⚡
VERSION 1.0

Congestion
Klaverjassen

A grid flexibility simulation card game - played at Solarplaza Summit Energy Storage The Netherlands 2026

How to Play Download Cards Share Feedback ⚡ Twist Generator
About the Game

Strategy meets
the Dutch grid

The Dutch grid is congested. Your table is a developer. Build a flexibility strategy that earns revenue — while keeping the grid manageable for the grid operators. Choose your cards wisely. Then defend your hand when the twist hits.

Invented the week prior and piloted at Solarplaza Summit Energy Storage NL in April 2026, Congestion Klaverjassen turns complex energy market decisions into a fast, engaging team game. The best part? No prior expertise required.

30
Minutes to play
4
Card suits
5-10
Players per table
+13
Max score possible
Congestion Contract Grid Access Rights aFRR / FCR Queue Priority DSO BATT ACM MARKET Revenue
● DSO (Stedin) ● Battery (Tech) ● ACM Regulation ● Market/Revenue
How to Play

30 minutes. Five rounds.
One winning strategy.

1
5 min

Read the Cards

Cards are face up. Read through them together — what does this card mean? What could we combine it with?

2
10 min

Build Your Hand

Choose 1–2 Tech, 1–2 Contract, 1 ACM, 1 Risk card. Check exclusion rules. Agree a one-sentence pitch.

3
5 min

The Twist

The moderator announces a system shock. Something in the grid or market has changed — listen carefully.

4
60 sec

Adapt or Defend

Declare immediately: adapt (swap cards) or defend (hold your hand). Every swap costs Risk Resilience points.

5
60 sec

Pitch

Tell the room: what did you pick, how does it earn, how does it help the grid? Experts challenge you live.

The Four Suits

Build your hand wisely.

Every table picks from four suits. Your combination defines your strategy — and exposes your weaknesses when the twist hits.

Suit 1
TECH
Your asset · Pick 1–2
The battery you deploy. 2h vs 4h, co-located vs standalone. Each has different grid implications and market access rules.
Battery 2h Battery 4h Co-located (with demand capacity) Co-located (no extra capacity) Standalone Aggregated home batteries
Suit 2
CONTRACTS
How you earn · Pick 1–2
The market or contract that generates revenue. Some are stable; others are pure exposure. Check the exclusion rules carefully.
aFRR FCR CSC Contract DSO Congestion Capacity Control Price Arbitrage Capacity Reduction Contract Passive Imbalance Trading
🏛️
Suit 3
ACM
The rulebook · Pick 1
The regulatory product defining your grid access rights. Some unlock queue priority; some restrict when you can use the grid.
Grid-neutral Congestion Reliever Non-Firm Access
!
Suit 4
RISK
Your mindset · Pick 1
Full merchant = max upside, hardest to finance. Contracted only = stable and bankable. The Venture Capital Card must be earned.
Full Merchant Contracted Only Blended Venture Capital ★
🖌️
Wild Card
YOUR IDEA
Write your own solution
Blank card — invent your own. Answer three questions: What's your idea? How does it earn? What's the grid impact? Score decided by facilitators after your pitch.
Any suit Facilitator scored No exclusion rules
✕
Penalty
RED CARD
Immediate · −5 flat · Cannot be appealed
Issued by the ACM facilitator the moment an illegal card combination is detected at your table. Must be resolved before pitching. No exceptions.
aFRR + FCR aFRR + DSO 2h + CapControl Merchant + VC Non-Firm + Fixed
Card Exclusion Rules

You cannot combine these.

Illegal combinations earn an immediate red card penalty of −5. These cannot be appealed — resolve before pitching.

✕
aFRR + FCR — Cannot be played for the same time period; both require full contracted capacity ring-fenced.
✕
aFRR + DSO Congestion Contract — You cannot serve the national balancing market while location-locked to a local grid area.
✕
Battery 2h + Capacity Control Contract (TenneT) — 2-hour duration is too short for the TDTR grid buffering requirement.
✕
Full Merchant + Venture Capital Card — No finance expert will grant the card without a contracted revenue floor.
✕
Non-Firm Grid Access + any fixed revenue contract — You can be cut off at any time; fixed revenue commitments become unreliable.
Scoring

How your strategy is judged.

Facilitators score after your pitch. Tiebreaker: Grid Impact wins.

−5 to +5 · Facilitator scored
Grid Impact
+5Binding commitment to reduce peak load (e.g. CSC) — predictable load curve for DSO
+3Meaningful grid stress reduction, but no binding contract
+1Grid-neutral — CBC restriction in place, no active peak reduction
−3Predictable conflicts, e.g. aFRR on 2h battery with no restriction
−5Actively worsens congestion with no mitigation whatsoever
0 to +5 · Facilitator scored
Revenue Viability
+5Strong floor, VC Card granted, no violations, real market understanding
+3Viable with some gaps — single stream or key assumption missing
+1Revenue source identified but no credible path to project financing
0No credible revenue case, or exclusion rules render strategy non-functional
−5 to +3 · Mechanical to be applied after twist
Risk Resilience
+3Strategy defended — no cards swapped
+2One card swapped
+1Two cards swapped
0Three cards swapped
−2Four or more cards swapped
−5Entire hand replaced
Immediate · Acting ACM Facilitator
Red Card
−5Illegal card combination at your table. Cannot be appealed. Must resolve before pitching.
Total Score
Grid Impact + Revenue Viability + Risk Resilience − Red Cards
Range: −15 to +13 · Tiebreaker: Grid Impact wins
Maximum: +13 · Minimum: −15

Example Outcomes

Table A — High Risk
Battery 2h aFRR Grid-neutral Full Merchant
"We maximise revenue through balancing markets."
−5
Grid
+4
Revenue
−2
Risk
−3
Total
Table B — Balanced
Battery 4h CSC Contract Congestion Reliever Blended
"We solve congestion and secure stable income."
+5
Grid
+3
Revenue
+3
Risk
+11
Total
Print & Play

Take it to your office

Download the card deck and player instructions. Print and cut — or display on a screen. Works great for welcoming newcomers into our complex and fun world flexibility

Full Deck + Instructions

All cards and the 2-page rule sheet in one place. Enter your email to download — I may reach out for feedback from time to time.

Get the cards →

Order a Physical Deck

Print professionally via printenbind.nl. Best practice: select playing cards, 300gsm card stock, gloss laminate, bridge size (57×87mm). Order at least 1 deck per table — 40+ cards per deck.

Order at printenbind.nl ↗