Energy hub begins with group transport agreement using Invest-NL toolkit

Net congestion hinders many entrepreneurs in their growth. Also, on the business park De Waterlaat in Bergeijk, the limited space on the electricity grid was a challenge. By better aligning energy consumption and generation, entrepreneurs can now jointly utilise the available grid capacity. 

The signing of the group transport agreement (GTA) makes this possible. With a GTA, multiple companies enter into a single agreement with the grid operator for the available transport capacity. They agree amongst themselves how to distribute and use that capacity. 

Invest-NL helps move practice forward

This energy hub has been made possible in part by the legal toolkit developed by Invest-NL in collaboration with Kennedy Van der Laan. The toolkit helps companies establish clearer arrangements more quickly regarding cooperation, organisation, financing, and risk sharing. This makes a complex legal process more concrete and better executable. 

In developing the toolkit, Invest-NL worked together with the Kempen Business Platform. De Waterlaat was a key practical case in this process. What started as a joint quest for workable agreements is now taking shape in practice. 

"Standard contracts are necessary to make energy hubs financeable and scalable. From market development, Invest-NL has contributed specifically to this. With group transport agreements, this work takes shape in practice. The next step is to scale up. That is now in the hands of the government, regions, entrepreneurs, and grid operators,” says Diederik Apotheker, Market Development Theme Lead at Invest-NL. 

Collaboration as a catalyst

The energy hub at De Waterlaat was realised through cooperation between entrepreneurs, Enexis, the municipality of Bergeijk, North Brabant province, the Kempen Business Platform, EnergyFreedom, and Alius. 

For Invest-NL, this demonstrates how its development role can make a difference. As a national financing and development institution, Invest-NL helps resolve financing bottlenecks that delay societal transitions. The launch of the energy hub in Bergeijk offers prospects for other business parks. By sharing knowledge, agreements, and experiences, more entrepreneurs can work together towards a smarter and more future-proof energy system.