With the electricity grid in Noord-Holland at full capacity and critical expansion projects years away, greenhouse growers are reportedly stepping in to stabilize the system by generating and absorbing power based on demand, offering temporary relief amid growing energy congestion, Trouw reports.
Fred van Paassen, a flower grower in Andijk, operates what he calls a "small power plant"—a combined heat and power (CHP) system powered by a combustion engine. The system produces up to 3 megawatts per hour, enough to supply electricity to roughly 1,000 households for one hour.
Power that Van Paassen doesn't need for his chrysanthemum operation is returned to the grid—provided demand outpaces supply. When renewable sources like solar and wind generate more power than needed, Van Paassen draws electricity from the grid instead, creating space on the overloaded network. He reuses the residual heat and carbon dioxide from the system in his greenhouse.
"We help solve the problem, and it's profitable," Van Paassen told Trouw. He has a contract with energy services firm Tenergy, which compensates him at rates determined by the energy exchange. The payment varies daily based on supply conditions and grid load.
Read more at NL Times