What Belgian SMEs Can Learn from Network Congestion in the Netherlands

The Netherlands is at a loss. If you apply for a new electricity connection today, or want to upgrade an existing one, you’ll simply end up on a waiting list in many regions. And since July 1, 2026, this no longer applies only to large industrial players—SMEs are now joining the queue as well. More than 14,000 businesses are currently waiting for sufficient transmission capacity. In some regions, that wait can be as long as 5 to 10 years.

Why is that? The power grid simply isn’t keeping up with demand fast enough. Electric cars, heat pumps, charging stations, batteries, the electrification of business processes… the grid is facing peaks everywhere at once that it simply can’t handle.

And what about grid congestion in Belgium?

We’re not quite there yet. For now, Fluvius and Elia are referring to expected grid congestion, not actual congestion as in the Netherlands. So the grid can still handle demand today. But if nothing changes, the same scenario looms in certain areas by 2035. Just take a look at the Fluvius congestion map: you can already see orange zones appearing where only flexible connections are possible, rather than traditional, permanent connections.

The problem isn’t “not enough power”

An important distinction that is often overlooked: grid congestion does not mean there is a shortage of electricity. It means that at certain times, there isn’t enough transmission capacity to deliver all the electricity being demanded at once. Think of it like a traffic jam: the road is there, but everyone wants to use it at the same time.

And that is also the key to the solution.

Suppose you need more than your connection can handle

Here’s a concrete example. You have two systems, each requiring 100 kW, for a total of 200 kW. However, your grid connection only provides 100 kW. If you request an upgrade from Fluvius, you’ll be put on a waiting list. That could easily take a year or longer, especially in an orange zone.

But in reality, you usually don’t need all 200 kW at the same time. If you run those two systems one after the other instead of simultaneously, you’ll still stay within your existing 100 kW connection capacity. No waiting list, no expensive grid upgrades, no delayed growth.

And that is essentially what PowerBee sets out to do, using three levers:

• Peak shaving: smoothing out peaks in your energy consumption. For example, by temporarily supplying power from a battery at precisely those moments when your consumption would otherwise exceed your connection capacity.
• Load shifting: shifting consumption to times when there is capacity available on your connection. As in the example above.
• Load balancing: intelligently coordinating various consumers or processes within your company so that they don’t all interfere with each other on the network at the same time.

Why You Should Take Action Now Rather Than Wait Until It Becomes a Problem

The Netherlands teaches us one thing above all else: waiting until you run into a full waiting list yourself is the most expensive option. As soon as your region actually turns red or orange on the congestion map, you’ll have only two options left: wait, or organize flexibility on your own. Those who are working on this today will already be ready when the time comes.

By the way, there’s another immediate, tangible reason to get started on this right away. Companies that use our energy scan to find out how they can distribute their consumption more intelligently typically achieve at least a 10% annual savings. That’s a benefit that’s already within reach today, regardless of the whole congestion issue.

Getting Started

An energy scan of your current consumption and connection clearly shows where your business has room to adjust, spread out, or even out its usage—without having to wait for Fluvius and without compromising your growth plans.

Wondering what this means for your business?