For decades, power quality was a niche concern. The grid itself was stable and predictable, anchored by the massive spinning inertia of coal and gas turbines. If voltage dipped or harmonics spiked, it was usually a localized issue, easily fixed and forgotten.

But things recently changed.

As we transition to renewable energy, we are replacing those heavy turbines with Inverter-Based Resources (IBR)Inverter-Based Resources (IBRs) are electricity sources connected to the power grid asynchronously through electronic power inverters or converters. They convert direct current (DC) from sources like solar panels or batteries into grid-compatible alternating current (AC).

Some examples:
– Solar photovoltaic (PV) plants.
​- Modern wind turbines, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and fuel cells.
– Other devices like supercapacitors that rely on power electronics rather than rotating machinery. ​

IBRs differ from synchronous generators (e.g., in fossil fuel or hydro plants) by lacking physical inertia from rotating parts, offering fast response times but requiring advanced controls for grid stability. like solar panels and wind turbines, meaning we are trading physical inertia for power electronics. This shift changes the behavior of the grid: new, unpredictable phenomena are emerging (e.g. oscillations, rapid voltage swings, and (super)harmonic interactions) that static “fix-and-forget” strategies cannot handle.

For asset managers and grid operators, this means the “wait and see” approach is no longer viable; early detection, better understanding, and active intervention will be needed.

This article explores why visibility into power quality is the key to prevent power quality issues or even outages in the future, supported by recent findings and evolutions from the Dutch grid sector.Most insights come from the presentations attended during the following event: CIGRE Netherlands. (2026, February 3). Power quality in transition: Challenges, innovations and experiences.

The high cost of invisibility

Power quality issues are silent inefficiencies that eat away at capacity and lifespan until something breaks.

The industrial impact

For heavy industries, power quality is directly linked to production. Fluctuations don’t only flicker the lights, they can also stop production lines. As industries electrify — moving from blast furnaces to electric arc furnaces for instance — they become both a source of distortion and a victim of it. If the grid connection point lacks real-time monitoring, these distortions can go unnoticed until they trip sensitive equipment or violate grid codes, leading to forced stops.

The residential "ghost" oscillation

Another example of the need for better monitoring comes from the Dutch residential grid. Grid operators like Stedin have identified a specific oscillation occurring at 3.5 Hz.Source: Slangen, T. (2026, February 3). Grid oscillations: Insight into the 3.5 Hz issue and cross-network correlations [PowerPoint slides]. Power Quality in Transition: Challenges, Innovations and Experiences, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.. The research found that this phenomenon was caused by the interaction of several residential solar inverters.

When the voltage on a sunny day hits the limit of 253V, PV inverters switch off to protect themselves and the grid. As they turn off, the voltage drops, prompting them to switch back on. This cycle — trip, drop, reconnect, rise — repeats, creating a 3.5 Hz oscillation that ripples through the grid.

Without monitoring, this looks like a ghost in the machine, causing lights to flicker and disrupt other electronics.

Making the most of limited visibility

While complex phenomena like 3.5 Hz oscillations are emerging, grid operators are also battling basic voltage limits. With limited budgets and labor capacity, operators like Stedin are finding creative ways to manage voltage swells caused by solar peaks.

In a recent pilot,Source: Kers, B. (2026, February 3). Detecting and solving voltage issues in low voltage networks with smart meter data [PowerPoint slides]. Power Quality in Transition: Challenges, Innovations and Experiences, Eindhoven, The Netherlands. Stedin used smart meter data to identify Low Voltage networks suffering from overvoltage. By manually adjusting the tap settings on distribution transformers — effectively lowering the voltage baseline — they could create more “headroom” for solar feed-in. In many cases, this simple mechanical adjustment resolved immediate voltage complaints without needing expensive grid reinforcement.

However, this solution highlights a critical data gap. The adjustments were based on snapshots of smart meter data: historical quarters rather than real-time streams.

While adjusting tap settings is an effective short-term mitigation, it is not a set-and-forget solution. A setting that prevents overvoltage in summer might trigger undervoltage issues in winter when heat pumps drive up demand. Without continuous, real-time visibility, operators cannot dynamically manage these trade-offs.

Regulations are forcing a shift to continuous monitoring

Regulators and sector associations are recognizing that old protocols are insufficient for this new reality. In the Netherlands, the current grid code enforces strong power quality standards, some of the highest in Europe. However, those standards should be reviewed regularly to see if they are still in line with technological developments (some guidelines were established in 1997Specifically: the guidelines for allowable harmonic currents.

Source: Nieuwenhuyzen, C. L. (2026, February 3). Harmonic emission limits at the point of connection for MV/LV grids [PowerPoint slides]. Power Quality in Transition: Challenges, Innovations and Experiences, Eindhoven, The Netherlands. and continue to be referenced in grid code assessments!).

Additionally, grid operators (Netbeheer Nederland) have established the “Plan van aanpak Spanningskwaliteit” (Action Plan Power Quality) with the goal of moving from occasional, manual measurements to continuous monitoring. The plan targets a massive rollout of monitoring devices, adding hundreds of measurement pointsSource: Poulussen, R. (2026, February 3). From measurement to insights: Power quality in the Netherlands today and tomorrow [PowerPoint slides]. Power Quality in Transition: Challenges, Innovations and Experiences, Eindhoven, The Netherlands. to the Medium Voltage (MV) and Low Voltage (LV) grids by 2026, with the goal of systemic, always-on visibility by 2027.

The role of the Asset Monitoring Platform (AMP)

To navigate this transition, grid operators and asset owners need a solution that bridges the gap between raw data and operational action. This is where the Asset Monitoring Platform (AMP) becomes the central tool. By integrating sensors, you can:

• Detect the invisible: The AMP uses advanced sensors and analytics to detect sudden changes and triggers alerts on specific thresholds, such as the rapid voltage changes or harmonic distortions that exceed EN50160 limits.
• Shift to condition-based maintenance: Over time, wear and environmental factors can alter transformers, capacitors, and other components. The AMP automates the detection of these changes so you can service equipment before it fails.
• Get continuous grid capacity insights: Want to know when your transformer is nearing its limit? The AMP delivers real-time capacity updates, making it easier to schedule expansions, support new loads, or integrate more renewables.

The 2030 warning: Why act now?

The grid is not going to get simpler. In the Netherlands alone, projections suggest we need eight times the current solar capacitySource: Planbureau voor de Leefomgeving. (2024). Trajectverkenning klimaatneutraal 2050: Trajecten naar een klimaatneutrale samenleving voor Nederland in 2050 (PBL-publicatienummer 5093). Page 86. to meet future targets. At the same time, we are decommissioning the gas turbines that used to provide stability.

Experts predict that the challenges we see today (unexplained oscillations, harmonic interactions, capacity bottlenecks etc.) will amplify as renewable penetration keeps growing.

By 2030, a grid without granular visibility will likely be a grid in constant crisis.

Conclusion

Power quality has graduated from a technical checkbox to a strategic priority. The combination of new disruptive technologies and the loss of grid inertia means that “flying blind” is now a significant operational risk.

For asset owners and grid operators, the path forward is clear: you cannot manage what you cannot see. Investing in continuous, real-time monitoring is the only way to safeguard assets, ensure reliability, and navigate the complexities of the energy transition.

The tools to achieve this visibility are available. The next step is to deploy them before the “unknowns” become outages.