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26 May 2026

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Grid congestion Operations & Maintenance Asset Management Grid Operations Commercial & Industrial (C&I)

Mastering grid congestion through play: 'Congestion Klaverjassen' goes digital

Author: Solarplaza

Grid bottlenecks and negative pricing create immediate financial risks for asset owners across the Netherlands. Navigating this unpredictable solarcoaster requires more than theoretical knowledge; it demands quick strategic decisions under intense market pressure. To make these complex asset management dynamics tangible, our team member, Dee Chng, developed 'Congestion Klaverjassen', a thematic card game designed to simulate the balancing act of grid management and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) deployment.

From the Summit to Your Office

We premiered the physical version of the game last month at The Solarplaza Summit Energy Storage The Netherlands during an intensive 60-minute workshop titled 'Co-creating flexibility: coordination against congestion'. This session approached grid congestion as an active coordination challenge rather than a purely technical limitation.

Participants faced realistic congestion hotspots and responded to live market pressures. Every table built an operational strategy by selecting from four core card categories: Technology, Contracts & Market, Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) Products, and Risk Appetite.

To guide players through these high-stakes decisions, a group of expert moderators provided live regulatory, financial, and market feedback. Industry leaders facilitating the tables included Erik van Boekel (Balanz), Barbera de Mol (Edmij), Timon Dubbeling (ACM), Timothy Alders (Stedin), and Sander Kooper (Vrijopnaam). These experts challenged players on their decisions, such as whether to protect their assets with conservative contracts or opt for a high-risk full merchant strategy.

The surprise market shocks introduced during the session forced players to adapt their plans in real time to avoid severe financial losses. Because the simulation resonated deeply with participants, many have asked how to run it within their own organizations.

Download the Complete Free Toolkit

To meet this demand, Dee has made the entire package available online. You can now access the full digital suite completely free of charge to train your team, engage clients, or optimize your own understanding of grid flexibility.

The online platform provides everything you need to print and host your own session:

  • The Full Card Deck: You can download the complete print-ready PDF file for immediate local production.

  • Player Instructions: The package includes comprehensive guides covering rules, scoring systems, and example outcomes.

  • The Randomized Shock Generator: This digital tool injects unpredictable market shocks directly into your session, mirroring actual historical events from the Dutch power market.

  • Print Specifications: The site provides exact paper and size requirements, along with a direct order link to Print&Bind Amsterdam to receive a professional ready-made deck within two days.

  • A Dedicated Feedback Form: The portal allows players to submit ideas and operational improvements directly to the creator.

Test your strategies and experience the realities of grid asset optimization by accessing the platform directly at https://congestionklaverjassen.netlify.app/.

This article was created in preparation for Solarplaza Summit Energy Storage The Netherlands. Be the first to know when the new edition will be held by signing up for updates.