Alfen, a leading European energy solutions provider, has completed the Ulrum substation in the province of Groningen for Enexis, a Dutch distribution system operator.

Modular Substation to Triple Grid Capacity

The project marks the first Transport Distribution and Control Station (TVRS3) delivered by Alfen and Enexis and is the largest modular configuration in Enexis's grid expansion programme, which aims to build 800 new substations over eight years.

The station will become operational in autumn 2027, when it will provide three times as much power as the station it replaces, giving the region more room on the grid.

Ulrum Pilot Validates Grid Expansion Design

Alfen and Enexis celebrated the milestone at an official opening on 21 October, together with the municipality of Het Hogeland and the Province of Groningen, demonstrating their shared commitment to tackling grid congestion.

According to the companies, the Ulrum pilot validates a repeatable, prefabricated design intended to be used for future grid expansion.

Scaling Up Construction Capacity

Enexis manages regional electricity and gas networks serving around three million homes and businesses across five Dutch provinces. Announced in 2025, its grid expansion programme is intended to help meet growing electricity demand from electrification.

By combining standardised designs and construction methods with prefabricated installations, Enexis and partners such as Alfen aim to increase construction capacity from about 10 to around 100 substations a year.

The programme covers both medium-voltage distribution substations (TVS) and distribution and voltage regulation substations (TVRS). Alfen and Enexis jointly developed the programme's foundations around four modular concepts: TVS 10 kV, TVS 20 kV, TVRS2, and TVRS3. TVRS3, the largest of the configurations, is built around three voltage-regulating transformers.

Alfen's Role as Main Contractor

Alfen's role in the programme is to turn the jointly developed designs into working infrastructure. As the main contractor for the Ulrum substation, Alfen took responsibility for engineering, construction, and delivery, bringing specialist teams together from design to completion.

Across the wider programme, Alfen also manufactures and supplies TVS substations and works with partners to deliver civil works and construction services at both TVS and TVRS sites.

Substations like Ulrum act as junctions within the electricity network, distributing power across the region and maintaining reliable voltage levels over long distances.

Michael Colijn, CEO of Alfen, said, "Businesses looking to grow, households switching to electric heating, and drivers charging electric cars all need capacity on the grid. With Enexis and our partners, we're developing sustainable and repeatable designs to build faster and make that capacity available sooner. I'm proud of our collaboration in Ulrum and the example it sets for grid expansion across the Netherlands."

Geert Heidekamp, Manager Network Expansion and External Contracting at Enexis, added, "Demand for additional grid capacity is high, which is why Enexis is committed to expanding the grid as quickly as possible. By adopting a standardised approach and collaborating with Alfen and other partners, we can accelerate construction and connect more customers. This is essential to advancing the energy transition."

Seven Months Instead of Years

Reusing standardised designs helps reduce repeated engineering work, simplify planning, and shorten delivery times. The Ulrum substation was built in seven months, whereas similar substations previously took years to construct.

The experience gained at Ulrum will support future TVRS3 projects across the Enexis service area, from Bad Nieuweschans to Maastricht, helping strengthen the electricity network and support the ongoing energy transition.

About the Companies

Alfen has been active in electricity infrastructure for 90 years and develops and integrates Smart Grid Solutions, Energy Storage Systems and EV Charging solutions across Europe.

The company says its work, built on European engineering, technology development, and production, contributes to strengthening European energy security, resilience, and energy independence.

Enexis, with more than 5,700 employees, works daily to maintain reliable networks and prepare them for the future. The company stimulates, coordinates, facilitates, and finances initiatives to accelerate the energy transition and, together with its partners, enables a sustainable energy supply.

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