The Netherlands has invested billions in wind and solar. But without industrial flexible demand, much of this renewable power will be wasted or curtailed.
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: Industry is essential to the energy transition.
Industry consumes ~40% of Dutch electricity and can shift GW-scale loads in real time—absorbing renewable peaks, stabilizing the grid, and reducing import dependence. By 2030, activating industrial flexibility could provide 3–6 GW of controllable power.
The problem? Public perception still sees heavy industry as “the polluters”—not as critical infrastructure for renewable integration.
Current reality:
- Most Dutch industry treats electricity as a fixed cost
- Pilot projects exist (water sector, some large sites), but deployment lags
- Household flexibility cannot replace industrial-scale load shifting
What’s working elsewhere:
- Germany: Strong industrial demand response through balance responsible parties
- Spain: Inclusive aggregator models (~2 GW industrial flexibility)
- Finland: Real-time industrial integration already deployed
The Netherlands has the industrial base. We have the renewable capacity coming online. What we’re missing is the recognition that flexible industrial demand is not optional—it’s the foundation for making our renewable investments pay off.
Without it, we face:
- Renewable curtailment (wasted clean energy)
- Continued gas dependency for grid balancing
- Higher electricity costs
- Vulnerability during low wind periods
The question: How do we navigate the contradiction between needing industrial scale and the political resistance to “supporting polluters”?
How do we shift the narrative from industry-as-problem to industry-as-solution—while still holding them accountable for decarbonization?