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Standardized skids as solution to grid congestion

Together with grid operator Enexis we are joining forces to accelerate the expansion of the Dutch power grid. Thanks to an innovative and standardized approach, they can now build 100 substations per year instead of 10 - a tenfold increase in pace that will help resolve grid congestion.

Demand for capacity on the power grid is growing rapidly. Households, businesses and renewable energy projects are increasingly reaching the limits of the power grid. For Enexis, which serves 2.9 million customers with 139,000 kilometers of power lines and 46,000 kilometers of gas pipelines, the traditional method of building distribution substations was too slow to keep up with growing demand.

“There is a great need for additional grid capacity, which is why Enexis wants to expand the network as quickly as possible,” explains Han Slootweg, chief operations officer at Enexis. The grid operator faced the challenge of drastically scaling up its construction capacity without compromising reliability or quality.

Skids transform construction method

Enexis opted for a fundamentally different approach: fully pre-assembled and tested substations—also known as 'skids'—equipped with NXPLUS C 24 blue gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) technology. These standardized units can be installed in prefabricated stations and put into operation within a day, significantly reducing project lead times.

The units undergo extensive testing before they leave the factory, which ensures consistent quality and reduces the risk of malfunctions on site.

The first skid was installed in the Netherlands in October 2024. Starting in 2025, the substations will be delivered on demand, allowing Enexis to respond flexibly to the demand for grid capacity in various regions.

From 10 to 100 stations per year

Thanks to standardization, construction capacity can be scaled up from approximately 10 to approximately 100 stations per year.

“The energy transition requires an electricity grid that grows faster than the demand for and supply of electricity,” says Joanne Meyboom-Fernhout, who leads Siemens' infrastructure business in the Netherlands. “With this standardized solution, we are helping Enexis make capacity available more quickly while ensuring the reliability and quality of the grid in a sustainable way.”

With this approach, Enexis aims to build up to 800 new distribution stations over the next eight years—an ambitious goal that will accelerate the Dutch energy transition.

July 2026