Eneco Extends Utrecht Cogeneration Plants to Prevent Grid Overloads

Eneco Extends Utrecht Cogeneration Plants to Prevent Grid Overloads

(IN BRIEF) Eneco will extend the lifespans of its two gas-fired cogeneration plants in Utrecht to support the local grid under a three- to nine-year agreement with TenneT and Stedin. Facing maximum capacity and projected overloads by winter 2026–2027, Utrecht’s Action Plan combines demand-shifting, smart technologies, and flexible generation. Eneco’s plants—formerly scheduled for closure in 2028—will now operate during peak periods, providing critical backup power. TenneT stressed the need for interim fossil-based flexibility while grid upgrades proceed, and Eneco emphasized balancing clean-energy ambitions with supply security.

(PRESS RELEASE) ROTTERDAM, 3-Jul-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Eneco has entered into a strategic agreement with grid operators TenneT and Stedin to extend the operational lives of its two gas-fired cogeneration plants in Utrecht province through 2029, with an option to continue until 2034. This measure will supply additional electricity during peak demand periods, alleviating stress on the regional grid until capacity upgrades are complete.

In Utrecht, escalating electricity consumption has pushed the grid to its limits, prompting waiting lists for new or enhanced connections since 2021–2022. Projections indicate that, by winter 2026–2027, demand will exceed the grid’s capability, risking prolonged outages. The region’s Action Plan includes ten measures—such as smart EV charging, grid-conscious housing, and shifting consumption off-peak—to manage load. One key element invites businesses to deploy adjustable generation capacity. Under this pact, Eneco’s plants, which primarily provide district heat with electricity as a co-product, will now feed power directly into the grid at critical times.

TenneT COO Maarten Abbenhuis explained: “While we expand and modernize the national grid, we must rely on flexible fossil-based generation in certain regions to maintain supply security. By calling on Eneco’s cogeneration assets when local demand peaks, we can prevent overloads on the shared Utrecht–Gelderland–Flevopolder network. We also encourage all large consumers and producers to adopt flexible consumption strategies.”

Originally slated for decommissioning in 2028 to support Eneco’s sustainability goals, the plants will now remain in service and operate more intensively to stabilize the grid. “We face a dilemma between accelerating clean energy and ensuring reliable supply,” said Kees-Jan Rameau, Eneco’s COO Integrated Energy. “Grid congestion threatens economic growth and new connections. Eneco embraces its social responsibility to provide flexible capacity until long-term solutions are operational.”

Rameau affirmed Eneco’s dual commitment: “We’re proud our Utrecht plants can help secure the supply, even as we continue advancing toward a sustainable, resilient energy system.”

Media Contact:

Marnix Heijboer
Spokesperson
email: marnix.heijboer@eneco.com
Tel: +31 65157 9851

SOURCE: Eneco