To meet the agreements set out in the Climate Agreement, the Netherlands must take significant steps to reduce CO₂ emissions. The use of fossil fuels is being replaced as much as possible by sustainable alternatives such as renewable energy from wind and solar. The energy transition requires a fundamentally different energy system than the current one, which is insufficiently prepared for the growing demand for energy.
The Province of Zeeland is working together with grid operators and municipalities on the development of the Provincial Multi-Year Programme for Energy and Climate Infrastructure (PMIEK). PMIEK 2.0 includes various research and exploration projects. One of these research projects concerns the municipality of Sluis. Sluis has a unique profile because the tourism sector has a major influence on energy consumption. In addition to regular demand from households and businesses, tourism—especially during the summer and holiday periods—causes strong peaks in energy use.
At the same time, the landscape surrounding Sluis is a major tourist attraction, which in certain periods of the year leads to exceptionally high peaks in energy demand and consumption. This combination — a large and extensive rural area, low population density, and strong seasonal peaks — means that both demand patterns and spatial conditions play an important role in designing and developing the future energy system.
This study provides insight into how the energy system in the municipality of Sluis can be structured in the future. Based on model calculations, different scenarios for the development of the energy system are compared. The scenarios show how choices regarding renewable generation, heat pumps, and grid integration affect costs, emissions, and grid load.
Based on the model calculations, the grid operator, the Province of Zeeland, and the municipality of Sluis have gained insight into potential bottlenecks related to grid congestion in a municipality that aims to grow and that has specific characteristics in terms of energy demand, supply, and location.
The anticipated challenges regarding the timing of the expansion of the Oostburg substation contributed to Stedin’s decision to bring forward the expansion of this substation by several years. Furthermore, the study showed that there are several “no-regret” options for making the energy mix more sustainable in order to:
a) reduce CO₂ emissions and achieve the climate targets, and b) achieve the most cost-effective outcomes.
The phrase “measuring is knowing” is often used. This study demonstrates that this is indeed true. By gaining insight into the transition and calculating the possible scenarios on the table, grid operators and policymakers can make the choices that are most beneficial — beneficial for residents as well as for businesses.
Another important aspect is that this study truly brought stakeholders together. Various parties, such as the grid operator, the province, the municipality, and local entrepreneurs, were already regularly in discussion with one another. However, a study like this helps to clarify shared topics and encourages joint reflection on issues that matter to everyone involved. It usually becomes clear that when parties take each other’s interests into account and communicate openly, multiple objectives can be achieved and it becomes clear who needs to do what, and when.