Episode 49 – Grid Congestion Decoded: What Every CPO Needs to Understand Now

When EV Charging Meets Grid Capacity Constraints

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Grid congestion is no longer a future challenge for the energy sector—it is already influencing where and how EV charging infrastructure can be deployed across Europe. As electrification accelerates, Charge Point Operators (CPOs) are increasingly facing delayed grid connections, uncertain project timelines, and limited available capacity.

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The challenge is particularly visible in countries such as the Netherlands, where rapid adoption of electric vehicles, solar energy, and other electrification technologies has placed unprecedented pressure on the electricity network. Yet, as this episode reveals, the issue is not always that the grid is "full." In many cases, it is a question of how available capacity is managed, allocated, and communicated.

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In this episode of the FLEXECHARGE podcast, Christophe speaks with Maarten Staats, creator of GridCapacityMaps.eu and grid strategy specialist at Enexis. Together, they explore how grid congestion is evolving across Europe, why capacity transparency matters, and how CPOs can use grid data to make better infrastructure decisions.

What You Will Learn in This Episode

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This episode is packed with practical insights for professionals building, operating, and
investing in EV charging infrastructure.

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Key learnings include:

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• Why grid congestion is becoming a critical constraint for EV charging infrastructure deployment across Europe
• How tools like GridCapacityMaps.eu help CPOs identify areas with available grid capacity before investing in new sites
• Why the Netherlands became one of Europe's first large-scale examples of electricity network congestion
• How electrification trends such as EV adoption, heat pumps, and solar energy are increasing pressure on distribution grids
• Why EV smart charging and load management will play an increasingly important role in optimizing existing grid capacity
• How better transparency from grid operators can help accelerate EV charging rollout and reduce project uncertainty