ZERO - citiZen - centric Energy gRid Optimalization

As the demand for energy continues to rise and renewable energy sources are increasingly integrated into the energy system, countries at the forefront of the energy transition—such as the Netherlands—are facing the challenge of grid congestion. Grid congestion occurs when the electricity grid reaches its capacity limits, leading to connection delays, higher societal costs, and the curtailment of renewable energy production. Cities that are currently in the early stages of their energy transition will soon face similar challenges.
The municipality of Arnhem is developing innovative solutions to alleviate grid congestion and ensure the sustainable growth of cities while meeting future energy demands. The solution being designed and piloted in this project integrates social, technological, and organizational perspectives. It empowers citizens to collaboratively create an urban energy plan for their neighborhood, resulting in a fair, sustainable, and future-proof energy grid. The project will begin with a series of in-depth analyses, followed by the implementation of various solutions—such as smart energy management systems, peer-to-peer energy trading, and a reward program. These and other components will be brought together in the ZERO tool: a platform that enables citizens to co-design an urban energy covenant for their neighborhood.
This initiative is driven by a multidisciplinary consortium consisting of the grid operator, knowledge institutions, technical SMEs, creative and social organizations—with the municipality of Arnhem at its core.
We are seeking European cities to join us as transfer partners in this project, enabling us to share knowledge, strategies, and best practices that can be adapted and applied in diverse urban contexts. Grid congestion is a challenge that other cities will inevitably encounter as their energy transition progresses.