Batteries make growth at Boekelermeer possible again
The commissioning of two batteries on the Boekelermeer industrial estate provides a solution to regional grid congestion and accelerates sustainable innovations.
Powering-Up Boekelermeer Meeting
Alderman Christian Schouten of the municipality of Alkmaar, Joep Sanderink of New Energy Coalition and Peter Simões of InVesta gave the official starting signal for the commissioning of two large-scale battery installations on the Boekelermeer industrial estate on December 3, 2025 in Alkmaar.
Two batteries are now operational:
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2 MWh Battery for Energy Hub InVesta, placed on the grounds of the Expertise Center
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5 MWh Battery from Sustenso, placed at Engie's digester
Together, these batteries offer businesses in the area the opportunity to become more sustainable, expand, and launch new activities, despite the congested North Holland electricity grid. This step represents a significant development in future-proofing the regional energy infrastructure.
Grid congestion puts pressure on innovation and growth
Boekelermeer is one of the industrial estates in the Netherlands where grid congestion hinders the development and innovation capacity of companies. InVesta, for example, no longer had space for new startups and scale-ups, while Sustenso's expansion plans were temporarily halted.
The installation of these batteries will create a flexible system that can absorb peaks in the electricity grid and give businesses room to grow. The event also highlighted a third battery (5 MWh) installed by the municipality of Alkmaar at the Boekelermeer inlet. This battery, combined with a group capacity-limiting contract (Group CBC), will enable businesses to establish themselves.
The battery at InVesta is a crucial step. This additional capacity allows us to finally give companies the space to test and demonstrate their sustainable innovations. This is desperately needed to accelerate the energy transition.
- Peter Simões, director of InVesta
"This battery gives us breathing room again. We can expand our operations and at the same time contribute to solving grid congestion in the region."
- Hans van der Weijde, owner of Sustenso
The new batteries enable smarter use of locally generated energy and manage peaks in the electricity grid. They address some of the challenges posed by our overcrowded power grid. This innovation is exactly what we need for the continued growth of Boekelermeer and to stimulate sustainable economic activity.
- Alderman Christian Schouten, Municipality of Alkmaar
Grid congestion threatened to put all developments on the Boekelermeer on hold. After careful analysis and elaborate simulations, several unique solutions were found and implemented. Grid congestion requires us to think in innovative solutions.
- Jorn Bijl, Project Lead Emmett Green
Important step for Renewable Energy Valley
The battery at InVesta and the inlet port are part of the European REFORMERS-project, a Horizon Europe program working to establish major energy hubs ('Renewable Energy Valleys') in Europe. REFORMERS promotes local use of renewable energy by residential areas, light industry, and businesses.
In the project's Flagship Valley in Alkmaar and Heiloo, REFORMERS supports energy storage, hydrogen innovations, heat integration, and smarter use of local energy sources. The commissioning of the batteries is a key component of these demonstrations.