Between now and the end of 2040, TenneT will invest 65 billion euros in modernising and expanding the electricity grid in the Netherlands. Part of this investment will be in concrete, steel and copper (high-voltage substations, underground cables, overhead lines) and part in complementary projects, such as measures to stimulate circularity and biodiversity.

To help in tackling this huge task, TenneT has signed framework agreements with various parties. One of them is E-MERGE, a consortium consisting of Witteveen+Bos, Antea Group, and Bilfinger. Under the EU-300 framework agreement, E-MERGE is providing technical and spatial engineering services – generally on large, complex and integrated processes with long lead times.

‘These projects demand an integrated approach,’ explains contract manager Teun van Breukelen. ‘Various workflows – planning, engineering, studies – are running partly in parallel. That’s the case in both the exploratory and design phases. So, for example, we’re investigating alternative routes and locations together with the client, studying effects on people and the environment through environmental impact assessments, and also performing soil surveys to identify soil composition and strength as well as water layers, which is crucial for the design and permits. Participation – that is, coordination with local stakeholders, including residents, landowners and administrators – is essential. Given the scale of these projects, it’s a complex process. Ultimately, we’re working towards a preferred alternative that will later be developed in more detail.’

Considering the complexity involved and the need for local coordination, it is no surprise that these large-scale, far-reaching projects take ten to twelve years to complete. About two thirds of that time is taken up by the planning and design phases, with construction taking around three to four years.

‘In the initial phase, we’re working with TenneT on ways to shorten those lead times,’ explains programme manager Patrick Mulder. ‘Of course, there’s more time to be won over eight years than over four.’  One of the ways to do that is by adopting an integrated project approach that identifies workflows and mutual dependencies. Workflows often overlap, so a sequential approach becomes a parallel, partly overlapping one.’

According to programme manager Tonny van Wijck, who is responsible for the Emmen project among others, this approach requires project management skills and a different mindset. ‘It’s essential to have a central project environment that brings together the engineering, research data, and stakeholder management. Thanks to our broad expertise, E-MERGE can offer added value by linking these together and outlining the bigger picture, which helps decision-making on the project.’

Tonny adds that acceleration is also dependent on how TenneT and the E-MERGE partners operate. ‘We work on a basis of partnership and trust. That means taking the initiative more often, making full use of our expertise, and keeping each other informed.’

This year, the current framework agreement with TenneT will end and tendering for the new EU-400 framework agreement will begin. That means that now is a good time to look back on and identify lessons from the past three-and-a-half years.

‘Even more attention for the transitions between project phases is needed,’ says Teun. ‘The individual workflows take as long as they take – that’s just the way it is. But time could be saved in the in-between phases. Standardisation is another way to accelerate projects – for example, by designing substations modularly and standardising pylon designs. It’s also important to involve suppliers in defining requirements, whether uniform or not. After all, the market has to be willing and able to build a design.’

‘Acceleration is a constant challenge for E-MERGE,’ adds Patrick. ‘Which repetitive tasks can be automated so that we can focus on the complex tasks? We’re also increasingly looking at applying AI. That will save time, which ultimately saves money and reduces the costs to society.’