate Fund is available for expanding the expert pool for 2026–2030. — This amount and period appear in the same government announcement. source
- confirmed The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets assesses investment plans that look 15 years ahead and that partly form the basis for future network tariffs. — The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets describes the duration and function of the investment plans on its publication page. source
Editor's note
The need for and scale of the grid expansion, the shortage of space and the announced acceleration measures have been confirmed by government and regulatory sources. It has not been established exactly how much additional land became available in 2026 or how many projects are delayed solely because of a lack of land.Sources
- Uitbreiding en aanpassing van de energie-infrastructuur — Rijksoverheid
- Kabinet en netbeheerders werken aan ruim 100 maatregelen tegen vol stroomnet — Rijksoverheid
- Nieuwe maatregelen om stroomnet sneller uit te breiden per 1 januari van start — Rijksoverheid
- Verslag ACM investeringsplannentoets 2026 — Autoriteit Consument en Markt
- Netbeheerder Tennet drukt steeds vaker plannen door — NOS Nieuwsuur
More on this in Dutch media
- NU.nl — „elektriciteitsnet netcongestie”
- De Telegraaf — „elektriciteitsnet netcongestie”
- Trouw — „elektriciteitsnet netcongestie”