Full grid? How you can still get transport capacity
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In many places the electricity grid is not full all day. At night and in quiet periods there is often room to spare. An alternative transport right or a flexible contract lets you use that room, sometimes sooner than if you wait for a firm transport right.
Five options besides the firm transport right
An alternative transport right does not give you continuous, full transport, but conditional access at a lower grid tariff. There are three types. Residual capacity gives transport whenever there is room; you hear at least a day ahead when and how much. Block capacity gives transport within fixed time blocks outside the peak, for example to charge a vehicle fleet overnight. TenneT's time-duration transport right (TDTR) gives full transport in at least 85% of hours, or 7,446 hours a year.
There are also two types of contract that are especially relevant here. With a group transport agreement (GTO), large consumers share one transport capacity while each keeps its own connection. With a capacity management contract (CSC), you keep your transport right, but the grid operator may lower or raise it temporarily in exchange for a fee.
Five ways to get transport capacity on a full grid
| Type | Offered by | Certainty | Cost or income | Active mid-2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residual capacity (fully variable) | National and regional grid operators, in congestion areas | Only when there is room; you hear when and how much at least a day ahead | Grid tariff about 50% lower | 5 |
| Block capacity (time-block based) | Regional grid operators | Firm within agreed time blocks outside the peak | Lower grid tariff; you pay only for the contracted hours | 212 |
| Time-duration transport right (TDTR) | TenneT only (high-voltage grid) | At least 85% of hours (7,446 hours a year); restriction in at most 15%, announced by 07:00 the day before at the latest | Grid tariff about 50% lower | 20 |
| Group transport agreement (GTO) | Grid operator with a group of large consumers | The group shares one transport capacity and divides it itself; each keeps its own connection | Group pays jointly; kW tariffs on the group peak (net for feed-in and offtake); no fixed discount | - |
| Capacity management contract (CSC) | Grid operator, requests via GOPACS | You keep your transport right; the grid operator may lower or raise it temporarily, on call or in fixed time windows | You receive a fee | 769 |
You trade certainty for access or a discount
At its core this is a trade: the less certainty you need, the more becomes possible. With residual capacity and TDTR, the grid tariff is about half that of a firm transport right. With block capacity you only pay for the contracted hours. With TDTR, TenneT announces a restriction by 07:00 the day before at the latest, and restrictions cover at most 15% of the time.
Not every option is available everywhere. Block capacity is offered only by the regional grid operators, TDTR only by TenneT on the high-voltage grid. Residual capacity is still of limited use, and the GTO has been laid down by the regulator ACM but, according to Netbeheer Nederland, is still in development. Existing customers can also convert part of their firm right, for example if they charge a battery or vehicle fleet outside the peak.
Active agreements with an alternative transport right, 2024 to mid-2026
Show the figures
| Block capacity (regional) | TDTR (TenneT) | Residual capacity | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 41 | 4 | 3 | 48 |
| 2025 | 142 | 10 | 10 | 162 |
| mid-2026 | 212 | 20 | 5 | 237 |
Use is growing fast. On 30 June 2026 there were 237 active agreements with an alternative transport right, up from 162 at the end of 2025. Block capacity is by far the most used option.
Flexibility can earn you a fee through GOPACS
Even with a firm connection, you can free up room on the grid and get paid for it. When overload threatens, grid operators use congestion management and post a request on GOPACS, the Dutch congestion management platform. On 30 June 2026, 769 capacity management contracts were active, together accounting for about 4.4 gigawatts of flexible capacity.
From 1 November 2026, a grid operator other than your own can also call on a CSC. In practice this mainly means TenneT, which can use contracts of regional grid operators to relieve the high-voltage grid. If you want to offer flexibility through redispatch, you need a congestion service provider (CSP). In congestion areas, the grid operator can require companies of 1 megawatt and above to offer flexibility; consumers then have six months to appoint a CSP.
We cannot meet the growing demand for transport capacity with more cables and substations alone. We must make lasting, better use of the room that already exists today, alongside the continuous expansion of the grid.
What does this mean for you?
- On the waiting list or planning to expand? Ask your grid operator which alternative transport rights are available in your area.
- Map which part of your consumption you can shift, such as charging, cooling or a battery. That determines which option suits you.
- Do you share a site with other companies? Explore together whether a group transport agreement is possible.
- Already have flexible capacity? You can offer it through a CSC or redispatch and receive a fee.
- If you choose TDTR, make sure you can adjust during the 15% of the time when transport may be restricted.
COMCAM is happy to work out with you which option fits your situation.
Sources: ACM, overview of grid congestion measures (30 April 2025), code decision on group transport agreements (11 December 2025) and code decision on TDTR operation (23 April 2026); GOPACS, TDTR product page and news item on Cross Operator calls (21 September 2026); Netbeheer Nederland, Stand van de Uitvoering first half 2026 and news release (5 October 2026), press release (2 April 2026).
Does this apply to your business?
Our energy specialists are happy to look at what this means for your connections, your contract and your purchasing situation. Without obligation.
