Tackling Grid Congestion with Plug-and-Play Home Batteries
- Stef Van de Gehuchte
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
The energy transition - essential in tackling the climate crisis - is gaining serious momentum. But while the shift to cleaner energy offers huge benefits, it also brings new challenges. One of the most pressing? Grid congestion. As more homes and businesses electrify, the power grid is increasingly overloaded.
That means solar power can’t always be fed back into the grid, and the rollout of new sustainable energy systems is delayed. In parts of the Netherlands, companies are already blocked from expanding, and new housing projects are put on hold because they can’t get connected to the grid. Grid congestion is becoming critical.
A Local Solution with Big Impact
To address this, Flemish energy start-up MyGrid and Dutch tech company OpenRemote joined forces. Backed by the CrossRoads Flanders–Netherlands programme, they’re developing a scalable, neighbourhood-level Energy Management System (EMS) with plug-and-play home batteries at its core.
Smart Storage with ModuleOne™
MyGrid’s ModuleOne™ is a user-friendly plug-and-play home battery that anyone can install, literally by just plugging it into any wall socket. It works with both solar power and grid electricity, making it ideal for renters and apartment dwellers too. The pilot project involves deploying around 100 of these 1.5 kWh batteries in an old Amsterdam neighbourhood, to test how they can relieve pressure on the local grid in real-world conditions.
Optimised by Open Source
The plug-and-play home batteries connect to OpenRemote’s open source cloud platform, which specialises in smart energy management. It balances supply and demand in real-time, both at the individual household level and across the entire neighbourhood. Users get intuitive insights via a simple app, helping them shift usage to cheaper, off-peak hours. That means lower bills and smarter energy use.
Secure, Scalable, Future-Proof
As cyber threats grow, security is a top priority. The system uses advanced encryption to safeguard personal energy data. It's also built to be flexible and scalable, ready to adapt to grid operator needs and support broader rollouts in other neighbourhoods. If the pilot proves successful, this solution could be scaled up quickly in areas where congestion is already a problem.
All EU Citizens Energy Citizens by 2050
This initiative ties in with the EU’s wider ambition and goal to turn every citizen into an active player in the energy transition. By charging during off-peak times and discharging during peaks, households not only cut costs, they also help stabilise the grid. Plus, the platform enables peer-to-peer energy sharing or selling, encouraging adoption of clean tech and cutting carbon emissions.
With €248,948.71 in funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and a strong cross-border partnership between MyGrid and OpenRemote, this project marks a real step toward smarter, more resilient local energy systems.