The energy transition is putting heavy pressure on the stability of the power grid. Whereas previously energy suppliers in particular were under a magnifying glass, network operators (DSOs and TSOs) are now checking more and more strictly whether large-scale users and 'prosumers' are also complying with the technical rules of the game. As a result, the quality of your internal installation directly determines the durability of your connection contract.
However, meeting these connection requirements has become more complex with the massive increase in power electronics (such as LED, EV chargers and inverters). Non-compliance is therefore no longer an administrative risk, but a direct threat to your operations. It not only leads to high fines or even disconnection, but is often the invisible cause of internal failures and accelerated wear and tear of your equipment.
Grid codes - embedded in the Netherlands in the Netcode Elektriciteit - form the technical basis for a safe electricity grid. Short on time? These are the key points you need to know:
Legal requirement: Grid codes are the technical requirements your installation must meet in order to be connected to the electricity grid.
Two-way traffic: It's not just about what you consume, but increasingly about what you 'pollute' or feed back(harmonics, reactive power).
Financial & operational impact: Failure to comply may result in fines, forced disconnection by the grid operator (DSO/TSO) or refusal of new connections.
Solution: measurements at the transfer point (PCC) are conclusive. Compliance can be achieved through engineering and hardware such as Active Filters.
The rules around grid stability are becoming stricter. Whereas heavy industry in particular used to face strict requirements, this now applies to almost every large consumer. This information is crucial for:
This is particularly relevant in sectors with heavy power electronics or own generation, such as industry, data centres, hospitals and marine applications (in the case of shore power connections).
Grid codes (often set out in the Netcode Elektriciteit in the Netherlands) are the technical rules of the game that ensure the reliability of the electricity grid. They describe the rights and obligations between the grid operator (DSO or TSO) and the connected party (you as a customer or producer).
You can compare it to wastewater discharge requirements: you may be connected to the sewer, as long as you do not discharge toxic substances that affect the system. In electrical installation, the issue is not chemicals, but electrical phenomena such as harmonic contamination, voltage variations and reactive current.
The heart of the deal is at the PCC: The requirements apply at the Point of Common Coupling (PCC), or handover point. This is the physical boundary between the public grid and your private installation.
Nuance: Many people think of Power Quality as EN 50160. Note that this is a voltage standard that describes what you receive. Connection conditions are often about the power quality you cause or return. You are responsible for your own pollution.
Ignoring connection requirements is no longer an option. The energy transition is putting great pressure on the electricity grid. Network operators therefore enforce more and more strictly. The impact of non-compliance is huge:
The mismatch between plant and Grid Codes rarely arises from a single device, but from the sum of modern technologies. Where linear loads (such as light bulbs and direct switched motors) used to be the norm, we now see a shift towards non-linear loads.
Main culprits:
Situation: A medium-sized manufacturing company in the metal industry wanted to expand with two new welding robots and a large press. When applying to increase the connection, the grid operator required proof that the new situation would not cause unacceptable grid pollution ("nuisance").
Problem: The existing plant was already at the limit in terms of harmonic pollution (THDi). The addition of the robots would exceed the limits of the Grid Code, risking rejection of the ballast.
Analysis: HyTEPS conducted a baseline measurement (Power Quality analysis) and simulated the impact of the new machines. This showed that especially the 5th and 7th harmonics would exceed the limits.
Solution: The decision was made to install an Active Harmonic Filter (AHF). This system continuously measures pollution and injects a countercurrent to neutralise harmonics.
Result: 'Pollution' at the transfer point (PCC) fell to well within standards. The grid operator approved the extension and the plant's operational reliability remained guaranteed.
Compliance with Grid Codes is an ongoing process, not a one-off action. You can tackle it at three levels:
1. Operational Quick Wins (Diagnosis)
2. Structural Measures (Engineering)
3. Hardware & Mitigation (Solution)
You don't need to be a power quality expert; that's our role. Engage an engineer from HyTEPS when:
We analyse your installation with advanced measurements and simulations. Not to sell you a product, but to address the cause in a targeted way. This way, we guarantee that you meet the requirements and prevent costly downtime.
Delve further into the subject matter via these related pages:
Symptoms are often subtle until things go wrong. Look out for unexplained machine failures, flickering lights, cables getting hot or transformers buzzing. Also, if electronics (PLCs, drivers) fail earlier than the service life indicates, chances are that the power quality is insufficient. A Power Quality measurement provides the answer.
This is possible, provided you have a high-quality Power Quality Analyzer (according to IEC 61000-4-30 Class A) and the knowledge to interpret the data. Collecting data is easy; analysing the correlation between events, harmonics and your specific business processes requires specialist engineering knowledge. We are happy to support you in the analysis.
Not by definition. NEN-EN 50160 describes the minimum requirements for voltage at the grid operator's transfer point. However, modern equipment can be more sensitive and malfunction even if the voltage is within this standard. We therefore look beyond the standard: we look at the compatibility between your power supply and your connected load.
Peace of mind, certainty and insight. You get a clear diagnosis of the 'health' of your electrical installation. We pinpoint the cause of faults, enabling you to avoid unplanned downtime and reduce fire risks or unnecessary energy losses. You receive a concrete advisory report with practical points for improvement.
No, that is a misconception. A filter is a powerful tool, but not a panacea. Sometimes the solution lies in changing transformer settings, redistributing loads or adjusting cabling. HyTEPS always recommends a thorough analysis and simulation before we recommend hardware, to avoid unnecessary investments.
Yes, significantly. Solar panel inverters and LED lighting drivers are non-linear loads that cause harmonics and sometimes supraharmonics. This can lead to interference with other equipment or overloading of the neutral conductor. When renovating or preserving, a Power Quality check is essential to ensure operational reliability.
We call this phenomenon 'nuisance tripping'. Often the cause is not the total amount of current, but the distortion of the current (harmonics) or short peak currents that your measuring equipment misses. This contamination can extra heat up thermal protections or confuse electronic protections, causing them to switch off wrongly. A specialised measurement can find out exactly why a protection reacts.
For a reliable picture, we usually measure at least one to two weeks. This is necessary to capture a full duty cycle, including weekends and peak loads. For specific acute failures, we can also take short-term measurements or deploy 'continuous waveform recording' to capture transients.
Your installer is an expert in installation and maintenance (the 'general practitioner'). HyTEPS is the specialist (the 'Power Quality Doctor'). We have advanced measuring equipment, simulation software and in-depth knowledge of theoretical electrical engineering and regulations. We often work together with installers to solve complex puzzles that fall outside standard knowledge.
After the measurement, you receive a report with conclusions in understandable language as well as technical details. If necessary, we simulate the possible solutions in our software. So you know exactly what the effect of a measure will be in advance. We then supervise the implementation and verify the result with a follow-up measurement.
Avoid surprises by the grid operator or unexpected outages. Do you have questions about your Grid Codes compliance? Speak to an engineer from HyTEPS for a no-obligation situation analysis.
HyTEPS
Beemdstraat 3
5653 MA Eindhoven
