Interview with Manon van Beek – CEO of TenneT

Manon van Beek on Leading the Energy Transition and Navigating the Challenges of a New Electricity Era

The energy transition isn’t a slow evolution; it’s a radical shift, and those who dare to think differently are leading the charge. We present you a serie of interviews, where we’ll dig into the real issues and explore the solutions that are shaping the future of energy. For our first interview, we had the privilege of speaking with none other than Manon van Beek, CEO of the Dutch national grid operator, TenneT. If you’re ready for a fresh perspective and a bold approach to the energy transition, you’re in the right place.

—-

Manon, you started your career as a Business Analyst at Accenture and eventually became Managing Director. What motivated you to make the switch to the electricity sector?

At Accenture, I was already heavily involved in the energy sector and felt a strong commitment to the energy transition. When the opportunity arose to become the CEO of TenneT, it felt like a natural next step. The energy transition is one of the greatest challenges of our time, and I wanted to actively contribute to the further sustainability of our society.

What core values are essential to your work, and how do you bring them to life at TenneT?

The core values of TenneT—courage, ownership, and connection—are crucial to me. These values are especially important in the current phase of the energy transition. We are working at more than 350 locations to expand and strengthen the electricity grid, which comes with significant challenges. Obtaining permits often takes a long time, and we face shortages in materials and manpower. On average, it takes us over 10 years to build a new high-voltage station or connection, with 8 of those years spent securing permits. Everyone wants electricity, but no one wants to live near high-voltage lines. This requires the courage to persevere, ownership to take responsibility, and connection with all stakeholders to move forward together.

In a rapidly changing energy environment, how does TenneT remain relevant and innovative?

We stay in constant contact with both national and regional stakeholders. On a national level, we work closely with politics and NGOs, while regionally, we coordinate through Energy Boards to determine where, when, and why specific electricity infrastructure is needed. This ongoing dialogue helps us stay flexible and responsive to the latest developments and challenges in the sector.

What do you see as the biggest challenges for TenneT in the next five years in modernizing and expanding the electricity grid?

The biggest challenge is simple: building as quickly as possible. We need space to build, enough technical people, and sufficient materials and resources. Additionally, we are facing grid congestion, where many companies are waiting to be connected. The only structural solution is to build more capacity quickly, but in the meantime, it’s crucial to allocate the available capacity fairly. The concept of “avoiding peak times” really helps—companies and consumers need to use energy smartly when there’s sufficient capacity.

How do you see the global energy market evolving over the next 5 to 10 years? What major changes do you expect?

We are shifting from a demand-driven energy system—where industries request power and gas or coal plants respond—to a supply-driven system, where we consume energy when there is an abundance of solar and wind power. In such a fossil-free system, storage and energy conversion will be essential. Large industries will need a lot of hydrogen, while home and neighborhood batteries can serve as buffers for times when solar and wind energy aren’t available. Additionally, CO2-free dispatchable power will be needed as a backup for longer periods without sufficient sun or wind. This could come from hydrogen, but also from nuclear energy. Furthermore, we are moving from a mostly centralized system to more local initiatives, like energy hubs where businesses and households store and share renewable energy.

The Arnhem Electricity Week (AEW) focuses on highlighting key issues in the energy transition and attracting talent to the sector. In your view, what is the significance of an event like AEW for the industry?

AEW provides a unique opportunity to showcase how attractive the Arnhem region is. This area, known as the “Energy Valley” of the Netherlands, is home to major players such as Alliander, TenneT, and DNV. An event like AEW helps us present innovations, attract talent, and increase the sector’s international visibility.

Finally, if you could make one wish for the future of the energy industry, what would it be? And what do you hope people will say about your contribution to the energy transition in 10 years?

My wish is that we succeed in creating an affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy system for society. In 10 years, I hope people will say that I did everything I could to contribute to that goal.