A single transformer could help accelerate industrial electrification in one of Europe's most important ports. 

In September 2026, Dutch grid operators TenneT and Stedin announced plans to install a temporary transformer in Rotterdam's Europoort area, creating an opportunity to make additional electricity network capacity available before permanent infrastructure is completed. 

With a capacity of 500 MW, the planned installation could help businesses progress expansion and electrification projects currently affected by grid congestion. 

For Europe's transmission and distribution industry, the project highlights a growing challenge: how can grid operators deliver additional capacity when permanent network expansion takes years? 

When grid congestion delays industrial investment 

Rotterdam's port is a major centre for industrial activity, logistics and energy infrastructure. 

Like many industrial regions across Europe, it faces increasing electricity demand as businesses seek to expand operations and replace fossil fuel-based processes with electric alternatives. 

However, grid infrastructure has struggled to keep pace. 

Limited network capacity has left businesses waiting for new or expanded electricity connections, creating uncertainty around investment decisions and project timelines. 

For industrial operators, these delays can have significant consequences. 

New manufacturing facilities, electrified processes and other infrastructure projects depend on reliable access to sufficient electricity capacity. 

Without that capacity, businesses may need to postpone investments or reconsider development schedules. 

A temporary solution to a long-term challenge 

The planned transformer will be installed at Europoort, where a new 380 kV high-voltage substation is being developed. 

Rather than waiting for permanent network expansion, TenneT and Stedin intend to use the temporary installation to provide earlier relief. 

The transformer is expected to become operational no earlier than the end of 2028, subject to permitting and the required cable connections. 

Permanent grid expansion in the area is expected to take until at least 2032. 

The temporary installation therefore offers a potential way to reduce the gap between growing electricity demand and the delivery of permanent infrastructure. 

However, it is not a complete solution to congestion. 

Grid operators are still assessing how much additional capacity can be made available and which customers could benefit. 

These assessments will determine the practical impact on connection waiting lists. 

What does this mean for grid equipment manufacturers? 

The Rotterdam project demonstrates how transformer availability can directly influence infrastructure delivery. 

For transmission system operators and distribution system operators, securing the right equipment at the right time is increasingly important. 

Large transformer projects involve specialist engineering, manufacturing capacity, transport arrangements, installation requirements and testing. 

Each stage affects delivery schedules. 

Where permanent infrastructure cannot be completed quickly, interim solutions may provide opportunities to increase network capacity while longer-term projects continue. 

This places additional importance on equipment flexibility, repeatable designs and coordination between grid operators and manufacturers. 

It also raises questions about how transformer suppliers can support projects with demanding delivery requirements without compromising equipment reliability. 

Could temporary infrastructure become more important? 

Rotterdam provides a practical example of an approach other grid operators may wish to evaluate. 

However, temporary transformer installations will not suit every network. 

Their feasibility depends on factors including available space, existing connections, network configuration, equipment specifications and system operating requirements. 

Grid operators must also consider costs, asset utilisation and the relationship between temporary equipment and future permanent infrastructure. 

For manufacturers, these projects create opportunities to work more closely with utilities on equipment design, deployment planning and lifecycle considerations. 

For engineering and procurement teams, the challenge is identifying solutions that meet immediate capacity requirements while remaining compatible with longer-term network plans. 

From factory to substation 

Europe's grid expansion challenge is not only about building new infrastructure. It is also about delivering usable capacity when businesses need it. 

The Rotterdam project shows why collaboration between grid operators, transformer manufacturers and equipment suppliers matters. 

At CWIEME Berlin, these communities connect across the electrical manufacturing value chain, from materials and components to transformer production, testing and grid applications. 

As demand for electricity connections continues to grow, the industry must consider both long-term network investment and practical opportunities to accelerate delivery. 

Rotterdam's planned transformer offers one example of how equipment-led solutions could help close that gap. 

The wider lesson is clear: improving grid delivery requires more than investment plans. It requires the right equipment, available at the right time, supported by the manufacturers and suppliers capable of delivering it.