Building an energy community
Pilot Glanskern Benthuizen
Pilot Glanskern Benthuizen
In the pilot Glanskern Benthuizen, we explore and investigate the possibilities of sharing sustainably generated power, within a local energy community of residents, businesses, associations and other organisations. Their common goal: a reliable, affordable and sustainable energy supply.
The pilot Glanskern Benthuizen is an initiative of the Village Consultation Benthuizen and Energiek Alphen aan den Rijn. This page provides information on the origins, concept and implementation of the project.
I share, you share
Under this motto, Energiek Alphen aan den Rijn and the Dorpsoverleg Benthuizen are recruiting participants for the second phase. Signing up is easy. Click on the button below to fill in the form. Participation in the pilot is free of charge and entirely without obligation.
For large business consumers (more than 3×80 amps) a different application procedure applies. Please mail to benthuizen@energiekalphen.nl and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
This is how the Glanskern Benthuizen works
In the animation below, we show how the Glanskern Benthuizen works.
What does your participation mean?
Participation means that you give permission to share data about your energy use and the renewable energy (already) generated by the participants within this project. The data from all participants together give us insight into the opportunities for balancing our energy community. Naturally, we will treat this data confidentially.
What happens after your application?
After your registration, you will receive an email (within three days) from Noorderlicht Energie. Please note: the invitation has a limited validity. Did you not receive an e-mail from Noorderlicht? Check your spambox or mail to benthuizen@energiekalphen.nl.
Noorderlicht Energie is a partner of our project. Noorderlicht is a service that provides insight into your energy consumption and - if applicable - feed-in of energy you generate yourself. Noorderlicht asks your permission to read your smart meter. You do not have to do anything else for this. Noorderlicht arranges this with Kenter (the metering company).
See box for more information on your application to Noorderlicht Energie.
Northern Lights Energy
Noorderlicht Energie asks you to fill in some details about your connection to the electricity grid, such as the EAN number of the meter (this can be found on the bill from the energy company) and - for verification - the last six digits of your electricity meter (this is under the barcode on your smart meter in the meter box and starts with E).
On your first visit to Noorderlicht Energie, you create an account. Use the e-mail address on which you received the invitation from Noorderlicht. After that, you can log in at any time. You will then be directed to a secure environment, where you can see for yourself how your energy consumption (and generation) is doing at home.
Within the pilot, we measure the energy consumption and energy generation of all participants per quarter-hour. Based on this, Noorderlicht produces clear daily reports. These give you insight into your own energy profile and show how the community as a whole is performing. Your individual data are never visible to other participants, just as you have no access to the data of the other participants. You will also find information on the growth and development of the energy community on this platform.
Your data is stored securely and remains completely private.
You can decide to stop at any time, in which case all your data will be completely deleted.
Want to know more about Noorderlicht Energy? Then take a look here.
History of the project
First phase
In the first phase (2025), seven participants participated with the following objects: three homes, two businesses (office buildings), the canteen of the football club and a church building. Measurements showed that these seven objects could already share around 45 per cent energy. With simulations, it was calculated, that with the addition of a shared battery, some 25-30 per cent additional energy can be shared. With the use of a (small) wind turbine on top of that, about 25-30 per cent more can be added.
Also check out our animation.
Second phase
In the second phase (2026), the project will be scaled up. The seven properties from the first phase will continue to participate. Some 20 objects will be added first, and then more, up to some 45 in total. This will create a larger mix of so-called consumption/energy profiles . The measurement period (until the end of 2026) runs over a longer period than in the first phase.
