Helin obtains RTI certification and becomes one of three recognised partners for grid management in the Netherlands

Rijswijk-based AI company Helin obtained the Dutch RTI certification in June 2024. This makes it one of three parties recognised by Netbeheer Nederland as a certified Realtime Interface partner, alongside Wago and Withthegrid.

The certification is relevant for owners and operators of solar and wind parks with a generation capacity of between 1 and 50 megawatt-peak. Since February 2024, a Realtime Interface has been mandatory for every new grid connection in that category. Through this interface, grid operators can intervene during acute congestion and temporarily curtail electricity feed-in, preventing grid overload.

The requirement stems from the European RfG regulation (Requirements for Generators), which sets common minimum technical standards for new electricity generators connected to the European grid.

What the certification entails

The Realtime Interface enables grid operators to remotely and in real time control generation installations. In practice, this means a grid operator can curtail a park the moment the grid risks becoming overloaded, without any manual contact with the operator being required. The RTI partner acts as the technical link between the park and the grid operator.

Helin offers this functionality through its Smart Grid Manager, a module within its own Industrial Edge Intelligence Platform. In addition to RTI compliance, the platform includes a Curtailment API, Asset Data Management and energy management systems. The platform was originally developed for the remote monitoring of industrial assets in sectors such as offshore and maritime, with clients including Boskalis, Shell, BP and Maersk Drilling.

Martijn Handels, co-founder and CTO of Helin, noted in a statement that several established vendors have yet to obtain the certification. Marijke Vos, chair of the Netbeheer Nederland Realtime Interface working group, stated that park owners now have a genuine choice between certified parties.

Company background

Helin was founded in 2017 by Bram Masselink and Joost Lasschuit, who also serves as CEO. Martijn Handels is co-founder and CTO; Coen Bos holds the role of co-CEO. The company now employs more than eighty people.

In terms of funding, Helin received a growth capital investment of ten million euros in January 2026, led by FORWARD.one. Total external funding has thereby risen to over thirteen million euros, with Rabobank having previously provided a loan and Capital Mills having been involved as an investor. Helin has technology partnerships with Microsoft, Aveva and NVIDIA.

The company reported that its signed annual recurring revenue (ARR) has grown fourteenfold over the past three years, although that figure dates from early 2026 and relates to its broader business activities, not specifically to the smart grid segment.

Significance for the energy transition and the Dutch ecosystem

The Netherlands has been grappling with grid congestion for years, particularly in regions with a high concentration of solar and wind parks. The mandatory RTI interface is one of the tools grid operators are using to gain greater control over the supply of renewable energy. The fact that there are now three certified parties increases the available choice for park owners applying for a new grid connection.

For Helin, the certification represents an expansion of its scope: from industrial monitoring to active participation in the management of the electricity grid. The fact that two of the three certified parties, Helin and Withthegrid, are Dutch tech companies shows that local players are capable of meeting Netbeheer Nederland's technical requirements. For investors and founders active in the energy transition, this is a signal that specific network certifications can serve as a gateway to a growing market of mandatory energy infrastructure.