We are primarily tasked with providing power transmission services, system services and facilitating the energy market. Our core tasks follow from our appointment as grid operator under the Dutch 'Elektriciteitswet' (E-wet) and the German 'Energiewirtschaftsgesetz' (EnWG).
Our key tasks
Innovation
TenneT presents Hub and Spoke concept for large scale wind energy on the North Sea.
Read moreOur grid
TenneT manages the high-voltage grid in the Netherlands and large parts of Germany. TenneT transmits electricity at 110,000 volts (110 kV) and higher. With around 23,000 kilometres of high-voltage lines, we cross borders and connect countries.
Electricity market
The energy sector is developing rapidly. The process of European market integration began some years ago. Its purpose is to create a single European market that enables market parties to trade gas and electricity across national borders easily and efficiently.
Transparency data
We provide transparency data on our operations on our Dutch and German transparency page and on ENTSO-E.
To transparency pagesE-Insights
Our vision is to be one of the most transparent Transmission System Operators (TSO) in Europe and thereby creating value for society. In this Energy Insights section we present selected energy related topics and show data, information and valuable insights.
Company
TenneT is a leading European electricity transmission system operator (TSO), with activities in the Netherlands and in Germany. We strive to ensure a reliable and uninterrupted supply of electricity in our high-voltage grid for some 41 million people.
We are TenneT
Meet us
About system services
System services are the services TenneT provides to guarantee the flow of electricity in the Netherlands and large parts of Germany.
The Netherlands
These are the services TenneT provides to guarantee the flow of electricity in the Netherlands, resolve large-scale disruptions and maintain the balance between electricity supply and demand.
The system services are set out in the System Code. When we provide these services we must also fulfil the international commitments agreed by the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E).
Germany
In case prognoses fall short, TenneT will have to settle the difference with its own energy reserves. In order to keep the need for regulating capacity as small as possible, TenneT coordinates matters closely with the other German TSOs. And if we need regulating capacity, we purchase it on the energy market, which we have been doing in an open, transparent and non-discriminatory manner since 2001.
The required capacity is put to tender on the appropriate market (www.regelleistung.net). On this market, power-plant operators can offer the capacity they have available, and consumers can view the tenders.
Maintaining the balance
TenneT continuously monitors and maintains the balance between the electricity supply and demand on the Dutch and part of the German grid. If this balance is disrupted it may result in a power outage or even a black-out, depending on the length and severity of the imbalance.
Whether the balance can be achieved, maintained and restored depends on three factors:
- All connected parties take the required Balance Responsibility and specify how much they expect to feed into and take out of the grid each day;
- TenneT calculates and deploys the reserve and emergency power that connected parties supply;
- TenneT and the Balance Responsible parties offset imbalances according to the imbalance pricing system.
When there are not enough resources available to restore the balance, we can take additional measures – we have a mandate to prevent or limit potential damage to the power supply.
Related
TenneT in the electricity sector
TenneT is the sole transmission system operator (TSO) of the national high-voltage grid of the Netherlands. In Germany, TenneT is the biggest TSO among the 4 TSOs.
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Transport services
TenneT transports electricity along the high-voltage grid from where it is produced to where it is consumed.
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Market facilitation
Our goal is to establish a single market that guarantees consumers a reliable electricity supply at a fair price.
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