Corporate Social Responsibility

Decentralised and sustainable

The growth in the number of combined heat and power units (CHPs) in the Westland area continued in 2008. CHPs are a decentralised form of energy generation. Because of their high efficiency (approx. 90 percent), CHPs are seen as a sustainable alternative to centrally generated electricity in the horticulture sector. Decentralised generation impacts on the scarce capacity of the high-voltage grid. TenneT is responding to this by entering into a dialogue with producers to enable measures to be put in place in good time. Decentralised power generation is set to play an ever more significant role in the transition to a more sustainable energy supply system. This not only encompasses CHPs but also onshore wind turbines (e.g. on farms), heat pumps, micro-CHP boilers and solar panels on homes. In 2008 the government introduced the Promotion Scheme for Sustainable Energy Production to encourage this type of decentralised electricity generation.