Amsterdam expands power grid to tackle congestion
New substations and cables aim to keep housebuilding, business and decarbonisation possible.
Amsterdam is to expand its electricity grid substantially over the coming years. The city, Liander and TenneT are beginning construction of new substations and strengthening existing nodes, because demand for electricity is growing faster than the current network can handle.
The expansion is needed because of several developments at once. Amsterdam has more homes, electric cars, heat pumps and charging points, while businesses and data centres are also demanding more electricity. The municipality expects electricity consumption in 2050 could be three to four times as high as it is now.
One of the most important projects is the new Nieuwe Hemweg electricity substation in the western harbour area. Liander and TenneT began construction there in September. The joint substation should ultimately bring capacity in the area to about one gigawatt. The first phase is expected to enter service around 2030.
According to Liander, 399 customers in the Nieuwe Hemweg supply area are on the waiting list for a new or higher-capacity connection. Of these, 308 are in Amsterdam. They include businesses and institutions that want to expand their activities but cannot, for the time being, obtain the requested transport capacity.
The municipality has included plans in its budget to build around thirty new electricity substations and expand thirteen existing ones. In addition, thousands of smaller medium-voltage units are needed. These small structures distribute electricity closer to homes and businesses and should limit local overloading.
The expansion also has a visible side. For smaller substations, Amsterdam is looking for solutions that fit into the streetscape. In historic parts of the city, so-called pepper pots are being used, among other things: compact electricity huts designed to blend in with their surroundings. At the same time, work on streets, cables and underground infrastructure will remain necessary.
The plans will not solve congestion immediately. The first major projects will take years and require space, permits and cooperation between the municipality and network operators. Construction costs, objections and a shortage of technical staff could also delay implementation.
For residents, the expansion does not automatically mean that every energy project can go ahead immediately. Households generally gain access to the grid sooner than large consumers, but homes too may face works, limited connection options or delays to new building projects. Above all, the approach shows that the energy transition is not only about solar panels and wind turbines, but also about cables, substations and space in the city.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Amsterdam is facing a shortage of transport capacity on parts of the electricity grid.
- Liander, TenneT and the municipality are working on new and expanded substations.
- The projects are intended to enable housebuilding, business and decarbonisation.
Left
Arguments The government should carry out the expansion quickly under public direction, so that electricity does not flow only to large businesses but is also available for housebuilding, public transport and decarbonisation.
Values Equal access, public direction and a rapid transition to a low-fossil economy.
Consequences More public investment and stricter choices about which connections receive priority, but potentially less inequality between areas and groups.
Centre
Arguments The expansion requires above all long-term planning, clear priorities and consultation between the municipality, network operators and users. Both decarbonisation and economic growth must be accommodated within the grid’s physical limits.
Values Reliability, feasibility and institutional cooperation.
Consequences A gradual approach may prevent delays, but means some projects will still have to wait years for a connection.
Right
Arguments Grid expansion should be paid for efficiently and must not automatically lead to unlimited public spending or preferential treatment for certain sectors. Users requesting additional capacity should make a greater contribution to the costs.
Values Cost control, property rights and room for entrepreneurship.
Consequences Stronger market incentives may speed up investment, but projects with lower financial returns may get off the ground later or with greater difficulty.
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 claims can be found directly in sources from Liander, TenneT and the municipality of Amsterdam. Uncertain elements, such as possible delays and individual effects, are presented as expectations or risks.
- confirmed Liander and TenneT have begun construction of the Nieuwe Hemweg electricity substation. — Reported by Liander on 4 September 2026. source
- confirmed The first phase of Nieuwe Hemweg could enter service around 2030. — The timetable is set out in Liander’s project report. source
- confirmed There are 399 customers on the waiting list in the supply area, of whom 308 are in Amsterdam. — Liander gives these figures in its report on Nieuwe Hemweg. source
- confirmed Amsterdam is planning around thirty new and thirteen expanded electricity substations. — These figures appear in the municipality’s 2026 budget. source
Editor's note
The construction plans, capacity figures and waiting list are based on Liander and municipal documents. The precise effects on individual households and the final timetable may still change.Sources
- Liander en TenneT starten bouw van grootste gezamenlijke elektriciteitsstation van Amsterdam — Liander
- Wat merkt u ervan? — Gemeente Amsterdam
- Begroting Gemeente Amsterdam 2026 — Gemeente Amsterdam
More on this in Dutch media
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- De Telegraaf — „amsterdam stroomnet”