The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has unveiled a draft decision focused on implementing group transport agreements for large-scale energy users. These agreements are designed to facilitate better coordination of supply and demand at the local level, which is crucial for the development of energy hubs.

By allowing businesses to work together, group transport agreements can significantly reduce the overall transport capacity needed, thereby freeing up more capacity on the energy grid. This is particularly beneficial in areas experiencing transport capacity shortages, known as congestion areas.

Manon Leijten, a member of ACM's board, emphasized the importance of these agreements in combating grid congestion and improving the efficiency of energy consumption. The draft decision is based on insights gained from pilot projects that system operators have conducted, which tested the viability of group contracts for transport capacity.

Market participants are given a six-week window to provide feedback on the draft decision. ACM anticipates issuing a final decision in the fall of 2025, which will enable system operators to offer group transport agreements on a broader scale.

In addition to the draft decision, ACM has introduced two definitive measures aimed at addressing grid congestion: a code decision on contracted transport capacity and a code decision on real-time interface. The former ensures that large-scale users in congestion areas cannot automatically receive additional transport capacity without a formal request, while the latter allows system operators to manage generation plants and storage facilities more effectively to prevent grid congestion.