‘Security of supply of electricity no longer guaranteed’

According to the Board of Government Advisers, the security of electricity supply – given the growth of alternative energy sources – is no longer guaranteed in all parts of the Netherlands. Where our energy supply was first based on fossil fuels and nuclear power plants, the role of sun and wind has increasingly increased. The consequence of this is that there are more and more peaks and troughs in the energy supply, making it increasingly difficult to guarantee 100% power on the electricity grid throughout the day.

According to the College, you as a consumer do not have to worry about the power network going black for the time being. There is an escalation ladder in which users have different priorities. For example, the priority of consumers is higher than, for example, that of a horticultural greenhouse. And, a reassuring thought, consumers come first. So the chances of your power being interrupted just when you’re watching your favorite Netflix series is pretty slim.

Charging electric cars during off-peak hours

One solution that the Commission is considering, for example, to maintain security of supply, is to charge electric cars only at times when there is a surplus of electricity. For example, with a strong gust of wind or when the sun is shining. There are also more and more companies that specialize in the storage of electricity. If you buy electricity, although it is almost free or even has a negative price, it sells if the electricity price shoots up again, you can of course make good money from it.

Earning from security of supply

There are some electricity providers where, in combination with a smart meter, you have variable rates that differ per time of day. One of them is Frank Energie. Here, for example, you pay much more per month in winter than in summer, because energy prices in winter, when the heat pumps are running at full power, the sun hardly shines, are much higher than in summer. The electricity price is calculated per hour.

Do you have a sturdy home battery that can store several kilowatt hours? For example, the battery of your electric car, in principle you can derive a nice side income from this. For example, at a time when there is a strong wind, the sun is shining and the electricity price is approaching zero, you can recharge the batteries and supply the electricity again in the evening, when the wind has died down. Given the high electricity prices at the moment, it can sometimes be lucrative, with several euros per day. And you help the Dutch security of supply. You do need a smart meter for this.