Unlocking flexible capacity from the 'private grid'
Flexible capacity
“As the owner and operator of our private electricity network, we feel a responsibility to truly take a leading role in the energy transition and to innovate rapidly. We also see clear opportunities to generate additional returns and reduce grid imbalance,” says Rien Veldsink of The Green Box. “Eddy Grid’s smart control system gives us the ability to seize those opportunities.”
In Hengelo, you'll find The Green Box – the hub for cleantech innovators in the Netherlands – with a mission to accelerate the transition to affordable, clean energy and mobility. The Green Box spans an 18.4-hectare site with approximately 80,000 square meters of industrial space, laboratories, and offices, hosting more than 20 cleantech companies of various sizes. In addition, The Green Box features around 7 MWp of installed solar capacity, a 6 MW hydrogen test setup, and over 40 smart EV charging points. The site is also equipped with its own 10 kV power network, for which the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has granted an exemption for independent grid management.
As the operator of its own Closed Distribution System (CDS), The Green Box plays a key role in unlocking flexibility—both for its connected users and in coordination with the grid operator. To realize this ambition, The Green Box has partnered with Eddy Grid.
In August 2024, Eddy Grid was given the opportunity to test its Solar Curtailment product under real-world conditions, while The Green Box gained valuable insights into the specific impact on the local electricity grid. Since this successful trial, Eddy Grid has been continuously managing the solar field. Starting in November, a (mobile) battery – deployed in collaboration with Skoon Energy – has also been added to support grid balancing.
💡 Why is this important?
The combination of solar energy, battery storage, and smart control enables:
- Reduced unnecessary costs
- Smarter use of renewable energy
- Innovative solutions that are both financially and environmentally sustainable
The Green Box and Eddy Grid continue to build a flexible and innovative energy network. With the battery system and future expansions, we are working toward a sustainable energy system in which every asset is used at the right time and in the right way.
