Any hospitality or retail business owner looking to expand or invest in sustainability will inevitably encounter a major hurdle: grid congestion. Whether you’re planning to install additional refrigeration units in your supermarket, electrify your restaurant kitchen, or provide EV charging points for your customers, you may be shocked to hear from your grid operator that no extra power connection is available — the electricity grid is “full.”

This is not some distant scenario — it’s already a pressing reality. Nearly every region in the Netherlands is facing capacity shortages on the electricity grid. In these overloaded areas, grid operators are forced to impose restrictions, meaning large consumers may be unable to access the full capacity they require or feed surplus renewable energy back into the grid. Estimates suggest that around 10,000 businesses — many in hospitality — are currently on a waiting list for grid access.

Major grid expansions are not expected to be completed until around 2032–2035. Until then, entrepreneurs will need to learn how to navigate the traffic jam that is our electricity network. The implications are clear: expanding, relocating, or pursuing sustainability initiatives may simply not be feasible — unless you take proactive measures.

The grid Is full: what is grid congestion?

Grid congestion refers to an overload on the electricity network — essentially, demand outstrips the grid’s capacity to deliver power. The Netherlands is rapidly electrifying — from heating and cooking to transportation — but the grid infrastructure hasn’t kept pace. As a result, grid operators in many regions have declared capacity stops: businesses cannot obtain heavier connections, and expansion requests are added to a growing waiting list.

For large commercial connections (>3×80 A), roughly three-quarters of the country now appears in orange or red on the national grid capacity map. In practice, this means you may be unable to power a new oven or walk-in freezer, or sell your excess solar energy back to the grid. This hampers both business growth and much-needed sustainability investments.

Although grid operators are legally required to provide sufficient capacity to all users, reinforcing the grid takes time — in some cases, years. Critical projects (e.g., hospitals or new housing developments) are prioritized, leaving most businesses in a holding pattern. This has led to economic bottlenecks across the Netherlands: a congested grid delays business plans and in some cases brings hospitality and retail operations to a standstill. Fortunately, there are practical strategies you can implement — even before grid upgrades are completed.

What can you do now? Four strategic solutions for Hospitality and Retail

While grid congestion poses a serious challenge, entrepreneurs are far from powerless. If you’re planning to grow your business or make it more sustainable, consider these four smart strategies that can help you secure the energy you need — or make better use of what you have.

Optimize your energy profile

Start by gaining insight into your current energy consumption and look for ways to reduce or shift it. Consider engaging a qualified energy advisor — such as COMCAM — to analyze your usage patterns and identify consumption peaks. In many cases, energy-saving measures and more efficient equipment can lower peak demand enough for you to stay within your existing connection limits.

You can also reschedule energy-intensive activities to off-peak hours or spread them more evenly throughout the day. For example, charge refrigeration systems at night or run dishwashers after closing time. Avoid exceeding your contracted capacity; various creative solutions exist to flatten demand spikes. These include using small generators or battery systems to handle temporary peaks, or shifting some of your energy use to low-demand periods.

The outcome: reduced pressure on the grid, lower energy costs, and often, a smaller carbon footprint.

Engage with your grid operator

Don’t accept “no capacity” as the final word. Reach out to your grid operator and inquire about customized solutions. In some cases, you can enter into a modified transport contract, where you’re allowed to use more power during off-peak hours and restricted during peak times. These so-called “capacity-limiting contracts” (or “peak shaving” agreements) let you access additional power when the grid is less strained.

Other options include dynamic contracts where your usage is temporarily reduced on demand when the grid is under pressure. These arrangements vary by region and grid operator, so discuss what might work best for your specific needs.

Also, it is critical to get on the waiting list for grid upgrades as soon as possible — even if you are told that the queue is long. The earlier you apply for a heavier connection, the sooner you will be considered once capacity becomes available.

Consider cadastral splitting (multiple connections)

This less conventional but occasionally viable strategy involves legally subdividing your property into separate parcels or addresses. The idea is that several smaller connections may be more achievable than one large one.

Grid operators apply stricter limitations to large consumers, while smaller user connections (<3×80 A) are often faster and easier to approve. By spreading your load over, say, two separate 3×80 A connections instead of a single heavy one, you may be able to obtain sufficient capacity for your expansion.

Note: this is a complex and costly measure requiring permits and legal adjustments. Each section must meet safety standards individually (e.g., its own meter cabinet and inspection certifications). Cadastral splitting should be seen as a last resort when all other avenues have been exhausted. Always seek expert legal and technical advice before pursuing this route.

Share capacity with others (exchange energy or cable pooling behind the meter)

Look beyond your own building. Perhaps another company on your business park uses electricity at different times of day. In such cases, you might be able to share capacity: one business operates primarily in the morning, the other in the evening, allowing you to jointly make optimal use of a single heavy connection without overburdening the grid.

Such collaborations can be formalized through cable pooling — the shared use of a grid connection by multiple generators or consumers. For example, a site that hosts both solar panels and a wind turbine may use a single cable, with the two energy sources complementing each other.

As an SME generating solar energy, you could benefit from cable pooling by combining your generation with your own or a neighbor’s consumption. Sharing a connection helps you maximize grid usage while avoiding the cost and delays of securing a second connection.

Another option is establishing a direct power line between your business and a nearby high-volume consumer. If you have surplus electricity (or a shortfall), you can exchange power directly, bypassing the public grid entirely.

These collaborative setups require proper agreements and often prior approval from the grid operator, but they can provide a crucial workaround while waiting for long-term infrastructure upgrades.

For even more solutions to network congestion, read this article.

How can COMCAM support you?

Grid congestion is a complex challenge, but you don’t have to face it alone. COMCAM can help you identify and implement the right solutions — from smart efficiency measures to innovative contract models — all rooted in our unique Energy Portfolio Management approach.

We understand the specific challenges hospitality and retail businesses face. As an independent energy advisor (and official partner of Koninklijke Horeca Nederland), COMCAM supports entrepreneurs across the hospitality and retail sectors in analyzing energy usage, your energy profile and structurally reducing costs. We are not an energy supplier, but a fully independent partner — which means we act solely in your best interest.

We apply strategies that yield real benefits — from tailoring plans to your unique energy profile to optimizing connection capacity at each site.

Do you have expansion plans but were turned away by the grid operator? We’ll explore alternative strategies and guide you through the complexities of energy contracts, feed-in tariffs, and flexibility programs. We also assist in preparing discussions with your grid operator and applying for special contract arrangements.

Our experts focus on solutions: How can you grow or decarbonize despite current grid constraints? Whether the answer lies in a temporary generator, a smart combination of solar power and consumption (cable pooling), or participation in a congestion management program, we’ll design a bespoke roadmap tailored to your situation.

With years of experience and hundreds of entrepreneurs supported, we know what it takes to future-proof your energy infrastructure.

Don’t let grid congestion stall your ambitions.

With the right knowledge and creative strategy, far more is possible than it might initially seem. Start your energy planning early, and consult experts like COMCAM. That way, your business stays powered, resilient — and ready for the future.

Want tailored advice or a quick scan of your possibilities? Get in touch with COMCAM. Together, we’ll secure the power behind your success.