nrg magazine edition 10

Edition 10 | May 2013 | Retail price € 5,50

Klimaatverbond Nederland - Shell - Smart City Event 2013 - Online NRG BattleMunicipalities of: Drenthe, Duiven, Hardenberg, Oss and Zwolle - Kampen

Local Governments & Energy Climate Alliance Special

Climate Change Local Action

The city that mitigatesClimate Change Program 2040

For the Municipality of The Hague, Tauw contributed to the city’s climate change

management program. The program is designed to make The Hague CO2-neutral in

2040. By then, the city does not produce carbondioxide for its energy use.

Our consultants contributed to the feasibility of the city’s ambition. Among others by

investigating the support of important stakeholders, analyzing the existing situation,

performing a CO2-scan of the city and proposing alliances and projects. The result is

carried out in objectives that have strong support from stakeholders and in multiple

initiatives taking place right now.

Creating sustainable solutions for a better environment www.tauw.com

Conquer the world, start at homeA wise man once said that in order to conquer the world one needs to start at home. Therefore, the way local governments and parties deal with challenges in the field of energy and innovation are of special interest for the Top Sector Energy. The local level is where developments, opportunities and challenges can be identified first and valuable lessons can be learned. This edition of NRG Magazine surely does provide some fine examples.

The Top Sector Energy objectives, in which sustainable development and economic growth go hand in hand, are ambitious. A reduction of our CO2 emissions, 16% sustainable energy in 2020 against the lowest possible costs and considerable energy savings are on the list. Furthermore, we want to bolster our position as a knowledge-based economy and make the most out of the opportunities the growing international market for sustainable energy provides. Innovation is key in our approach.

We have selected areas in which we are holding a leading position or can become global leaders. Insight into regional and local developments, opportunities and threats can contribute considerably to fulfilling our goals. Again, winning the world starts at home. For that reason, the Top Sector has adopted a threefold approach in order to make the most out of the insights provided to us by the regions. Through consultation, identification, insight and best practices we aim to take full advantage of the lessons learned at a regional and local level.

Regional and local parties have special dynamics. Since they are so close to daily practice, they are the first to learn which policies and innovations are successful and which challenges entrepreneurs are facing. The lessons learned at regional and local level help improve our efforts in marketing our innovations at the global level. Thus, it is of great importance that we consult each other continuously. Henceforth, we have created a structure in which the Top Sector Energy and the regions meet on a regular basis.

Not only do these consultations provide a structure in which we keep ourselves informed; they also provide insight and an overview of which (policy) developments and projects contribute considerably to the economic structure of a region and to their energy and innovation objectives.

By placing importance on the added value of cooperation among the market, research institutes and governments, we are identifying best practices of which I am sure you will hear more about in the foreseeable future. Even perhaps in this magazine.

Hugo Brouwer

Hugo Brouwer Manager Energy InnovationMinistry of Economic Affairs

This year NRG Magazine is honored

to have all its editions introduced by

representatives of the government of

the Netherlands.

NRG Magazine Edition 10 | 3

Dear Reader,NRG Magazine has reached its 10th edition. How do we celebrate the wonderful occasion? By discussing climate change, sustainability, local action and the difficult but rewarding road of transition. How else? In this edition we have over 30 experts who talk the talk and walk the walk of energy solutions.

The May edition first brings you to our cover story Climate Change: Local Action and its focus on the European network of over 1,600 local authorities, Climate Alliance. The Climate Alliance Annual Conference is taking place in The Hague on May 15-17, 2013 and is joined by NRG Magazine. In our main article, five high profile personalities discuss energy solutions for sustainability from the global to the local perspective, from contributing to policy making, like Judith Merkies (page 10) to empowering local governments, as Joachim Lorenz, President of Climate Alliance is doing (page 10), from contributing to the creation of transition theory, like prof. Jan Rotmans (page 11), to pursuing climate neutrality with healthy local policies, as Rabin Baldewsingh, Deputy Mayor of The Hague and his city are (page 12) and to integrating energy education in children’s lives while also connecting companies with children and young professionals like Laurentien van Oranje and the Missing Chapter Foundation (page 13).

Nevertheless, the focus of this edition is Local Governments & Energy. We wanted to show that small-scale efforts are important pieces of the sustainability puzzle, and these pieces work the best when they are connected to each other. Thus, Klimaatverbond Nederland (pages 14-15) and the municipalities of Drenthe (page 52), Duiven (pages 54-55), Hardenberg (page 49), Oss (page 53) and Zwolle-Kampen (page 59) share their projects, successes and plans for dealing with climate change. Smart City Event 2013, Shell, KIVI NIRIA, Climex and Triple P Solutions are also joining us in this edition.

Furthermore, we introduce the Energy Efficiency section (pages 16-17), in which Hugo Niesing from Resourcefully is talking about sustainable behaviour and the REloadIT Smart Grid application. Our Rational Middle section (pages 22-23) features dr. Sape Miedema from Delft University of Technology and dr. Maarten Loonen from the University of Groningen debating whether the global energy system can benefit from Arctic drilling. In NRG Facts or Fiction (pages 38-39), prof. Kees Hummelen from the University of Groningen discusses research into new materials for PV and a solar driven energy future. Judith Merkies’ career and current activities related to creating energy policies are presented in the Back to the future section (pages 42-43) and the Expert Section (pages 50-51) is all about the how-tos of energy security with Andy Bochman and Coen Egberink from IBM. And, let’s not forget about energy talents celebrated in the NRG Battle – Europe Edition Round 1 (pages 24-25), in the Talents in the Spotlight section (pages 26-31) and in the new Online NRG Battle – challenging the world of energy (pages 18-19).

This edition also takes you to Gerard van Baar talking about sharing knowledge, costs and risks in the Financing Sustainability column (page 20), a new edition of the An Innovative Truth – Conference on Sustainable ICT & Energy (pages 32-35) is prepared for interesting debates on June 19 and Energy Academy Europe’s approach to energy education is presented on pages 60-62.

Enjoy your reading.

Luminita Stoica

Magazine Circulation7.500 per edition

Circulation distributionPartners of Energy Academy EuropePartners of Energy ValleyPartners of the International NRG BattlePartners of Kivi NiriaUniversity of GroningenHanze University of Applied SciencesTU DelftTU EindhovenTU TwenteCompanies in the energy sectorMunicipalities in the north of the NetherlandsProvince of Groningen

NRG Magazine is published 4 times a year.

PublisherTTA PublishersP.O. Box 17469701 BS GroningenThe Netherlands

Kwinkenplein 8-49712 GZ GroningenTel.: +31 50 317 14 75Fax.: +31 50 317 14 [email protected]/thenrgbattlewww.facebook.com/nrgbattle

Editor-in-ChiefLuminita Stoica

Editorial AssistantElanna Veldkamp

DesignGiscard van Uytrecht

Design AssistantCarmen Steenbergen

SalesRob Hogenelst, Director SalesMarius Nugteren, Sales

Tel: +31 50 317 14 [email protected]

PrinterScholma Druk

PhotographyGiscard van Uytrecht

Cover photoIstockphoto

ContactFor subscriptions to NRG Magazine or ideas for future editions of the magazine, please contact: [email protected]

No part of this publication may be copied or reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The publisher and authors do not accept liability for damages of any nature whatsoever, resulting from actions and decisions based on the information in this magazine. This issue is produced with the utmost care.

INDEX8. Cover StoryClimate Change: Local Action

14. Boosting energy innovation through regional cooperationKlimaatverbond Nederland

16. Energy Efficiency with Hugo NiesingResourcefully and Sustainable Behaviour

18. Global Talents Challenge the World of Arctic Energy in the Online NRG Battle

20 Sharing knowledge,costs and risks: Fund AllianceFinancing Sustainability is a column by Holland Financial Centre

22. Rational MiddleArctic Drilling: Friend or Foe of the Global Energy System?

32. An Innovative Truth VFive years of innovative multidisciplinary co-operation

38. NRG Facts or FictionSustainability powered by Solar Energy

40. Bright ideas are vital for the energy futureInterview with Dick Benschop, President-Director of Shell Netherlands

50. Expert Section with IBMThe how-tos of Energy Security

26.

42.

Cover story:Educating Future Leaders of Energy

13.

Cover story:Educating Future Leaders of Energy

Cover Story Local Governments & Energy

8 | NRG Magazine Edition 10

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In our main story, Jan Rotmans, Professor in Sustainability Transitions at DRIFT, at Erasmus University Rotterdam takes us

through the to-do list of sustainability, while Rabin Baldewsingh, Deputy Mayor of The Hague, presents how his municipality aims to become climate neutral by 2040. When we talk about climate change policies, energy efficiency, the future of energy and energy education are implied. Hence, our cover story also features Laurentien van Oranje, Founder of the Missing Chapter Foundation, who tells us about how future leaders of energy are educated and why companies need to connect to children and young professionals.

Climate Alliance, the engine for local action in European municipalities and the Amazon Basin, is emphasized throughout the cover story. The European network of local authorities has its Annual Conference and General Assembly in The Hague, on 15 - 17 May 2013. As it follows, this edition’s main article gets a kick start from Joachim Lorenz, President of Climate Alliance. Thus far, transition theory, concrete local action, energy education and climate change plans have been announced. In addition, Judith Merkies, Member of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, joins the cover story. Ms Merkies’ law background, interest in creativity and involvement in energy policy allow her to have a well-rounded view on how local action can succeed.

When something is conceptual, abstract, without concrete personal impact, that something is not perceived as threat, no matter how many studies point to its danger. This is how climate change concerns started as in the 1950s - the decade of controversies over pesticides use and effects on the environment in the

USA (Paul Gilding, “The Great Disruption”, 2011). Nowadays, climate change is not a conceptual threat perceived as distant and impersonal anymore. Especially in the past few years, climate change has been a clear drive for change. You know that something is extremely important when it starts impacting all aspects of the global socio-economic system and related decisions. From our weather, to our food, to our finances, to our economies, to our education, to our present and future, climate change has a say. But how is climate change defined?

The International Energy Agency (IEA) makes a logical link between climate change (i.e., a change in climate with effects on regional temperature, precipitation, extreme weather) and greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which absorb and re-emit heat being radiated from the earth, trapping warmth (http://www.iea.org/). How big is the change in climate? Big enough. In September 2012 National Geographic pinpointed the extent to which the weather has gone awry. With massive heat waves, record floods, long lasting droughts and incredible snow storms, the weather triggered an alarm sign for human behaviour. Our excessive carbon dioxide emissions have not only polluted our cities, they have heated our oceans, and trapped heat in the atmosphere. A consequence being that the atmosphere is becoming warmer and wetter. This increases the chances of having extreme weather (National Geographic, September 2012).

The IEA also outlines that the carbon dioxide related to energy represents the majority of global greenhouse gas emissions. The global energy system plays a major role in how the climate is changing. Hence, the energy field should be the first thing to look into for

solutions. Consequentially, the World Energy Outlook 2012 (WEO-2012) released by the IEA in November last year makes a point out of encouraging energy efficiency policies. The report also stresses that the growing global energy demand projected for 2035 will make it more difficult for us to stay under the 2° C climate goal for limiting global warming. Furthermore, the agency stresses that energy efficiency measures applied throughout the world can keep the door to the 2° C open for just a bit longer. The WEO-2012 advises that effective implementation of energy savings and efficiency measures can help reduce greenhouse gases, buying us more time in the face of climate change. The report also emphasizes that the largest energy savings and efficiency potential lies in the built environment and that renewables are an indispensable part of the global energy mix.

In line with IEA recommendations, energy policies and initiatives in the business and private sectors are prevalent. Governments and companies are heavily advocating for CO2 emissions reductions, for energy savings and efficiency, for action. Yet, things are moving slowly. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) annual report from 2012 shows that carbon dioxide levels have been increasing in the atmosphere with approximately 25% since 2000. The same UNEP report warns that greenhouse gas emissions are already above the levels they need to be in 2020 in order stay under the 2° C threshold.

Nevertheless, we are not hopeless or defenseless in the face of climate change. Consistent efforts to tackle climate change are being made and ambitious policies are being implemented. Climate Alliance and the climate policy of The Hague are clear examples in this direction.

Climate Change: Local Action


What do we do when climate change is affecting our well-being and that of future generations? We pursue sustainability with all means necessary. Since it is not feasible to create and implement a global set of policies for climate change, we have to act locally. This edition’s cover story is dedicated to the road to sustainability through the lens of climate change and local policies.



Climate Alliance envisions policies that are based on the fair and sustainable use of resources. At the same time the alliance acknowledges that cities and municipalities must act as facilitators and interlocutors in the transition process. The transition must be made because “our current development model makes us live at the expense of others – those in other parts of the world and future generations,” as Joachim Lorenz argues. The European network of local authorities aims to empower local action and enable citizens and municipalities to pursue sustainable and innovative ideas for energy savings and efficiency.

Judith Merkies remarks that there are many good sustainability related initiatives everywhere, but they fail to spread because people do not know each other. Ms Merkies pinpoints that various cities may have different ways of implementing e-mobility, but that the process would be sped up if they “would learn from each other and start exchanging best practices”.

“Our efforts need to be recognized and supported both with adequate policies and financing”

Moreover, local energy initiatives also need to be synchronized, in order to avoid larger scale implementation issues of great but dissimilar solutions – “we need interconnectivity of solutions”. Let’s take charging units for electric vehicles for example: “If one city chooses a battery replacement system whereas another city

chooses a completely different solution, then it is going to be very hard to role this out on a large scale,” Ms Merkies notes. This is where entities like Climate Alliance come into play.

Representing more than 1,600 local authorities, Climate Alliance is a large knowledge sharing platform for sustainability. Its 2013 Annual Conference (“Together in Transition – Empowering Sustainability”) is a great opportunity for sharing best practices.

“If we have every citizen producing renewable energy, with solar panels on his roof, then many smalls make a large supply of renewable energy”

One of the main debates during the Annual Conference focuses on the future of our energy system. A more decentralised energy management system would enable better use of local energy resources close to where energy is consumed. This in turn would help to create more jobs and to ensure greater security of energy supply. Mr Lorenz advises that “EU energy policy should strongly support demand-side management and increase the share of renewable energy”. Especially since renewable energy plays an important role in Europe’s long-term efforts to reduce carbon dioxide levels.

In line with this, local energy companies will increasingly facilitate future renewable energy production. “With renewable energy, many smalls make a large. If we have every citizen producing renewable energy, with solar panels on his roof, then many smalls make a large supply of renewable energy,” explains Ms Merkies. In fact, “everyone can have a role in the new energy system and help with shaping it,” says Mr Lorenz.

With respect to how the EU is supporting the transition process, Mr Lorenz regrets that local authorities were not taken into account in the recently launched Green Paper on a 2030 framework for climate and energy policies. And this is not encouraging the efforts that Climate Alliance members have been already making in order to reduce CO2 emissions. Also the signatories of the Covenant of Mayors initiative have made a voluntary commitment to meet and even exceed the EU target of reducing CO2

emissions by 20% by 2020. The Covenant Mayors, a flagship initiative of European

Commission, DG Energy, is a result of intensive lobbying by Climate Alliance and other networks and has more than 4,500 signatories. “Our efforts need to be recognized and supported both with adequate policies and financing,” remarks Mr Lorenz. Ambitious binding targets are needed to ensure progress. The one EU level target, which is not binding – the energy efficiency target – is the one where we are lagging behind.

To set an example, Munich has just adopted a new Integrated Action Programme for Climate Protection, with a budget of almost 63 million euro for the next two years, and aiming for an annual CO2 reduction of 600,000 tonnes. The programme includes building retrofitting, raising public awareness and enabling energy efficiency in companies. “This programme shows that cooperation and partnerships are the keys for the transition of our energy system,” concludes Mr Lorenz.

Together in Transition

Judith Merkies, Member of the Group of

the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and

Democrats in the European Parliament

Joachim Lorenz, Councillor for Health and

Environment, City of Munich, Germany and

President of Climate Alliance


“Renewables are an indispensable part of the global energy mix.” World Energy Outlook 2012, IEA

Photo courtesy of E.ON

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For prof. Rotmans sustainability as concept is ambitious and complex and can be best described through an example. “If you want to build a sustainable building, then it would be a building that will last forever and nobody will get rid of it.” In his view, something sustainable is not only environmentally friendly and works for a long time, but it is also something dynamic, with flexible functionality. Something sustainable is always adapting and always in harmony with its surroundings.

“Climate change itself is a symptom of an unsustainable society, so because we produce and consume unsustainably, we create persistent problems and one of the most persistent problems that I know of is climate change,” explains prof. Rotmans. According to the transition expert, climate change is different from any other kind of problems because it is deeply rooted in everything that we do. He emphasizes that as every kind of action that we undertake is somehow carbon rooted, that means that the problem of climate change can never be solved only by technological innovation, our conviction needs to change as well.

The need for energy efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions minimization is stated and restated from climate scenarios (World Energy Outlook 2012, IEA) to everyday news. At one point we might wonder: Have we reached the tipping point? According to prof. Rotmans, 20-25 years ago tipping points were called thresholds. “We have strong signals that we already

exceeded some of these ecological thresholds,” he says. In this sense one example is the 2 degrees Celsius limit for temperature increase. The professor paints a worrisome picture of the consequences of the 2 degrees Celsius global average being exceeded: natural ecosystems get instable, and because of all the feedbacks, the climate system itself becomes instable, with profound implications for the whole world, and the entire society. “It’s very difficult if not impossible to stay below the 2 degrees temperature increase threshold, so that means that we are in a tipping point stage, in which we can expect climate change impacts, and it could well be that the extreme weather that we see all over the world, but also in Europe over the past couple of months, is indicating that.”

Since we are already exceeding our natural limits, the urgency of reducing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is as pressing as ever. At this point, the transition from fossil fuel power generation to generating energy with renewables is primordial and needs to be done as soon as possible. Hence, it seems counterproductive that fossil fuels are still heavily subsidized. In January 2013 the International Monetary

Fund (IMF) released the “Energy Subsidy Reform: Lessons and Implications” report that shows that fossil fuel subsidies have been escalating since 2009. In 2011 worldwide energy subsidies were approximately 480 billion US dollars (pre-tax), with petroleum products subsidies of 212 billion US dollars; the Middle East and North America accounted for 50% of global energy subsidies. The same report makes a point of warning that such “subsidies cause over-consumption of petroleum, coal and natural gas, and reduce incentives for investment in energy

efficiency and renewable energy”. Prof. Rotmans says that sustainable energy needs to be strengthened and a new power regime based on renewable energy needs to be built.

Moving from global subsidies to local climate policies, prof. Rotmans takes a look at the goals The Hague has set for 2040 – becoming climate neutral. “First of all, on the one hand, it sounds quite ambitious, because it’s only 27 years from now. On the other hand, we don’t have so much time. Secondly, the biggest priority for The Hague is and should be the built environment – making the built environment as energy efficient as possible saves about 30-40% of the total energy use.” As a third point, prof. Rotmans advises The Hague policy makers to make wind energy a second pillar of the transition programme, since the city is situated on the shore of the North Sea.

Prof. Rotmans says that any transition strategy needs to be built from the bottom up - getting in contact with the neighbourhood, the district, approaching people as part of communities. In every neighbourhood there are different communities and local leaders or “frontrunners”, as prof. Rotmans calls them, who can easily engage other people. The municipality should have a facilitating role, enabling people to take action on their own. When it comes to the reach of the climate policy of The Hague, prof. Rotmans indicates it is a combination of incremental and radical changes. “The radical element lies in the high ambition level and the creativity of the implementation.”

Regarding the potential of Climate Alliance, prof. Rotmans expresses his hope for positive changes: “Municipalities are quite powerful in organising effective climate change policies for themselves. This is what I call the ‘power to the people’ development. There’s an increased tendency to do these things bottom up, and the bottom up approach can be best implemented in municipalities. We already have the technology to make every house and every building an energy producer. But, we need a mental shift and we need to break the existing power chain of big energy companies.”

A Mental Shift and “Power to the People”

Jan Rotmans, Professor in Sustainability

Transitions at the Dutch Research Institute for

Transitions (DRIFT)

International Monetary Fund, “Energy Subsidy

Reform: Lessons and Implications”, January 2013 –

global fossil fuel subsidies, 2007-2011


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The Hague has the ambition to be climate neutral in 2040. As climate change alarm signs are intensifying, such an ambition is refreshing and maybe motivating for other municipalities, especially those attending the Climate Alliance Annual Conference, hosted by The Hague this year. “What we want to do is to use any means possible to reach our goal while making sure our energy supply is also affordable and reliable. And we are using lots of energy,” says Rabin Baldewsingh, Deputy Mayor of The Hague.

The climate policy of The Hague is based on seven themes related to energy: saving energy, using underground storage for heat and cold, utilizing geothermal energy for heating houses and office buildings, solar energy, wind energy, district heating networks, in which houses are heated with hot water delivered through pipes, and producing energy from biomass.

Within its climate policy, the Municipality of The Hague embraces the “People Planet Profit” approach. The deputy mayor sees climate change as a danger for future generations and puts emphasis on the importance of preparing for the food and energy demands of the growing global population, which the UN estimates at 9 billion in 2050. He also remarks that people need to find other ways to generate clean energy: “It can only be clean energy, not only because it will be crowded on this planet and it will be quite a challenge to keep everybody healthy and safe, but also because of the challenges brought by climate change, for

example heat stress in cities.” Therefore, it is the municipality’s main task to promote a sustainable environmental policy and reduce the use of energy.

The motivation behind setting the 2040 climate neutrality goal is brought on by an additional factor, its geographical position - beautifully situated on the shores of the North Sea. The deputy mayor explains: “The Hague is one of the few European cities situated on the sea shore. But this means that we need to be aware of the danger of sea level rise.” Preparation for sea level rises involved renovating the whole coastline side of the city. For The Hague, sustainability is ensuring that everybody, present and future generations, is healthy and lives in a healthy environment with clean energy and protected from climate change adversities.

“The Hague is one of the few European cities situated on the sea shore. But this means that we need to be aware of the danger of sea level rise.”

With plans in place for making the city climate neutral by 2040, The Hague becomes a smart city with smart projects. One of them is “EnergieRijk Den Haag”, a programme in which the municipality works with the national government, situated near the city hall. The goal of the project is to combine the energy demand of the big buildings in this area and contract it for 30 years in exchange for high investments in sustainability measures, such as solar energy, and energy exchange between the separate buildings. Today these buildings have individual underground warm and cold storage systems. It would be smarter to connect these systems. Then, seasonal differences can be stored in a more efficient way – in the summer warmth can be harvested at one side of the area and buildings can be heated with it, in winter cold can be stored underground at the other side of the area and used for cooling the buildings in summer.

The municipality is cooperating with academia (The Hague University of Applied Sciences and Leiden University) and companies in order to fulfill its climate policy aims. The partnership with academia allows the city to explore new

ideas. As partnerships with businesses are concerned, The Hague benefits from being home to many corporate headquarters; Siemens Nederland is one of them. The deputy mayor notes: “Siemens is a very good partner for us to share ideas and to implement policy by using technologies which the company develops.”

Besides governmental organizations, academia and large corporations, The Hague has its citizens and businesses as very important partners in the climate neutrality pursuit. “We have to inspire our citizens to work with us in this quest for climate neutrality,” says the deputy major. The partnership with citizens also involves encouraging them to install solar panels on their roofs. The deputy mayor explains: “At the start of the energy programme we had 7,000 solar panels on the roofs. Now we have 20,000 and the number is growing still.” A unique project that is part of the energy programme is “Aardwarmte Den Haag”, where geothermal heat is used to heat up 4,000 homes and 20,000m2 of office space. In 2012 Aardwarmte Den Haag was officially opened and has sparked excitement among the inhabitants of The Hague. The Hague is the first Dutch city that has realised a geothermal well in the middle of a residential area.

Another innovative project for The Hague comprises using warmth from sea water to heat houses. Up to now, the project provided heating for 750 houses in Scheveningen (the part of The Hague located on the North Sea shore). Furthermore, the municipality invested 10 million euro in three windmills. Wind energy will help The Hague to meet its CO2 emissions reduction targets.

The deputy mayor sees the Climate Alliance Annual Conference as a great opportunity for knowledge sharing and collaboration towards climate change goals. “Our aim is to become climate neutral in 2040. To reach this goal we have to not only join forces with inhabitants of our city and the businesses within The Hague, but also create partnerships with other international organizations and companies. Climate Alliance allows us to share views, to share experiences, to get inspired from cities that also tackle climate change. The Hague proudly hosts its annual conference,” says the deputy mayor.

The Hague’s Climate Policy: Talking the Talk and Walking the Walk

Rabin Baldewsingh, Deputy Mayor of

The Hague


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Climate change fuels global tensions throughout socio-economic systems. Implementing energy efficiency policies and making people act locally are highly important. Nevertheless, taking care of the well-being of the generations to come is not restricted to retrofitting houses and reducing CO2 emissions. Now, more than ever, educating young generations, as well as adults is imperative.

“Education is a ‘need’ to have and not a ‘nice’ to have,” says Laurentien van Oranje. The Founder of the Missing Chapter Foundation (MCF) emphasizes that education enables individuals to contribute to society, “positively and constructively”. Moreover, she remarks that especially in the energy sector, and particularly now, “education is of course key”. Zooming in on the transition period, not only the adult consumer needs to be educated in order to adopt a sustainable behaviour. Children, young professionals and decision makers can learn from each other as well.

“Education is a ‘need’ to have and not a ‘nice’ to have”

The Missing Chapter Foundation holds the belief that the thinking power of children and young people can be the change agents we need towards energy efficiency. “We believe that there is great benefit from educating, empowering and facilitating young people to play the role of change agents towards energy efficiency. And that is what we do,” explains the founder.

Together with children, teachers and businesses, MCF developed and tested the Learn, Dialogue, Act (LDA) methodology, which links what children learn in school about sustainability with energy-efficient behaviour at home. Children are taught about sustainability and energy efficiency in school, then they are empowered to enter into dialogue with their parents, at home, where sustainability decisions are being made. “We finish off the approach by giving children a platform to show the world they’ve helped their families change their behaviour. We believe this is a very constructive way of enabling children to play that change agent role,” says the founder. LDA is not only bridging school and home through dialogue, it also encourages children to explore, to be curious and to communicate about sustainability. One of the problems identified in the energy sector today is related to having effective communication between academic researchers (with technical jargon) and company representatives (business lingo). LDA prepares children to be better communicators in their future careers. The approach also enables children to have a relationship with what they learn, as opposed to simply being aware of the information.

The foundation is already making steps towards implementing LDA in schools. Together with WWF and Unilever, MCF is working with schools in the Netherlands to develop a programme that places energy efficiency in the school curriculum. The programme, which is to start in the fall this year, will equip and empower children with the necessary knowledge, skills and instruments that will allow them to change the energy-efficient behaviour of their entire family, particularly around warm water use.

The Missing Chapter Foundation acknowledges the special role of young professionals in the energy sector. “Nowadays we see that young people are very aware of energy and sustainability issues. They enter into companies that very often still have old values. Therefore, they are either stopped in their ambitions about the world they want to contribute - and then they might leave that company, which means that the company

continues to have old values. Or, more positively, if they get empowered to make the changes needed in the company mindset, they need to be helped with that,” says the founder. When MCF works with companies, it works with young professionals. Furthermore, the foundation facilitates the dialogue between the board of directors of a company and the children, who have their own version of the board, called “De Raad van Kinderen” (The Kids Counsel). “When this happens, the young professionals often connect these two generations, so that gives them a platform to share their views about what they want from a sustainable world.” The dialogue between company representatives (e.g., for NUON) and The Kids Counsel has proven to be incredibly valuable for both sides. “The children look at the dilemmas that these companies are facing with fresh eyes,” says the founder. Now, the next step is to scale up the The Kids Counsel project through similar dialogues, across the Netherlands.

“Nowadays we see that young people are very aware of energy and sustainability issues”

The founder says we can learn a lot from children, especially for climate change goals. In her view, setting ambitious goals, as is the case of the climate policy of The Hague, is positive and necessary. Regarding the upcoming Climate Alliance conference, she is confident that it will be a medium for exchanging good practices: “The Climate Alliance is about sharing knowledge and best practices of what works concretely on the ground. It’s an innovative platform that will hopefully inspire participants to implement concrete steps towards more energy-efficient communities. That’s a win-win for everyone.”

Educating Future Leaders of Energy

Laurentien van Oranje, Founder of the

Missing Chapter Foundation


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Klimaatverbond Nederland


Cooperation between regions has a threefold advantage: more physical manpower, larger budget to achieve

goals and more opportunities to get support from the EU. This is because the EU also recognizes that regions are the level where energy projects and economic activities take place. This cooperation can take several forms. In the Netherlands, Het Klimaatverbond (the Dutch Climate Alliance) works in a Green Deal together with three regions. This form of mutual support is called Regional Cooperation. The Green Deal is an agreement between government and private parties to work together on climate goals. The regions include Alkmaar, Holland-Rijnland and the Achterhoek. Two regions consist of eight towns each and one region (Holland-Rijnland) has fifteen towns included. The three regions have about 1 million inhabitants together and cover approximately 4,000 square kilometres. In the project of Regional Cooperation, project manager Ruud van Vliet facilitates local authorities to come to the intended cooperation.

Common goals | Cooperation begins with the question: What is the common goal? Councillor Van Vliet notes: “A common goal comes from a common ground; therefore it helps to begin in regions with a strong identity. There people know each other’s language and the economic and social position is similar. For example, the reduction of inhabitants is a common feature, as well as the challenge to get high valued employment.”

The next step is to know: Who are the stakeholders? Besides the local governments, this includes companies, foundations, institutions and citizens. “Local governments tend to think too narrow, whereas their interests and those of companies have common features.

They all benefit from local employment, the introduction of sustainable techniques and a clean and healthy environment,” says Mr Van Vliet.

According to Counsellor Van Vliet, it is very important to really know the potential stakeholders: What are they doing? What do they want? What are their interests? This is what Mr Van Vliet calls a PAIR analysis – the method is developed by Henk Diepenmaat, Associate Professor at the Nyenrode University. “Such an analysis frequently leads to a meeting agenda, a starting point. Getting to really know each other and each other’s business and interests is a simple but effective way to begin. This is the first step in an important process: gaining each other’s trust. Here is the start and you have to carefully maintain this through time.”

In the end, it all comes down to cooperating for sustainability and “sustainability is related to quality of life”, remarks Arnoud Rodenburg, Mayor of Midden-Delfland. In his experience, sustainability is an important topic which concerns both governments and entrepreneurs, hence potential stakeholders. “When we organized a meeting on sustainable energy, 100 out of 120 participants were company representatives.” Midden-Delfland is already cooperating with neighbouring cities as The Hague and Delft for other projects. Mr Rodenburg recommends: “Especially small municipalities can benefit from cooperating with big ones. For instance, surrounding cities benefit from Midden-Delfland being the green area, the backyard for the citizens of The Hague and Delft.” Mr Rodenburg is also Ambassador of the Dutch network of the Covenant of Mayors, which he uses as means of cooperation.

Stakeholder meetings | The following step is to organize stakeholder meetings. Mr Rodenburg: “When we know what parties are relevant, what they want and thus what their common goal is, we can achieve a lot during small and effective meetings. The goal is to start up projects which serve their common goal. For example, in the Achterhoek region, the cooperating councils have set up two institutions to help energy transition: ADV and AGEM.

“Sustainability is related to quality of life”ADV (Achterhoek Sustainable Reconstruction) is a network organization that consists of municipalities, housing associations, building industry and knowledge institutions. ADV assists in measures like housing insulation or getting solar panels on roofs.

Boosting energy innovation through regional cooperationEurope is facing a great challenge: budget cuts and a growing energy demand come together with the need to act against climate change. How to achieve the goals of 20-20-20 (20% less energy usage, 20% less CO2 emissions, 20% renewables in 2020)? What is the key solution? Obviously, there is not just one. There is however one supporting movement: a new mindset for cooperation. This occurs at the level of local governments, since this is the level where most of the energy transition should take place. When local authorities work together, much more can be achieved. The Netherlands offers different such examples. One of them is the Achterhoek region, where eight municipalities have founded two initiatives to support citizens’ sustainable wishes.

Ruud van Vliet, Project Manager of Het Klimaatverbond

Photo: Kimberly Gomes

Klimaatverbond Nederland


Also, institutions and companies can consult ADV. The network organization also takes initiative to tackle challenges by itself. AGEM is a local sustainable energy cooperation that works together with entrepreneurs to deliver green energy to households. The local government helps with the start-up capital.

The first ADV project has just started: a housing cooperative from Winterswijk works together with ADV to inspire both

tenants and private house owners to invest in energy savings measures. ADV Counsellor Jan Straatman: “When the whole neighbourhood of 50 houses works together, much more can be done with the same financial input. We assist in the process in order to help people make the right choices. These are also financial choices: Which measures will save the most energy costs and will make the house more valuable?” One of the most important aims is guarding the continuation of the

cooperation; this is achieved by planning regular meetings, discussing the progress and looking forward to meeting goals. “The Klimaatmonitor (i.e., a database that contains 50% of the energy and CO2 data of nearly all Dutch councils) is a helpful instrument in this sense. It measures 50% of the energy use of, thus helps to carefully monitor the progress,” says Mr Van Vliet.

The Dutch Climate Alliance is an association of more than 160 local governments in the Netherlands

working together on ambitious climate policy goals. In 2011 the association set up a network to support the Dutch signatories to the Covenant of Mayors (CoM). Signing the CoM can be a way for local governments to find partners to work with for achieving their sustainable energy goals. In Europe, the CoM network has 4,320 participants. In the Netherlands the goal is to have 45 signatories by the end of the year.

Arnoud Rodenburg, Mayor of Midden-Delfland, is also Ambassador of the Covenant and explains why municipalities should join in: “It is very important for municipalities to act now. There is much movement on the subject of sustainability. Also, it is an answer to the current economic crises. A new style for urban redevelopment, for example, means to incorporate more of the cities’ existing capital, to do it in a sustainable way and to make sure it meets the users’ demands. Here renewable energy is a leading theme, next to water and waste and to mobility and communication. As a local government, you have to take up the job to make the world ready for the future, and thus to bring the people together. Through the network and the office, there is much knowledge of how to do this, and there are gateways to financial support.

For example the Sustainable Energy Action Plan is the agenda which leads to the goal of 20-20-20. When you want to become a member, your municipality must write this plan and take action. This framework helps a lot. Also, from the Covenant of Mayors Office in Brussels you can learn effective ways to implement measures, such as insulation. And last but not least, the way to financial support becomes shorter. You learn to know your way around subsidies

(e.g., for office renovation) and it is easier for regions to get financial guarantees for bigger projects (e.g., for geothermal drilling).”

These tools imply no costs for the municipalities. Mr Rodenburg explains that the municipalities only need time to make the action plan. He continues by saying that applying the Klimaatmonitor takes some time as well, but it is worth it. “The Klimaatmonitor is a helpful tool, where you can find 50% of the CO2 data.” The Mayor of Midden-Delfland notices that becoming aware of energy usage and energy savings helps to continue the sustainable behaviour. He also mentions that his own municipality will start the programme soon, as it has just been approved by the CoM office. “We have worked on the Sustainable Energy Action Plan, which is part of all our section policies now and which helps to keep focus. Besides, we are getting a guarantee for a big drilling project to obtain earth warmth. We are doing this together with Westland and Delft, our neighbours. Furthermore, we have the feeling to be part of the world where decisions are made and resources are shared,” remarks Mr Rodenburg.

Last but not least, Mr Rodenburg clarifies how, for the Netherlands, the Covenant of Mayors is not exclusively related to mayors and that it involves the counsellors and other members as well: “We see the CoM membership as a membership for the whole executive board, thus also for the councillors. In Europe, it is common that the mayor decides; on average he or she has a more prominent position than in the Netherlands. Therefore the name Covenant of Mayors was chosen. In the Netherlands we give it our own interpretation and treat it as an integrated topic of urgency. Indeed, the subject of climate change and energy affects almost

everything.” With respect to his view on the role of mayors, Mr Rodenburg comments: “We have to strive for an ambitious agenda, even when budgets are cut. We have to oversee the whole spectre, to keep ambitions, to take risks. We have to see the opportunities brought on by working together and combining resources.”

Other regions can also receive assistance for Regional Cooperation by getting in contact with the Klimaatverbond: www.klimaatverbond.nl or [email protected]

Het Klimaatverbond Supports the Covenant of Mayors

Arnoud Rodenburg, Mayor of Midden-Delfland and

Ambassador of the Dutch network of the Covenant of

Mayors - Photo: courtesey of Klimaatverbond Nederland

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Energy Efficiency

Energy Efficiency with Hugo Niesing: Resourcefully and Sustainable Behaviour

Hugo Niesing is Founder and Director of Resourcefully, an environmental consultancy that offers project management and technical services to public and private sector clients in the Netherlands and the EU. The consultancy can provide creative advice and support for tackling issues related to water and energy resources management.

Photo courtesy of Hugo Niesing


When “We need energy efficiency.” became the main message of the International Energy Agency in 2012, the NRG Magazine decided to dedicate a special section to this topic. With climate change challenges becoming acute and local governments putting considerable effort into plans and projects to make their regions more sustainable, we thought the best way to present how energy efficiency can be pursued is by having somebody who has already been successful in it, talk about it. Hugo Niesing, Founder and Director of Resourcefully was willing to join our Energy Efficiency section, discussing the REloadIT project and how he is living in a self-sustaining home, powered by renewable energy.

Energy Efficiency

“I am living on a boat where I produce more energy than I’m consuming,” begins Mr Niesing.

Not many people who are involved in sustainability projects in the Netherlands or elsewhere can say they are living in such an energy efficient manner. His time in the Philippines, where he experienced very frequent power failures and often had to activate a generator, has taught Mr Niesing the importance of being self-sustaining when it comes to energy. He and his family are now living in a “nice traditional boat from 1914” that is electricity independent. Mr Niesing is currently constructing a small smart grid for his home, using a side boat with an electric engine. This engine will also act as electricity storage for peak times in the day, “because solar energy production is at its maximum when I am not home during the day, and I start to consume energy when I get home in the evening.”

When talking about sustainability, Mr Niesing has a twofold perspective. On the one hand, he recognizes the need for all of us to go to a non-fossil fuel burning society. On the other hand, he sees sustainability as a challenge in the personal life of each individual. This implies a change in behaviour. Taking the train for a holiday instead of a flying and using one car for a few families in the city to burn less fuel are ways in which people can contribute to the pursuit of sustainability.He remarks: “Sustainability does not mean staying in the cold and eating only raw food, for example. You can have fun and live a nice life without consuming so much energy as we are using now.”

REloadIT | One of the recent successful projects that Mr Niesing contributed to is REloadIT - a smart grid application that optimises the exploitation of renewable energy and electric mobility. The REloadIT Smart Grid was developed within the European e-harbours project and it has recently won the Alliander Innovation Award. Hugo Niesing (until March 1st

2013) and Suzanne Joosen (now), Energy Coordinator for the municipality of Zaanstad, were the project leaders of REloadIT. The municipality of Zaanstad is home to the European e-harbours project (www.eharbours.eu), which focuses on smart, renewable energy solutions in harbour cities and on electric mobility. The pilot uses smart grids in order to achieve its objectives. Resourcefully, the company founded by Mr Niesing, is supporting the project management for the pilot. REloadIT is an innovative technology for clean mobility. “The REloadIT system is estimating the amount of energy which

will be produced let’s say on a certain Friday and it also knows what the demand of the electric vehicles (EVs) is for that day,” he explains

The municipality of Zaanstad has 16 electrical vehicles located in a storage and charging station. The REloadIT system tries to match the production of solar energy and the EVs demand at the same moment. In other words, when energy is being produced, the cars are being charged.

In the REloadIT Smart Grid, everything is measured. The PV system and the EVs are connected to an online real-time measurement system. “The first phase in the process is the measurement, the second is the forecast and the third is the analysis,” clarifies Mr Niesing. The system analyses how much of the energy in the cars was produced by the municipal renewable energy installations, how much has been imported from the grid, when the PV system did not produce enough, and how much energy was sold back to the grid during the peak of solar energy production, when all cars are away from the vehicle charging station. The charging of the EVs is executed effectively when the PV installations are producing energy.

“We need to focus on getting projects out of the laboratory and out of the demonstration phase.”

“The results we have had with the system allowed us to open discussions with the national grid operator to see how our smart grid can be integrated in that grid,” says Mr Niesing. The grid operator has created a sustainable energy division support tool where calculations regarding the financial viability of smart grids can be made. “We are now working with them to see when the REloadIT system will really be financially interesting for the grid,” continues Mr Niesing. He notes that the energy produced in the REloadIT system should have a smaller price than, for instance, energy that is generated at a coal power plant, 80km away, and that has to travel a large part of the network to reach the consumer. “With the energy produced in our system we don’t have any losses and the energy does not need to be transported a large distance. The energy goes from the PV into the local network and into the car,” he explains.

Scaling up the system | Besides the mobility sector, the REloadIT system could be used for larger applications. “We are now looking into industrial applications in which windmills will be connected to

large pumping stations,” says Mr Niesing. As we know, the Netherlands is kept from flooding by a large pumping system that maintains the water level low. This pumping system is an intensive energy user. “The challenge here is to see whether we can produce energy along with nature. Maybe we can have a less rigid energy production; maybe we can make our energy generation move along with the wind and the sun. We wake up in the morning because it is light, we go to bed at night because it is dark; this sets our pace. It could be that we can make energy production have a natural pace. There are a lot of processes which allow this flexibility. We are now working together with Alliander to construct such scenarios for big pumping stations with windmills.”

A Word of Advice | Mr Niesing emphasizes the current difficulties of implementing sustainable projects. “I was really astonished to see that, even though there is a lot of talk about smart grids, when I started working for the REloadIT project it was difficult to find a company willing and able to make such a system for a rather not too difficult technical situation. In the end, EnergyGO was the company with which the REloadIT system was realised.” In his opinion there is too much talk about renewable energy, smart grids and smart cities and little action: “We need to focus on getting projects out of the laboratory and out of the demonstration phase. This is a challenge.” He also notes that regulation from the grid and energy taxation are not yet optimal for sustainable projects: “Sustainability is not being intensified, but it is being tempered through energy taxation, VAT costs and so forth. I think more attention needs to be paid to these matters.”

This situation is also encountered in other projects where Resourcefully is participating, such as the European project GreenITNet (www.greenitnet.org), where the Consortium Green IT Amsterdam region is a partner. “These barriers need to be overcome and smart energy solutions can play a major role here, technically the possibilities are here at present! The collaboration with the Zaanstad municipality has been very fruitful in addressing this, and the climate and energy programme of the municipality foresees various new initiatives in the field of smart energy management,” concludes Mr Niesing.


Online NRG Battle


Global Talents Challenge the World of Arctic Energy in the Online NRG Battle

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Online NRG Battle


Kristin Xueqin Wu: Think the Arctic energy development has nothing to do with a faraway country like Singapore? Think again.

You may be surprised that Singapore, a small Southeast Asian city state at the equator, actually has an Arctic policy and an Arctic Envoy. It has not only articulated its interest in the Arctic development through government statements, it has gone as far as to apply for an observer status at the Arctic Council, along with China, Japan, South Korea, India, as well as the European Union.

Singapore has reasons for its enthusiasm. It has significant economic and political interest in the development of Arctic energy: it is already the center of most oil and LNG trade routes in Asia. It has a solid offshore marine and engineering industry. Almost all the key players are present in Singapore, including BG, BP, Gazprom, GDF Suez, SK Energy, Statoil, ConocoPhillips, Mercuria, GAIL, and Shell. It is by no means close to the Arctic Circle, but it has friends who are more than happy to provide an entry point. Norway, for instance, has invited Singapore to join its Arctic exploration effort. Through exploiting this emerging market niche, Singapore may well become the next technological and expertise leader in Arctic energy development.

Read more at: blog.nrgbattle.com

TTA World has a new initiative, the first Online NRG Battle “Challenge the World of Energy”, inviting top talents from around the world to come up with solutions for energy related issues. Talents can engage in this competition individually and comfortably from behind their laptop, and they can submit their brilliant ideas to the decision makers.

The International Gas Union (IGU) will start debating on a series of energy topics. The goal is to encourage young talents from around the world to join the energy debate and to allow them to share their ideas for meeting certain energy challenges. The first online challenge will be on Arctic Energy Development.

Is the Arctic a new energy frontier? The Arctic holds some of the largest untapped energy resources in the world. With global energy demand increasing, the Arctic could become the next energy frontier. However, producing in such hazardous conditions is challenging and involves risks. The IGU invites young talents to join this debate in the online NRG Battle. Discussing either why or why not the Arctic territory should be developed as a new region for energy production or talking about how the energy potential of the Arctic should be developed.

The challenge consists out of two phases. In the first round talents are asked to explain their ideas on whether or how the Arctic’s energy resources should be developed. The best submissions will proceed to the next round and an

expert jury will choose 3 talents. The jury members of this first Online NRG Battle are Alexey Knizhnikov (Russia, World Wide Fund for Nature, WWF), Louwrens Hacquebord (The Netherlands, Arctic and Antarctic Studies at the University of Groningen) and Peter Harrison (Canada, World Maritime University, WMU).

For the Online Battles, TTA World works closely with Energy Delta Institute (EDI) and with its community for energy professionals, Syntropolis - “the brains” of the online competition. Syntropolis will offer exclusive pre-reading material for the Online NRG Battle and will help talents by providing online tools such as a library and a forum to discuss with experts, jury members and other talents.

Since 2009 TTA World offers companies the opportunity to accelerate their business and load their teams with fresh, powerful and bright minds through the NRG Battle, a global energy competition. Companies provide real life business cases, select their teams online and work together with these teams on finding innovative solutions. The NRG Battle is a unique opportunity to attract and engage young global top talents to generate new ideas and select the finest ones at the same time. TTA World is specialized in talent selection and uses performance based selection and predictive online analysis to benchmark and select the best of the best in the world.

Global Talents Challenge the World of Arctic Energy in the Online NRG Battle

Prof. Louwrens Hacquebord, jury member of the

first Online NRG Battle

The Arctic region is becoming more and more important as an energy producing area. In the first years of the 21st century high prices for crude oil on the world market stimulated multinationals to explore the possibilities to produce oil and gas in Arctic regions. The expectations concerning resource development in the Arctic are very high: 13% of the potential world oil reserve and 30% of the potential world gas reserves, according to the US Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2008-3049, July 2008.

NRG Talks 2013

Sharing knowledge,costs and risks: Fund AllianceSustainability is often linked to local and

regional concepts. Certainly regarding energy, there is a drive away from centralised

generation and towards local, decentralised solutions including energy efficiency.

This has been picked up by many local and regional governments with initiatives to stimulate this development. These initiatives not only include regulations and permits, but also subsidies, loans and risk capital.In the Netherlands several cities and provinces start their own investment fund focused on renewable energy. This is a direct result of the sale of the two biggest Dutch integrated utilities, Essent and Nuon to RWE and Vattenfall, years ago (2009) by cities and provinces. The combined proceedings of almost 19 billion euro are now partly rippling down into dedicated energy funds.All funds are facing similar challenges: developing an investment process, selecting technologies and/or sectors, dealing with state aid regulations, tendering for a fund manager and, last but not least, selecting investments.

Given the likeness of processes, it is not hard to think about the potential savings if several initiatives work together. It may even go further when selecting investments. If funds focus on the same region (for example city and province) it makes sense to coordinate efforts in order to prevent projects from going shopping and these funds doing the same work twice. Also, if region A wants to focus on a certain technology, it would be a good idea to inform neighbouring region B, which might therefore choose another technology.To cut it short, it would be worthwhile to share experiences on developing processes, getting legal advice and comparing tenders for fund management. Furthermore, it would be effective if funds focused on certain technologies or, even better, shared costs for a team of specialists in various technologies. Or, one step further, spreading risks and taking a stake in each other’s projects.Following this line of thought you effectively end up with funds working together and sharing projects. However, with this you may cross the important line where it all started: keep it local in order to feel connected.

Henceforth, the (suboptimal) solution may be that all regions have their own fund but use one central fund manager (that still can have decentralised, i.e. regional offices). This would at least allow the regions to assess and share projects and experiences.

If this is a step too far, there should be at least one central point where all information about processes, investment opportunities and assessments can be collected. Given we’re talking about public funds from taxpayers’ money, it’s the least we should do.

Gerard van BaarHolland Financial CentreManaging Director Centre for Finance & Sustainability

The Holland Financial Centre foundation is a joint public/private venture launched by a number of parties in the financial industry and the government,

who have joined together to form a broad-based interest group. The objective of HFC is to develop initiatives aimed at preserving a strong, open,

internationally competitive financial industry in the Netherlands, and to retain existing jobs in the industry and create new ones.

One of the focal points of HFC is Finance & Sustainability. The Centre for Finance & Sustainability started the discussions around the Green Investment

Corporation (Groene InvesteringsMaatschappij), initiated the webportal www.FSinsight.org, a platform for discussions on Finance & Sustainability

between academia and business. The Centre also commissioned the book Financing Sustainability which can be downloaded at the website of Holland

Financial Centre: www.hollandfinancialcentre.com.

Financing Sustainability is a column by Holland Financial Centre


Rational MiddleArctic Drilling: Friend or Foe of the Global Energy System?The Arctic summer ice is melting faster than conventional climate models predicted, The Guardian warns (www.guardian.co.uk, May 2, 2013). Evidence points to the fact that the Arctic region changed due to accumulated manmade greenhouse gases, and, in turn, these changes lead to more activities encouraging further greenhouse gas emissions. The Guardian states that the new NASA satellite imagery from March 2013 reveals massive cracks in ice connecting Beaufort Gyre region to Alaska, and that new research from Rutgers University suggests the Arctic summer sea ice is connected to extreme weather.

On the one side, governments, companies and NGOs around the world are advocating for energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gases levels in order to tackle climate change. On the other hand, emerging economies like China, India and Brazil with increasing energy demands are not yet equipped to eliminate fossil fuels from their power generation scheme in the next decades (World Energy Outlook 2012). While some experts argue that the global economy will (probably) need the fossil resources the Arctic has to offer, others warn about the large risks brought on by resource exploitation in the Arctic.

NRG Magazine wanted to see how experts would describe the relationship between the Arctic and the global energy system. Dr.ir. Sape A. Miedema, Associate Professor of Dredging Engineering at Delft University of Technology, and Dr. Maarten J.J.E. Loonen, Senior University Lecturer Arctic ecology at the University of Groningen, answered our call and provided us their own view on: “Arctic Drilling: Friend or Foe of the Global Energy System?”


When we really look at the

drilling process, there is not

much of a difference between

drilling in the Arctic and drilling in the

tropics. Because once you drill into the

seafloor, you get high pressures, you get

high temperatures and the actual drilling

process does not really depend on the fact

that you have ice above. The problem is

that the ships and the platforms that are

involved in Arctic drilling have to deal

with the ice. Hence, it is more about the

environment in which you are working,

than the drilling itself. Another problem

is that the ice in the Arctic is constantly

moving. This means that if you put a

platform somewhere, the ice is constantly

pushing against it. The pressure of the

often very thick ice can push the platform

away, breaking the risers (the conduits

that connect the surface with the subsea

oil well) and causing an environmental

disaster. This means that the platform and

the mooring system of the platform have

to be strong enough to withstand the

force of the moving ice.

Nobody wants an environmental disaster.

Therefore, you have to study how to build

those platforms, how to anchor them and

how to deal with the ice. This is what we

are investigating with our students at

the Offshore & Dredging Engineering &

Marine Technology Master Programme at

Delft University of Technology. In some

cases we can already make the right

calculations that will solve the problem,

but in many cases we cannot.. The moving

ice is the first problem with drilling in the

Arctic. The second problem is icebergs,

which are 10% above the water and 90%

under water. Icebergs can have a conical

like shape at the bottom. This conical

shape can make icebergs cut through the

seafloor – we call this ice scour. We know

from many measurements that ice scours

can go 6 metres deep into the sea soil and

can cut pipelines on the seafloor.

Nowadays, there are two ways of bringing

oil to the shore: with shuttle tankers and

with pipelines. Since you cannot sail the

whole year in the Arctic, due to the ice,

pipelines are the preferred method. We

know icebergs can cut through pipelines.

Based on many calculations, we also know

that we should burry the pipelines 10

metres deep. If the pipeline is just below

the iceberg, you get many deformations

in the soil and those deformations will

still damage the pipelines. Thus, in order

to protect them, pipelines have to be far

enough under the bottom of the iceberg.

There is another challenge here. When

burying the pipelines so deep, it is very

well possible that the soil in such an area

is frozen (i.e., permafrost), that means

you have to make a trench in permafrost.

Nobody ever did that before, so we also

have to do research and understand what

the behaviour of permafrost is and how to

make a trench in permafrost.

I am not in favour, nor against Arctic

drilling. I do think Arctic drilling will start

one day, and the moment it starts, we

have to make sure that we will have solved

all the technical problems, so it can be

done in a safe manner. We cannot prevent

oil companies from drilling in the Arctic

and installing platforms in those areas, but

we can help them drill there in the safest

possible manner, both for the environment

and the people.

There is another aspect related to drilling

in the Arctic. 15-25% of the world’s oil

and gas resources are estimated to be in

that region. If we look at the increase in

energy consumption on this planet, we

cannot miss the 15-25%. Additionally, the

world will have 9 billion people by 2050,

and they will all need energy. If we do not

find alternatives for energy supply soon

enough, then we need Arctic drilling. Of

course, costs also have to be taken into

account. The Arctic is probably the most

expensive drilling location on the planet.

Oil companies will only drill there if they

can also make a profit, but it should be

mentioned that they have a zero tolerance

policy with regard to the probability of

calamities. Nevertheless, if we do not have

alternatives, Arctic drilling could be a

friend of the global energy system.

Arctic Drilling: Friend or Foe of the Global Energy System?

“If we don’t find alternatives for energy supply soon enough, then we need Arctic

drilling.”


Dr. Sape A. Miedema is Associate Professor of Dredging Engineering at Delft University of Technology. Dr. Miedema is also Educational Director of the Offshore & Dredging Engineering & Marine Technology Master Programme at the same university. Students with Bachelor’s degrees in various fields, from civil engineering to marine technology, can enrol in this master programme. The main purpose of the programme it to teach students how to develop systems and equipment for the oil and gas industry, for the dredging industry, but also for wave energy and Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC). 240 master students are currently enrolled in the programme and about 80 are expected to graduate this year. Photo courtesy of Sape Miedema

Arctic drilling is unavoidable

Our sympathy for the Arctic was

triggered by looking at beautiful

pictures with ice full of shades of

whites and blues. Sir David Attenborough

has brought the beauty of the polar areas

and its wildlife into our homes with BBC

documentaries like Frozen Planet. I have

experienced this beauty in my 25 summers

in the High Arctic on Spitsbergen studying

migratory birds. I am in love with this place

of beauty and wilderness. But like the

migratory birds, I leave the Arctic when

temperatures sink below zero and the

light disappears for several months.

The Arctic was always remote and difficult

to access. But the Arctic is under threat.

Global warming makes the sea ice retreat

in summer. The local warming process

accelerates. White heat reflecting surfaces

of ice change into dark heat absorbing

surfaces of water. Enhanced levels of water

vapour in the atmosphere act as extra

greenhouse gasses and cause additional

warming. The Arctic belongs to the areas

on our globe where regional warming

has been most pronounced. There is a

serious risk of passing a tipping point

when changes will accelerate and become

irreversible. The prospect of losing this

biome makes me sad.

But why not approach this from a

positive side and use this opportunity

with improved access to formerly closed

grounds. Why not exploit the natural

resources, as we have always done all

over the globe? Let us make the Arctic

contribute to global warming by burning

carbohydrates and exploit the treasures

which have been hidden for us under the

ice…Can you live with such an attitude?

Nothing is lost forever by letting the Arctic

oil exploitation rest for a better moment

in the future. Drilling in the Arctic has a

higher risk for ecological disaster than

drilling in other parts of the globe. The

main risk to consider is the unlikely event

of an accident. The arctic environment

with many months of darkness and

destructive forces of drifting ice increases

the risk of an accident. We can minimize

that risk but never eliminate it. We easily

accept small risks as if they are zero. In

the Netherlands we have our civilisation

built below sea level and go to bed

without realizing that there is still a risk

for flooding. History has shown that even

unlikely accidents do happen.

An oil spill in the Arctic will be more

difficult to control than anywhere

else. Natural breakdown processes are

slow due to the low temperature and

conditions for removing any spilled oil

are more complicated. The remoteness

and inaccessibility of the area will make it

difficult to support cleaning by bringing

in extra people or boats. Sea ice can be a

physical obstruction for any emergency

operation. Chances are high that removal

of oil during winter will be impossible.

Oil will be encapsulated in sea ice. Sea ice

is not solid. It is full with brine channels,

where the water does not freeze due to

the high salinity. In these brine channels

oil will be stored until the next melt. Then,

the oil will re-appear and form a top layer

on the ice and later on the water. The

whole ecosystem will be faced again with

the spilled oil in the next summer and

potentially many summers afterwards.

In my opinion, we live in a period of great

uncertainty for dramatic changes in the

Arctic ecosystem. This is not the moment

to run additional risks. If we can agree

on a moratorium, the oil will be there for

later exploitation. I see a lot of benefits

in a slowly increasing shortage of fossil

fuel to stimulate our economy to a more

sustainable society. And I hope that we

and the Arctic will be able to survive the

threats of global warming.

Arctic Drilling: Friend or Foe of the Global Energy System?


Dr. Maarten J.J.E. Loonen is senior lecturer at the Arctic Centre of the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. He is biologist and station manager of the Netherlands Arctic Station in the northernmost settlement and largest international research base on Spitsbergen (www.arcticstation.nl). He has spent over 25 summers in the Arctic studying consequences of change in migratory birds and the ecosystem.Photo: Cecilia Sandström

“Drilling in the Arctic has a higher risk for ecological disaster than drilling in other parts of the globe”

Foe, because…


NRG Battle - Europe Edition

On March 22nd 2013, the Design Academy in Eindhoven hosted the start of a revolution in energy solutions: self-sufficient communities with sustainable energy sources, citywide sensor networks tracking

energy consumption, saving energy in building complexes and smart measurement systems. The First Round had 11 multidisciplinary teams working on challenging cases with only 3 minutes to pitch their innovative ideas to the NRG Battle Expert Jury. Five teams will go to the Finals in November 2013. These teams did a great job in creating the most novel, useful and non-obvious of character solutions for the cases. Team E.ON proposed the “Collect.Reuse.Generate.Save” solution that utilizes curtains of cool air created with ventilation systems in order to heat buildings – the cool air curtains prevent heat loss. Team Sensor City Assen 1 thought of having an app that shows a visual representation (e.g., a tree) of the energy consumption behaviour in households. As the consumption behaviour is more responsible, the tree looks better – this solution is called “AppsoluTREE”. Team Sensor City Assen2 had a different approach to encouraging people to use energy more responsibly – “Manage your personal energy consumption”. These finalists created a measurement system for as many energy consumption related items as possible (e.g., gas, electricity, water, energy used for transport) and put forth an incentives system in the form of discounts on bills, government services or cultural activities in order to reward responsible consumers. Spirit IT also joined the group of finalists with the solution: “Labelling Electricity”. This solution uses the existing sensor infrastructure in order to identify the environmental footprint of activities, as close to the location of the activity as possible. The data about the pollution created by different activities is continuously updated online and available for the consumers, so they can make more responsible energy choices.

Self-Sufficient Communities are the Future: The Energy Bank

Eindhoven, March 22nd 2013, the NRG Battle – European Edition, Round 1: Another year of NRG Battle offers bright young talents from all around the world the chance to find solutions for problems in the energy field and the opportunity to start their career at top companies in the energy sector. The NRG Battle is in its fourth year. Throughout these years, thousands of top talents have signed up to work on case studies provided by reputable companies like GasTerra, E.ON, Siemens, Alliander, Spirit IT, FUJIFILM, ROSEN Europe and more, as well as municipalities from the Netherlands.

Team Siemens: Michiel Jansen, Thomas van Oekelen, Titiaan Palazzi, Tobias Rijken, Jasperina de Vries, Wouter van der Wal and Johan Bogert - Case Instructor

Team Sensor City Assen 1: Martijn Ahrens, Erik Faassen, Esther Groenert, Jeyakrishna

Sridhar, Alfiya Urazaeva

Solution: “AppsoluTREE” - an app that shows a visual representation (e.g., a tree) of

the energy consumption behaviour in households.


NRG Battle - Europe Edition

TTA World’s mission is to ensure human capital to work for a sustainable and healthy future. TTA World organises the NRG Battle, a competition where bright talents work on innovative ideas for real day-to-day challenges in the energy field. This year’s Expert Jury consists of: Prof. Dr. Ton Schoot Uiterkamp (University of Groningen), Pierre Bartholomeus (Global Director & Sr. VP Gas Consulting Services, DNV KEMA), Hester Bijl (Director Delft Energy Initiative), Roel Croes (Co-founder and Board Member of Stichting GreenICT, Maurice Tax (Managing Director at Sensor Universe), Bas Spaapen Interim Manager and Internet Entrepreneur at Scrumbla BV), David Molenaar (Division Manager of Wind Power Division at Siemens Netherlands N.V.) and Daniel Lauwen (Business Development Manager at E.ON). For more information please visit: www.nrgbattle.nl and www.tta-world.com

Team Siemens was the winner of Round 1 with an out of the box solution for self-sustaining communities, the “Energy Bank”. The team members had to assume that they only had renewable energy available and to design a community that could sustain itself. “The biggest challenge was to come up with an idea to manage demand and supply, since supply in a world with 100% renewable energy is non-deterministic. The second challenge was to redefine the role of the current energy companies,” says Tobias Rijken, member of team Siemens. According to team Siemens, these companies should do three things: offer financing solutions for individuals who want to generate their energy from sustainable sources

(e.g., solar panels), provide equipment maintenance and enable consumers to buy and sell energy from each other. “A self-sufficient community is probably unable to deliver the right amount of energy all the time, therefore we propose a new energy model for the current energy suppliers. When one community is in need of energy and another one has a surplus, the energy can be shared between those communities. This is where the new role of the current energy suppliers is,” continues Wouter van der Wal, also member of the winning team.

“At the end of the day the Siemens team presented a very innovative solution where they defined a model focusing on

the cost structure of sustainable energy supply, which is mainly CAPEX driven. Siemens is very proud that its team has won the First Round of NRG Battle and is looking forward to supporting the very enthusiastic students in preparing themselves for the Finals in November,” said Johan Bogerd, Account Manager at Siemens and the team’s case instructor. The five finalist teams are going to the NRG Battle – Europe Edition 2013 Finals. In the meantime they have to improve their ideas and impress the judges even more in November, during the Energy Convention 2013 in Groningen.

Team Spirit IT: Annemarth Bleeker, Kostiantyn Cherniaiev, Alexandru Popescu,

Ramzan Tabasum, Kiryl Zinkovich

Solution: “Labelling Electricity” - using the existing sensor infrastructure in order to

identify the environmental footprint of activities.

Team Sensor City Assen 2: Michael Bosscher, Roxanne Dirks, Gabriël Oral, Lucas Pool,

Michiel van de Bunt

Solution: “Manage your personal energy consumption” – a measurement system

with incentives encouraging people to use energy more responsibly.

Team E.ON: Anne-Luise Brehm, Ralf Chardon, Avigyan Karan, Mike Kriele, Martijn

Rooijakkers, Penny Webb

Solution: “Collect.Reuse.Generate.Save” - using curtains of cool air created with

ventilation systems in order to heat buildings.

NRG Battle – Europe Edition 2013Round 1 Winner: Team Siemens

Talents in the Spotlight


Only once in a blue moon do we meet top talents. Not only are they high achievers in their studies, but they also have unique personalities and bring added value to any company. From the NRG Battle 2013 Round 1 we chose four gifted individuals with an uncommon mixture of talents. For instance, the Strategic Talent, an interesting combination of efficiency and creativity, a unique blend of attributes, so rare and worth encountering in one person. You cannot see this in their résumé or in their appearance. This is why TTA World uses the Big Five personality test to identify these high-potential individuals. We think Michael, Lena, Annemarth and Kostiantyn are real top talents. You can read their stories in the following pages.

For more information about the way TTA World tests talent, please contact Geertje Dam at [email protected]



Michael Bosscher

“Live each day as if it is your last, but if it is not your last, be sure that it positively contributes to the next.”

Team : Assen Sensor City Study : Bachelor International Business and ManagementTalent : Management Talent

“I am passionate about overcoming business related obstacles both in the modern and developing world.”


Michael is a structured worker, driven by efficiency; improving things is what he

aims for. He is also strongly result-driven, action minded and focussed on reaching

short-term targets. These strong drives make him a Management Talent - his

analytical and critical thinking are combined with fast decision making skills. Michael

makes sure that things get done. Currently he is studying International Business and

Management at the Hanze University of Applied Sciences in Groningen, the Netherlands.

After exceptional first year study results, he was accepted into the Honours Talent Program.

He grew up in Burlington, Ontario, Canada, but his family is originally from the Netherlands.

Consequentially, he has dual citizenship. Michael completed his post-secondary education in

Toronto with a 3-year Fire Protection Engineering Technology Diploma.

The Management Talent also did volunteer work in order to help communities in the

Dominican Republic, Mexico, Zambia and rural Kentucky, United States. “I am passionate

about overcoming business related obstacles both in the modern and developing world.

I want to contribute my full potential to making a difference in the world I live in and

optimizing it for future generations,” says Michael. This summer he will lead a team of 15

honours students to go to Mombasa, Kenya and help the local fire department, orphanages

and schools to solve business related issues.

His first real contact with the energy sector was during a guest lecture by a representative

of GasTerra in 2011. From that point on he became much more conscious about the

developments and challenges in the energy sector, the importance of innovation in

the industry and the necessity for change in the global approach to sustainable energy.

According to Michael, one of the biggest challenges in the energy sector at this moment

is consumer acceptance of truly sustainable energy, regardless of the cost. The solution he

proposes involves large-scale community engagement in the energy field in order to gain

understanding and acceptance of the sacrifices that must be made.

Michael saw the NRG Battle as an excellent opportunity to increase his knowledge and

experience in the energy sector. “The NRG Battle experience exceeded my expectations. I was

surprised by the passion and vigour displayed by participants. I enjoyed engaging myself in a

real life case and understanding practical issues in the energy sector. I would like to emphasize

the pleasure I experienced as a participant in the NRG Battle and the support I have for such

an initiative of academic engagement into practical energy related issues.”

Lena is highly focussed and strongly driven. She is a hardworking and dedicated lady

who loves to improve things, which explains her interest in logistics. Her analytical and

structured thinking insures that you get straight facts and detailed plans. Easy is not an

option for Lena, she strives for more and better. “When I’m old and looking back, I want to

say that I achieved everything I could and wanted to. I am goal oriented and these goals keep

me going and motivate me,” remarks the Talent.

Currently, Lena is a fourth year student of International Business and Management at the

Hanze University of Applied Sciences, in Groningen. Apart from this she spent one year in

Hong Kong and experienced a variety of cultures and improved her language skills. After

graduation she would like to start a Master programme in the field of logistics. Lena was

accepted into the Honours Talent Program where she started a project called “ConTribute

Kenya”. The aim of this project is to help the people in Mombasa by creating an accounting

system for a nursery school and teaching English, Math and Sports.

Lena says that her parents played a significant role in her career related decisions: “I would

say everything started with my mum and dad who have their own consultancy company.

They showed me the business world, what I can achieve and how I can make a difference

to the world. It was stunning and therefore I decided to apply for the apprenticeship as

an industrial clerk at a mineral oil company in Germany. During this time I ran through the

different departments, participated in project work and also selected the new apprentices.”

Lena was part of this company for two and a half years and realised that the oil and gas fields

will not last forever, especially due to fierce competition and shrinking energy sources, as well

as the security of energy supply. “A lot of technologies such as solar panels and windmills are

available, but so far we are not able to use them in the most efficient way,” she notes.

The efficiency driven talent applied for the NRG Battle and was selected to be in the E.ON

team. “The time pressure and the strain of the competition were amazing factors of this

challenge and showed me that I am able to handle that. It is amazing to see that the

participating companies look for ambitious students to solve the energy challenges and let

the talents be part of the change and development,” says Lena. After the NRG Battle, the

whole team was invited by E.ON for a visit in Rotterdam to see how the company works and

in which ways it contributes to creating a more sustainable industry.

Lena Jeßen



“Never give up and believe in yourself”

Team : E.ONStudy : Bachelor International Business and ManagementTalent : Efficiency Driven

“Technologies such as solar panels and windmills are available, but so far we are not able to use them in the most efficient way.”


Annemarth is enthusiastic and hardworking not only in her studies, but also in sports.

She finished the Ringvaart Regatta, a 100km rowing marathon, with a boat of four.

Battling with the wind and rain and through team effort, she and her team mates

worked hard and reached the finish line. Annemarth is not only a great team player, she

is also innovation driven, which can be observed in her broad interests and knowledge of

different topics (energy, sustainability, value chains), as well as in her extracurricular activities -

from student committees to volunteering (working in Peru and fundraising for INF Nepal).

The innovation driven Talent started studying Business Mathematics and IT (now Business

Analytics) at VU University Amsterdam. Her talent is her curiosity, her desire for change and

her interest in new ideas. Annemarth’s analytical and mathematical skills transform ideas into

realistic plans. She loves to assess whether ideas are really viable and worthwhile to invest in.

Annemarth feels that doing two masters (Environment and Resource Management (ERM) /

Transport and Supply Chain Management) is the perfect combination in today’s sustainability

driven world. Hence, she also combines two internships. One of them will bring her for two

and a half months to Tanzania to do market research on solar energy for AgencyNL. The other

one is at TSCM and it will allow her to explore the transport sector, which is highly dependent

on energy.

At the moment, Annemarth feels that the energy sector is held back by conservative views

and that the step towards renewable energy is still too difficult or expensive. She and her

ERM colleagues performed a study on offshore wind in Sweden and found that this form of

energy production will only be viable if the state interferes. Annemarth learned that some

techniques, like offshore wind, are still in the beginning of the learning curve; it will take a

few years before companies invest in them. This is where the state could come in and help for

the “greater good”: the environment.

Annemarth wanted to participate in the NRG Battle to be able to work on “real” cases,

a thing she missed during her studies. During the Battle her team (Spirit IT) came up with

a system that measures the energy producers’ output in real time, making it possible for

consumers to choose between grey and green energy and between different scales of

polluters - an important factor because energy companies have often already signed contracts

for 20 years and will not switch to green energy during this period. “The NRG Battle was a

very special experience and it was good to be able to work together with companies and

students from different disciplines. There was a lot of creativity going around.”

Annemarth Bleeker

“Working hard pays off.”

“The NRG Battle was a very special experience and it was good to be able to work together with companies and students”

Team : Spirit ITStudy : Master Environment and Resources Management and Master Business AdministrationTalent : Innovation Driven


Kostiantyn is an ecology and innovation driven engineer with an excellent technical

background. He wants to design and implement new infrastructures and energy

projects around the world. His curiosity and broad interests make him an asset for any

company. Kostiantyn has a structured and analytical way of working. The combined drives of

innovation and efficiency make him a unique Strategic Talent. Kostiantyn is able to foresee

future trends and developments and focus on today’s facts and figures at the same time. This

results in him being able to take calculated risks and pursue controlled innovation. “My goal is

to be a part of teams that create amazing and important projects like intercontinental power

grids or subarctic drilling,” he remarks.

The Strategic Talent believes that in a few decades many jobs will be replaced by artificial

intelligence and robots, but that there will always be a place for people who are fascinated

by their work. Kostiantyn received his Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the

National Technical University of Ukraine. He also did internships for “AES corporation” and

“Institute for Renewable Energy” in Ukraine, where he got his first insights into the energy

sector. He worked as an engineer for a solar company in Ukraine and cooperated with

international companies and with the government. This cooperation gave him a new vision

on the energy sector, different from what his university programme provided. “The solar

market has many altruistic people who are willing to make the world a better place.”

The Talent is now doing two Masters, one in Ukraine and one in the Netherlands at the

University of Groningen. Kostiantyn says that, in the energy sector, one of the main challenges

is brought on by the poor cooperation between countries. “Resources on Earth are not

infinite, but distributed, that is why countries and companies have to step up to another level

of integration and create shared energy transmission systems and markets on a planet scale.”

The NRG Battle gave Kostiantyn the opportunity to meet experts from the energy sector

and to spend time with other smart people in a creative atmosphere. Spirit IT challenged

him and his team mates to create adequate pricing and taxation of natural resources, by

using front-end measurement equipment and analytical software, as well as guarantee the

implementation of the “polluter pays” principle. His team suggested the implementation of a

smart data management system that will be able to allocate the “Environmental excellence”

ratio of electricity produced from different energy sources with different technologies. This

would provide customers with real-time and appropriate data about the environmental

damage caused during production. This idea would enable further development of

renewables and force electricity producers to limit their damage to the environment.

Kostiantyn Cherniaiev



“Be efficient and unordinary in your work”

“Resources on Earth are not infinite, but distributed, countries and companies have to step up to another level of integration”

Team : Spirit ITStudy : Bachelor Energy and Environmental Sciences Talent : Strategic Talent

An Innovative Truth V - Five years of innovative multidisciplinary co-operation

On 19 June 2013, the fifth edition of An Innovative Truth - Conference on Sustainable ICT & Energy will take place at the Beatrix Theatre in Utrecht, the Netherlands. An Innovative Truth V is an energizing and involvement stimulating conference on the themes of Sustainable ICT and Energy.

Following the successful conferences An Innovative Truth, An Innovative Truth II, An Innovative Truth III and An innovative Truth IV, GreenICT Foundation and IIP Duurzame ICT Foundation - Platform for Sustainable ICT organize this jubilee edition of An Innovative Truth - Sustainable ICT & Energy Conference. The programme contains, among other things, keynote presentations and workshops given by exclusively leading speakers.

In August 2008, GreenICT Foundation and the Ministry of Economic Affairs (EL&I) took the initiative to organize an energizing conference to promote energy efficiency and sustainable ICT. This

initiative resulted in four successful An Innovative Truth conferences, including contributions from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the European Commission, on 22 June 2009, 15 September 2010, 22 June 2011 and 20 June 2012. The conference website - aninnovativetruth.nl - provides a proper impression of these conferences regarding content, programmes, objectives and results.

The previous editions of An Innovative Truth were organized by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the ICT Innovation Platform for Sustainable ICT (IIP Duurzame ICT Foundation) and GreenICT Foundation. They persuaded leading speakers to contribute to An Innovative Truth. In 2009 former State Secretary Frank Heemskerk and Cabinet Member Linda Mauperon, replacing EU Commissioner Vivian Reding, attended as keynote speaker. The then Director-General Energy and Telecom Mark Frequin acted as chair of the day. In 2010 Hans Vijlbrief former Director-General Energy, Telecom and Markets attended as keynote speaker. In 2012 his successor Mark Dierikx, the current Director-General ETM of the Ministry of Economic Affairs acted as keynote speakers. Partly based on the outcomes and results of previous editions, An Innovative Truth V will also be a follow-up. This conference will look back, but mostly generate new activities and partnerships.

An Innovative Truth V is a non-commercial conference. The purpose of this high level congress is to stimulate mutual cross-fertilizations between science, government and business (suppliers and users) in the area of sustainable ICT & Energy, and because of this to promote scientifically challenging and commercially interesting innovation and research.

An Innovative Truth V - The background

During this jubilee edition of the An Innovative Truth conference, the portal website on Sustainable ICT & Energy will be launched festively in the presence of high level

representatives of the four involved stakeholders groups: science, government, ICT-supplying business and ICT-applying business (the energy sector).

The portal website on Sustainable ICT & Energy derives directly from the initiative of Mark Frequin, former Director-General Energy and Telecom of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, as he plenary proposed, as chair of the conference, at the first edition of An Innovative Truth in 2009.

The activities of this portal website are executed by IIP Sustainable ICT Foundation, as requested by and on behalf of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and NL Agency. On the initiative of IIP Sustainable ICT Foundation, other stakeholders groups representing parties, among others, Netherlands ICT (formerly known as ICT~Office), CIO Platform and various Top Consortia for Knowledge and Innovation (TKIs) are involved in this portal website initiative.

Launch of portal website on sustainable ICT & Energy


An Innovative Truth V

Mark Frequin, former Director-General Energy and Telecom of the

Ministry of Economic Affairs at An Innovative Truth, 22 June 2009

An Innovative Truth V - Five years of innovative multidisciplinary co-operation

The organization of the An Innovative Truth V - conference distinguishes the societal importance of scientifically challenging and - thus applicable - commercially interesting

research and innovation. Using poster presentations by PhD students, the organizers aim to bring scientific research in the field of sustainable ICT & Energy to the attention of a wider audience and, in particular, the conference attendees. For this, exhibition space is provided in the Constantijn Foyer.

PhD students engaged in research in the cross-over fields of ICT & Energy, ICT & Sustainability and Sustainable ICT are cordially invited to present their research topics and results during the conference and to discuss these with the interested audience. In line with the structure of the programme, the organization strives for a balanced and objective composition of the presented posters. Interested PhD students and professors with PhD students active in one of the above mentioned areas can contact the conference organization via the conference website aninnovativetruth.nl.

Programme The programme includes various plenary keynote presentations, theme related workshop sessions, practical cases and a plenary debate among representatives of science, government and business. The indicative programme of An Innovative Truth V on 19 June 2013 is as follows:

09.15 - 09.45 Welcome & information market 09.45 - 09.55 Opening by chair of the day Roderik van Grieken Director Nederlands Debat Instituut 09.55 - 10.20 Keynote speech I by Mark Van Stiphout Member of Cabinet of Günther H. Oettinger Commissioner for Energy European Commission

10.20 - 10.45 Keynote speech II by Ab van der Touw CEO Siemens Nederland

10.45 - 11.10 Keynote speech III by Marcel Krom CIO and Director International PostNL

11.10 - 11.30 Break & information market (including poster presentations by PhD students)

11.30 - 12.30 The Battle - debate among representatives of science, government and business

12.30 - 13.30 Lunch & information market (including poster presentations by PhD students)

13.30 - 14.10 Workshop sessions round I

14.10 - 14.15 Possibility to change theme room

14.15 - 14.55 Workshop sessions round II

14.55 - 15.15 Break & information market (including poster presentations by PhD students)

15.15 - 15.55 Workshop sessions round III

15.55 - 16.00 Possibility to change theme room

16.00 - 16.25 Practice makes Perfect - practical cases

16.25 - 16.30 Continuation plenary programme

16.30 - 16.55 Keynote speech IV Pier Nabuurs Chairman Top Sector Energy

16.55 - 17.00 Wrap-up and closure by chair of the day Roderik van Grieken

17.00 - 18.00 Networking drinks

* Because of a possible fifth keynote speaker, the programme may be subject to change. The final programme is available via the conference website.

The Battle - debate on sustainable ICT & Energy

The Battle is the plenary debate among representatives of science, government and business (ICT suppliers and users). During the debate these four stakeholders groups confront

each other with their questions and concerns. Thoughtful and respectful, but also provocative and sharp. Each of the four stakeholders groups is represented by a spokesman.

As in previous editions of An Innovative Truth in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, this year the debate will be led by Roderik van Grieken, Director of the Nederlands Debat Instituut.

The PhD research poster presentations



Debate leader Roderik van Grieken and Dr Albert Molderink during the Battle in 2012

Hans van der Zwaag -

Director ICT & Facility

Services PGGM (left)

and Steven Luitjens -

Director Logius, Ministry

of Internal Affairs and

Kingdom Relations

(right) will attend again

this year as spokesmen

for their stakeholders

groups

The Conference speakers

The programme will include four plenary keynote speeches by Pier Nabuurs (Chair Top Sector Energy), Ab van der Touw (CEO

Siemens Nederland N.V.), Mark van Stiphout (Member of Cabinet of European Commissioner for Energy Günther Oettinger) and Marcel Krom (CIO and Director International PostNL). The agenda also includes workshop sessions and a plenary debate among representatives of science, government and the ICT-supplying business and ICT-applying business (the energy sector).

In line with previous editions, this year all speakers and track leaders are top ambassadors for the respective themes. Speakers who already confirmed their contribution include Frits Verheij (Director Smart Energy DNV KEMA & Chairman TKI Switch2SmartGrids, Top Sector Energy), prof. Paulien Herder (Professor at Delft University of Technology & Chair Delft Energy Initiative), Kees de Gooijer (Director TKI BioBased Economy, Top Sector Chemistry & TKI Agri&Food), Bert Stuij (Manager Energy Strategy & Transition NL Agency), prof. Ton Koonen (Professor Eindhoven University of Technology), Karin Weustink (Deputy Director BioBased Economy, Ministry of Economic Affairs), Teun Bokhoven (Director ConSolair & Chair TKI EnerGO (Top Sector Energy), Steven Luitjens (Director Logius, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Kingdom Relations), prof. Henk Scholten (CEO Geodan and Professor at VU University Amsterdam), Erik van Seventer (Programme Manager BioBased Economy WUR), Lianda Sjerps-Koomen (Programme Director TKI EnerGO), Arie Brouwer (Director DPI Value Centre), Marianne Linde (Director Urban Development TNO), prof. Jan Blom (Professor emeritus at Eindhoven University of Technology), Hans van der Zwaag (Director ICT & Facility Services PGGM), Wim van Saarloos (Director FOM Foundation),prof. Wim de Ridder (Professor at University of Twente), Mira Huussen (Director New Energy Essent), prof. Jacqueline Cramer (Professor at Utrecht University & Director Utrecht Sustainability Institute) and Sam Collot d’Escury (CEO GEN). Roderik van Grieken, Director Nederlands Debat Instituut will act as conference chairman.

This fifth edition of An Innovative Truth will also pay attention to SIEnergyLab. This organization for Sustainable ICT & Energy

Research bridges science and business in ICT & Energy for a sustainable society. In SIEnergyLab representatives from science and business work together to create solutions that are solid, innovative and applicable. SIEnergyLab seeks to bundle the forces of complementary scientific research and brings together members of the participating companies with scientific expertise in the field of Sustainable ICT & Energy. For further information: SIEnergyLab.org.

The organization performs knowledge valorisation: initiating, promoting and carrying out scientific research in aforementioned fields for commercially viable and socially thoughtful applications, taking into account those issues that are important for end users, e.g., convenience, trust, enjoyment and gain.

SIEnergyLab

The thematic tracksThe workshop sessions are divided into four parallel thematic tracks. As with previous editions, these parallel tracks fit seamlessly with the current Top Sector policy. Three tracks are directly related to a Top Consortium for Knowledge and Innovation (TKI). Each track consists of three workshop rounds. In between these rounds attendees are offered the possibility to change tracks.

The four parallel workshop themes are:

• ICT & Energy in the built environment - in cooperation with TKI EnerGO • Smart Grids - in cooperation with TKI Switch2SmartGrids • Smart Strategy • BioBased Economy - in cooperation with TKI BioBased Economy

The thematic tracks are led by expert track leaders as prof. Wim de Ridder (Professor University of Twente) for track Smart Strategy, Frits Verheij (Director Smart Energy DNV KEMA & Chair TKI Swtch2SmartGrids, Top Sector Energy) for track Smart Grids, Teun Bokhoven (Director ConSolair & Chair TKI EnerGO, Top Sector Energy) for track ICT & Energy in the built environment and Kees de Gooijer (Director TKI BioBased Economy, Top Sector Chemistry & TKI Agri&Food) for track BioBased Economy.

An Innovative Truth V - The organization

An Innovative Truth V - Sustainable ICT & Energy Conference is organized by GreenICT Foundation and IIP Duurzame ICT

Foundation - Platform for Sustainable ICT in close cooperation with partners including the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Alliander, GEN, TKI Switch2SmartGrids, NL Agency, DNV KEMA, TKI BioBased Economy, Dutch-INCERT, TKI EnerGO, CIO Platform, Nederlands Debat Instituut, Nederland ICT, PGGM, NRG Magazine, Delft University of Technology, Eindhoven University of Technology, University of Twente, NWO, TNO, STW, FOM Foundation, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Siemens, Basis Bay and the European Commission.

An Innovative Truth V - Sustainable ICT & Energy Conference is initiated by GreenICT Foundation and is made possible by the financial contributions of TKI Switch2SmartGrids, GEN and Alliander.

Further information is available at aninnovativetruth.nl.


Peter Molengraaf (CEO Alliander), Sam Collot d’Escury (CEO GEN) and Gaston Hendriks

(Principal & Co-Founder GEN) at An Innovative Truth IV; Sam Collot d’Escury, CEO GEN will be

one of the leading speakers at this year’s jubilee edition of An Innovative Truth.



The Need for New Technologies

If we want to have a CO2 free energy supply in 2050,

we still need to invent a lot. With only the help of existing technologies we will not manage. Even the sustainable technologies used nowadays are still too expensive. To remove CO2

or to avoid producing it, new technologies need to be developed additionally to further cheaper deployment

of existing technologies and the realisation of a fuel shift to electricity. Also, all types of consumption of energy will have to be more efficient. This requires a huge effort in creativity, development and especially cooperation - collaboration among science, applied research, business and government, and above all, between people. An Innovative Truth brings together people who must make this happen.

Pier Nabuurs

Chairman of the Dutch Top Sector Energy

The Glue that Holds Society Together

Over the past two decades, information and

communications technology (ICT) has become the glue that holds our economy and our society together. Without the use of ICT, no government can function, no factory nor bank nor shop can operate, and neither goods nor passengers can be transported efficiently. ICT systems can contribute significantly to the reduction

of both the carbon emissions and electricity consumption of energy systems as well as enable the usage of renewables in the energy supply chain. For example, to meet the growing demand for energy, an intelligent and flexible grid infrastructure integrating smart generation, smart appliances and smart buildings will be essential. To achieve this, a close cooperation between universities, research institutes and industry is vital. The An Innovative Truth conferences bring together the stakeholders for this cooperation.

Gerard Smit

Professor at the University of Twente

The Sustainable Energy Carrier

Electricity is the only energy carrier which can be

converted into all other forms of energy with efficiencies close to 100%. Electricity can also be generated from almost all sustainable energy sources, like hydro, wind and solar energy generating systems. Therefore we can call electricity “the sustainable energy carrier”. So it is obvious electricity is increasingly used as the energy carrier for end

use applications.

To enable the large scale use of electricity from sustainable energy sources, a revolution will be needed. Up to now the generation of electricity follows the demand. In the future we will have the smart grid. The task of the smart grid is to enable the revolution where the demand of electricity will follow the generation. Besides a technical revolution this is also a social revolution since the active or passive participation of the customers is needed.

Jan Blom

Professor emeritus at Eindhoven University of Technology

The Netherlands: Important Global Role in the Transition

Smart Grids are instrumental in the transition to

a low carbon economy, facilitating demand side efficiency, increasing the share of renewables and distributed generation, and enabling electrification of transport. The Netherlands is perfectly positioned to play an important global role in

this transition because this country is home to high quality, density packed resilient electricity networks and is viewed as a testing ground for creating next generation energy infrastructures. The Dutch strong reputation in water works, gas technologies and grid technologies form the back-bone for the future electricity grid. Especially if this is properly combined with the broadband communication infrastructure and the extensive ICT-development capabilities present in this country.

High quality scientific R&D environments in combination with application driven test beds are used to analyse the impact of future demand and supply side alternatives. Not only resilience and security technologies are tested within realistic scenarios, but also peak shaving and load control. The Netherlands have created a highly deregulated market, and therefore are a breeding ground for new smart grids services and market concepts, leading to an extensive energy services based economy. For that reason, the yearly conference An Innovative Truth contributes to this country’s competitive advantage by bringing the right thought leaders from government, science and the industry. Bram Reinders

Manager Alliance Management at Alliander


studentenondernemers

prijs

Deadline inschrijving 1 juli 2013

www.studentenondernemersprijs.nl

WORD STUDENT ONDERNEMER 2013!Zet je bedrijf in de spotlights en schrijf je in.

• Hoofdprijs van €5.000,- • Mediacampagne Metro• Laat je ondernemersdroom uitkomen met hulp van de Nederlandse Staatsloterij• FMO Development Experience• Fiscaal advies van Pereira

Win!• Landelijke publiciteit• Eén op één feedback • Individuele presentatietraining • Film van je bedrijf

Voor alle finalisten!

StuOpStuOp

One of KIVI NIRIA‘s primary objectives is to promote the importance

of technology in our society. This ensures continuity in adequate

investment in education, research and innovation.

The KIVI NIRIA network offers you great opportunities to meet other

engineers and broaden your engineering knowledge and skills.

KIVI NIRIA organizes approximately 500 events annually.

These activities comprise all engineering disciplines and offer a way

to keep up to date on the latest technical developments.

Technology is everywhere and often surprisingly close by

Royal Institute of Engineers

KIVI NIRIA

ThE ENgINEERs

NETwoRK

www.kiviniria.nl

civil engineering

offshore engineering

marine engineering

studentenondernemers

prijs

Deadline inschrijving 1 juli 2013

www.studentenondernemersprijs.nl

WORD STUDENT ONDERNEMER 2013!Zet je bedrijf in de spotlights en schrijf je in.

• Hoofdprijs van €5.000,- • Mediacampagne Metro• Laat je ondernemersdroom uitkomen met hulp van de Nederlandse Staatsloterij• FMO Development Experience• Fiscaal advies van Pereira

Win!• Landelijke publiciteit• Eén op één feedback • Individuele presentatietraining • Film van je bedrijf

Voor alle finalisten!

StuOpStuOp

In the past decade developments in photovoltaics have taken off. From the way they capture sun light (wide angle or not), to the way they look (transparent or opaque) and the materials they are made of (organic or other), solar cells research is fascinating. More focus and investment in solar cells could speed up the transition to sustainability on a global scale. NRG Magazine wanted to know what experts today think about tomorrow’s solutions in the field of photovoltaics. The call for answers was picked up by prof.dr. Kees Hummelen from the University of Groningen.

Fiction:Solar energy does not advance fast enough to allow for it to lead the transition to sustainability.

In Fact: There have been many improvements in solar cells in the last 10-15 years: 3D solar cells that capture sun rays at a wider angle (www.solar3d.com), transparent solar panels that can charge your smartphone (www.extremetech.com, MIT transparent solar panels, February 25, 2013) and even solar cells made from biomaterials (dailyfusion.net, March 20, 2013). Research and development are still in process for many of these ideas, but the interest in photovoltaics has increased in the global scientific community, and advancements are being made.

Prof. Hummelen: “There are many possibilities to invent new things in the area of solar cells. In the last 10-15 years there has been an explosion of new ideas. I think the reason behind this is that many people from different disciplines have become interested in photovoltaics. Therefore, the area gets input and cross-fertilization from many other areas, from biology to theoretical physics. Solar cells have been improving in a beautiful way due to modern approaches (e.g., bio inspired solar cells). These different approaches can be added to each other to advance the field. I am very optimistic that the quality and the efficiency of commercial solar cells keep on improving the way they have been doing so far, and maybe even big steps are being made once in a while.”

NRG Facts or FictionSustainability powered by Solar Energy

Fiction:Gas is the main solution for the transition to sustainability.

In Fact: We should not focus entirely on gas in the transition. If the whole world shifted from coal and oil to gas, we would still have large amounts of CO2 emissions. A 2011 study by Tom Wigley, senior research associate at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in the United States, warns that, even though burning natural gas emits far less carbon dioxide than coal, a greater usage of natural gas would fail to decrease the impact of climate change in a significant way. One of the reasons stated in the article is the uncertainty over the amount of methane that leaks from natural gas operations, and methane is an especially powerful greenhouse gas (www2.ucar.edu, AtmosNews, September 08, 2011. BOULDER). Overall, the study indicates that a strategy relying on gas for the transition, might not be the way.

Prof. Hummelen: “In the transition to sustainability, solar energy fits very well and it should have a central position. In my opinion, it doesn’t make sense to first do a transition to something else and then a transition to solar.”


Fiction:The main problem with renewables is intermittency. It is extremely difficult to store electricity produced by solar and wind.

In Fact: In the United States, Ambri (www.ambri.com) is developing a liquid metal battery that can store energy on power grids. The battery’s molten electrodes are able to absorb large amounts of electricity in a short time. Developed at MIT, the battery makes managing energy produced with wind and solar easier and it has the potential of lowering electricity prices.

NRG Facts or Fiction

View of the expert Prof.dr. Kees Hummelen

NRG Facts or Fiction

In my view, sustainability is a general strategy that we should take in order to make a world that will be able to

keep us for a very long time. This strategy applies for energy, nature and many different aspects together and allows us to have a long-term optimal global situation.

Solar energy and the transition to sustainability | When we talk about sustainability, energy is one of the most important areas to focus on. Energy has a long history, but during the last few centuries everything has become more centralized; oil was discovered and then nuclear energy was discovered, so everything went to big central installations that make and produce energy. I think the way out of that is solar energy. In the long run, solar energy will be overwhelmingly important.

Research | Developing plastic solar cells is extremely interesting for a material scientist, because solar cells in general are very complicated devices, in which a lot happens. Hence it is a big challenge to make everything work in an optimal way.

The driving force to work on the development of plastic solar cells is the promise that they have the beautiful combination of being very affordable and very flexible, not only mechanically flexible, but also having flexibility of usage - they can be integrated with other structures whether passive or functional.

It is easy to imagine the wide range of applications this flexibility allows: putting plastic solar cells between the glass layers of double glass windows, making them part of textiles, like tents, or using them with all kinds of structures, such as building structures. Additionally, I am convinced that the chemistry and production of the materials and the devices can be green, and this is very important in the long term. Moreover, the process of production can be not only green, but also very sustainable, because we will not run out of materials from which we can make these devices. On the planet scale there is an infinite source of basic materials for making these solar cells.

At the FOM focus group (www.fom.nl) we are working on a new generation of materials that will improve the efficiency of plastic solar cells to the level of conventional solar cells.

Challenges | The biggest challenges in our research are mainly related to developing the new materials. Currently, we are developing a material that is organic, but that also has the good properties of materials like silicon and gallium arsenide. What we would like to have is what I sometimes call “molecular silicon”. This material would be very easy to process, so you could print solar cells as you print newspapers, for instance. What is also quite challenging is that we are working in a new field. But, we have a top team of researchers, and I am very optimistic we will have interesting results and we will help to improve the efficiency of solar cells in general.

In my view, five-ten years from now there will be an introduction and a growth of the market of organic solar cells. And that growth will keep on continuing for this century to a certain level.

Regarding large scale implementation of solar cells, what is happening with PV is very exciting. The PV market is so decentralized that people can just buy their own solar cells and put them on their roofs.

On the world scale, especially of course in areas with warm climate, like Africa, solar has a huge potential. In areas where there is not much water, it’s extremely interesting to make water plants driven by solar. This can be solar thermal and it can be solar electricity, these combinations can be used depending on the local situation. I also foresee a great future for solar in what we now call the third world or the countries that apparently will not have grids in the next century or so.

Prof.dr. J.C. (Kees) Hummelen is Scientific Director of the

Stratingh Institute for Chemistry. He is also Chairman

of the group Chemistry of (bio)Molecular Materials

and Devices and CSO (chief scientific officer) of Solenne

BV, Groningen. His expertise is in materials science,

multidisciplinary sciences, chemistry, organic, energy and

fuels. Prof. Hummelen is leading the FOM focus groups

for fundamental energy research ‘Next generation

organic photovoltaics’ based at the University of

Groningen.

Photo courtesy of the University of Groningen



Local Governments & Energy

“At the same time, the days of so-called ‘easy oil’ are over,” Dick Benschop continues. Yet

many of the world’s remaining oil and gas fields are in harder-to-reach places, such as under deep seas. And environmental and social conscience demands a responsible approach to recovering them. After all, the world needs to halve carbon dioxide emissions by 2050 to avoid the worst effects of climate change. Dick Benschop explains: “Over the next 40 years, the global energy system needs to undergo a change. It has to become broader, cleaner and more efficient, and it will take sustained investment and close collaboration between the private and public sectors to ensure a smooth transition. Effective responses demand advanced technology breakthroughs and game-changing innovations.”

Company of ‘firsts’ | This outlook underpins why the introduction of original thinking proves especially critical for this vital sector. “For Shell, bright ideas that spark groundbreaking solutions have defined us since the Murex, the world’s first seagoing tanker, brought the inaugural shipment of kerosene

through the Suez Canal in 1892,” Dick Benschop clarifies. Ever since, Shell remained a company of ‘firsts’ across the oil and gas spectrum – ‘firsts’ in seismic technology, deep-water production and intelligent energy fields, Gas-To-Liquids technology (GTL), Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG), performance fuels and many others. Dick Benschop continues: “Recently we launched the first fully LNG (liquefied natural gas) powered barge in Rotterdam, which we will use for transport of products on the Rhine. LNG will help shipping operators meet the pending tough emissions standards that are due to take effect starting with 2015 in Europe’s inland waterways, as well as in the Baltic and North Sea.” Shell’s record as a pioneer - for more than 100 years - continues to be recognized. The Boston Consulting Group recently ranked Shell as the only International Oil Company on their list of top 50 most innovative companies.

Accelerate new ideas | “To fuel a rapidly moving and often volatile world, we must innovate how we innovate,” Dick Benschop notes. “This is imperative to stay competitive and to be prepared for a future of transformation. Our investments

in technology and innovation alone - $1.3 billion over 2012 -, while crucial and substantial, will be better leveraged if we continuously accelerate the speed at which we identify and adopt new technologies that can make a difference,” he explains. To do this, thousands of Shell’s researchers, scientists and technologists work together with partners every day to discover and explore fresh ideas in energy, new approaches to deliver more and cleaner energy and to make the most out of existing resources and assets both in the upstream and downstream. Dick Benschop continues: “As no corporation can do all the thinking and deliver all of the innovation on its own, we are leveraging a full toolbox to co-create and accelerate all itineraries to innovation.” These itineraries range from utilizing incentive-based innovation (like X-Prize), to crowd sourcing, to direct support for novel ideas through our GameChanger programme, to collaboration and partnerships, reaching well beyond our industry’s boundaries – from global IT leaders to aerospace companies. Ultimately, it’s about seizing original thinking that can spark and deliver more cost-effective and quicker-to-market innovation.

Bright ideas are vital for the energy future

The global energy landscape will change dramatically over the coming decades and the world will require all the energy it can produce. By 2050, the world’s population will increase by another two billion towards nine billion consumers of energy. “Energy output will come from expanded and new alternative sources, although oil and gas will remain indispensable for the foreseeable future. In fact, it is projected that more than half of the global energy supply in 2050 will still comprise oil and gas, with the latter growing in importance,” states Dick Benschop, President-Director of Shell Netherlands.

Dick Benschop, President-Director of Shell Netherlands

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Open innovation | So-called “Open Innovation” concepts leverage the worldwide explosion in research and development. With open innovation, more essential partnerships are being arranged between or among international and

national oil and gas producers, service companies, companies in other business sectors (e.g., medical, aerospace, IT or defence), research institutions, universities, promising start-ups and technologists with fresh ideas.

Shell Technology Ventures is helping Shell and its partners with its broad innovation initiative. Originally launched in 1998, this corporate venturing team has invested and deployed new technologies across the energy sector. Its mission has been rejuvenated recently. Dick Benschop

clarifies: “We recently announced that we are ready to invest several hundred million dollars in emerging technology companies, with the aim to accelerate the deployment of innovations that add value to the company’s operations.

Our corporate venturing arm, Shell Technology Ventures, will make investments in a wide area from smarter exploration processes to enhanced extraction techniques over the next six to eight years. Because we believe Shell can be an ideal partner for energy innovations, we are concentrating more on such collaborations.”

Creative people | Added to our own innovation capacity, backed by our 45,000 technical and engineering staff, we believe

partnerships will help us develop and deploy new energy advances faster. Dick Benschop: “Of course, innovative thinking starts with our own employees. Human ingenuity and new technology hold the key to unlocking the energy consumers need to power their lives in the years ahead. We employ around 87,000 people in more than 70 countries and territories. Our people are central to the delivery of our strategy and we involve them in the planning and direction of their own work.” Shell creates a work environment that values differences. Dick Benschop clarifies: “A diverse workforce and an inclusive work environment are vital to our success and are aligned with our core values of honesty, integrity and respect for people. The varied skills and experience of people from different cultures, genders and ages benefits our business, helping us to better understand our customers across the world and to build stronger relationships at a local level. We think they will also help produce a world where energy is more accessible, economical and environmentally friendly, with safety at its core.”

In April 2013, Minister Melanie Schultz van Haegen of Infrastructure and the Environment officially launched the first fully LNG powered Rhine barge in Rotterdam. Photo: Ernst Bode


“Effective responses demand advanced technology breakthroughs and game-changing innovations.”


Back to the future Judith Merkies

Back to the future with Judith Merkies


withDid you ever wonder what defines a great career, what people we look up to have to say about global issues and which advice they can provide for young talents, just starting their career? Judith Merkies, Member of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, connects her law background, interest in creativity, support for culture and involvement in energy policy to provide us a well-rounded view on climate change challenges for global energy demand and the importance of local action in the pursuit of sustainability. Photo: Sierakowski Frederic

“My interests have always been creativity and serving society,” says Judith Merkies. Her view on the role of culture in the advancement of society and her wish to be involved in solving society’s problems have been her

career drivers. She started out by practicing law. In this position she was able to serve society to some extent, but she soon realized that as lawyer she was at the very end of the problem. This was when she decided to move up the chain, hence she became a consultant. A consultant is in the middle of the problem. As consultant, Ms Merkies was able to direct the way, but she was only advising and not driving the changes, thus she took another step and became manager.

Nevertheless, her interest in creativity, in employment law and intellectual property law guided her to the film sector. As Director of the Federation of Film Makers (Federatie Filmbelangen), Ms Merkies started out a new organization. “When you represent the interests of a group, you have to go to parliament,” she remarks. Therefore, Ms Merkies came into a position where she could explore the field of politics. She then moved to Brussels and started working in the MEDIA Programme of the European Commission. After that, she joined the European Parliament, because “decisions that shape our society start there,” as Ms Merkies notes. With this shift, her career path reached the beginning of the problem, where she can make a real change at the society level: “In parliament I put an emphasis on looking at innovation in a different way; innovation has the citizen at its centre.” According to Ms Merkies, we must not see innovation as a push from the science side alone, but we have to look at it also from the demand side (i.e., the citizens).

Furthermore, she remarks that one of the biggest challenges in her current position is mobilizing people to work together on rebooting the economy. “I think this is the most important issue in all the legislation and all the strategies that we make,” Ms Merkies says. She continues by explaining that the economy needs to be rebooted in an innovative and sustainable way, so that it does not only serve us now, but that is serves the generations to come as well.

At present, Ms Merkies is involved in energy, innovation and industrial policy. She came into contact with the field of energy in her current position. Ms Merkies observes: “The more you know about the economy and industrial policy, the more you see that everything starts with the demand for energy. Energy makes and breaks economies.” Moreover, she identifies that increased energy demand and using the wrong power generation sources are causing climate change and related difficulties. She stresses that we should live in such a way that we can maintain a good standard of living for everybody on the planet. “We have to do this in such a fashion that every new generation can maintain the same standard of living as the one before it,” she continues. Ms Merkies is an active member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, which recently adopted a non-binding resolution on renewable energy (March 19, 2013). The resolution emphasized the need for a more integrated system at EU level for promoting renewables.

In Ms Merkies’ view, renewables are extremely important inww tackling climate change challenges and future energy demand. “We know that if we use renewables, we are going to reduce CO2 emissions and avoid further negative effects of climate change,” pinpoints Ms Merkies. She adds that by going to renewables we will have fewer issues with coal mining and decreased greenhouse gas emissions from maritime transport using diesel. She also remarks that, if we want to move away from coal, gas is a very good way to do that: “Gas is obviously less polluting and it can complement renewable energy.” Regarding the scale of producing renewable energy, Ms Merkies notes: “With renewables we tend to say that we have to do everything large, but that is not the case. Local action matters, citizens putting solar panels on their roofs matter.”

In line with her support for small scale renewable energy generation, Ms Merkies is attending the Climate Alliance 2013 Annual Conference: “Together in Transition – Empowering Sustainability”. The alliance is focusing on climate change policies and action at the local level, stimulating municipalities across Europe to implement energy savings and efficiency projects. “My hope is that the Climate Alliance Annual Conference will determine more municipalities across Europe to act,” says Ms Merkies.

[Bio]

Judith Merkies’ successful career has had a multidisciplinary drive. Ms Merkies (1966) is currently Member of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament. During her impressive career she went from practicing law (1993-1997), which she studied at the University of Amsterdam, to being a consultant (1998-2000), then to representing the interests of Dutch film and television professionals and being Director of the Federation of Film Makers (Federatie Filmbelangen) (2000-2004), to making energy policy. With every step in her career, Ms Merkies managed to have a larger contribution to society.

[Tip for Talent]

To young people starting their career in the field of energy or in politics Judith Merkies says: “Always think that you can make a very important contribution. Why would someone else have a more important contribution than you? If you have a vision that you want to share, be persistent, find others in politics or in other influential fields and just go for it.”


Back to the future with Judith Merkies

“The more you know about the economy and industrial policy, the more you see that everything starts with the demand for energy. Energy makes and breaks economies.”

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By 2030, 6 out of every 10 people will live in a city. Cities all over the world struggle to keep their cities liveable and sustainable. They have to be smart. In line with this, the European Initiative on Smart Cities emphasizes the need for lower greenhouse gas emissions and for spreading best practices of sustainable energy concepts at local level, across Europe. What better way to exchange best practices than an event dedicated to Smart Cities? On the 29th and 30th of May 2013, over 350 representatives of energy companies and technology suppliers from cities around the world, including 15 EU municipalities, come together in Amsterdam RAI to share knowledge concerning the development of Smart Cities. The event is at its third edition and announces its best programme to date. The programme includes 50 national and international keynote speakers discussing from smart grids and sustainable buildings, to big data, lighting, e-mobility and e-health. Attendees will also participate in co-creation sessions, unique excursions to Smart Projects around Amsterdam, round table sessions and a canal cruise. The official host of this event is Amsterdam Smart City. This is a sneak preview of some of the keynote speakers at Smart City Event 2013.

Get smarter in planningBoyd Cohen, Climate strategist, author, researcher

and chairman of the Smart City Event

There are impressive examples from around the globe of efforts made by cities to become smarter and more sustainable. What I am most interested in is seeing cities get smarter about their planning process. My experience is that

cities are too focused on executing independent projects without having

a clear idea on where they are going or a way to measure their progress.

Mobility | I am particularly fond of projects that improve mobility in a city. There are plenty of high-tech solutions which are helping to make mobility smarter including implementation of electric vehicle (EV) solutions, Singapore’s use of the Electronic Road Pricing (ERP), London’s Oyster Card for transit payment and the sensors in Santander (Spain) to monitor traffic and warn residents of traffic jams.

Depending on which forecasts you look at, the global market is predicted to reach 20 billion US dollars annually just for smart city technology and trillions on infrastructure. Cities must look to collaborate with the private sector, and not just because the economics warrant it. I believe one of the most important tools to use is “procurement for innovation”. For example, if a city would like to increase EV penetration, rather than use an EV budget to procure a specific amount, the city can instead initiate a procurement process to source innovation which has the best potential for accelerating EV use.

Looking towards 2023 | The term smart cities may actually not last, it may shift to urban innovation or future cities. But the concept is going to be even more important in 2023. The ongoing migration to urban areas will put increased pressure on cities to innovate in order to become more efficient with natural resources, while becoming more attractive. One of the fascinating trends will be the evolution of brand new cities, which are being built from the ground up with smart cities in mind.

The city of the future has to be smart

The change has to be positive

Huib Morelisse, CEO NUON, part of Vattenfall

Nederland

In 2030, 75% of the worldwide energy demand will come from cities. Next to European legislation, cities are developing their own climate and energy

goals. As an energy partner of millions of households and

companies, Vattenfall has the responsibility to support cities in their

transition. The most important challenge is to change behaviour. How to make people and companies use less energy? The answer is actually very simple: the change has to be positive. It has to be easy, fun, sustainable and, if possible, cheaper.

Dialog | The energy solutions of the future are based on smart cooperation. Cities should invest in the dialog with private partners. Most of the solutions already exist. Together they have to create products which can also exist in the long term, without government support. Recently cities are becoming aware of the possibilities of district heating and cooling. For example, the project Houthaven, the first climate neutral neighbourhood of Amsterdam, will be connected to the sustainable heating and cooling system from Westpoort Warmte, a joint-venture between Nuon Warmte and the city of Amsterdam. The heat will come from the Amsterdam waste incineration plant. The cold will come from the nearby IJ River. A less known possibility is that we can collect the cold water from deep lakes and rivers and use it during the summer to cool houses and companies, replacing air conditioning systems. This project will enable an 80% reduction in CO2 emissions.

Looking towards 2023 | The project “One tonne life” in Hässelby near Stockholm is a good example for the future. There, we helped a family to reduce their CO2 emissions from seven to one ton a person a year. The family lived six months in a climate-friendly home. Vatenfall provided the smart technology. The solar panels on the roof produced so much electricity that they were able to give the surplus back to the national grid.


Smart City Event 2013

Contagious enthusiasmBen Scholten, Deputy Mayor of Almere

As Smart Society we want our citizens and the private sector to benefit from the advantages that new technologies offer, to create a better future, to make the life in Almere easier, cheaper and more fun. To make sure these

are not just some IT projects, we established Almere Smart Society

and Almere Data Capital. They were initiated by our Economic Development

Board. The board makes sure that partners find each other at the beginning of a project. A big challenge is finding new business models, and this joint quest inspires the private sector as well.

Luckily IBM, Cisco, Philips, energy network company Alliander and software pioneer Living PlanetIT joined Almere as founding partners of the Almere Smart Society. At the moment, local entrepreneurs, students and educational institutions are also getting involved. They all believe in innovation, and the enthusiasm is contagious. Together we are escaping from the traditional roles of client and contractor, common in a public-private partnership.

Apps | It would be great if there were an app which helps to temporarily utilize unused ground or buildings. An app which helps customers to find the best deals in town and which makes shopping a more fun experience would also be very welcome. I am sure all our innovative entrepreneurs and students in Almere can come up with many more ideas.

Looking towards 2023 | Successful smart cities know how to engage people and businesses in innovation. These cities are not afraid of innovation and believe in the power of the society. They trust in the power of people to get the best from new applications and technology. Smart cities share knowledge. They are aware that in the end is not the technology that matters, but the people who are using this technology in their professional and personal life.

People are waking upJoost Brinkman, Manager Accenture Consultancy

2009 was the beginning of the smart city hype. At that time it was all very driven by technology, but that changed. Technology is not the driving motor anymore. It has become more about cooperation between citizens, local governments and the private sector on how to make the city more sustainable. A combination of bottom-up and top-down as in Amsterdam.

Aware | The main challenge is to get to the right parties to cooperate. That is the bottleneck for a lot of cities. The private sector should be more active and be much more aware of the opportunities. But it’s not easy to convince them. The business sector is used to be in control. These kinds of projects need cooperation, patience and perseverance. Cities have to persuade the private partners that these projects can be profitable, using serious market research, facts and figures. They have to facilitate this progress. But people are waking up. The private sector (e.g., energy companies, big banks) are starting to realize that it’s smart to invest in sustainable projects.

It is important that people in their own communities also start to talk about it. Electric cars and solar panels have to become a topic at birthday parties. Because that works. When a sport club explains to their members why they are taking energy savings measures and involve them, the effect is much bigger than when the local government “orders” citizens to do something.

Looking towards 2023 | I am fascinated by energy solutions and mobility; solutions for inner city distribution, which help to get big trucks out of the city centre, and car sharing with electric cars. This will be much more widespread in the future. People will only use a car when it is really necessary.





Learn about:

l European policy and funding opportunities

l Successfully implemented business models

l Challenges for public and private partnerships

l Innovative solutions to increase citizen participation

The experiences of other Smart cities: Amsterdam, Ghent, Barcelona,

Dublin, Manchester, Nantes, Copenhagen, and Birmingham

Last year

more than

350 participants

Official host:

Your Chairman:Boyd CohenAuthor of the book Climate Capitalism (2011) and publisher of the Smart City international list

Carolien Gehrels

Councillor, Amsterdam

Norela Constantinescu

European Commission

Bart Somers

Mayor, Mechelen

Huib Morelisse

CEO, NUON/Vattenfall

Peter Molengraaf

CEO, Liander

Hannu Penttilä

Mayor, Helsinki

Paul Bevan

Secretary General, Eurocities

In cooperation with:

HET BEGINT BIJ GLASVEZEL

67458 a4 adv.indd 1 6-3-2013 14:23:35

Not afraid to take risksCarolien Gehrels, Vice Mayor of Amsterdam

Amsterdam has the perfect scale to test new urban solutions and, more important, we are really doing it. Take for example our smart street lights, which turn on when someone passes, and our glass fibre

network, which gives fast internet access to our citizens. As a city we

have a rich history of finding solutions, a history of at least 400 years. Amsterdam

started as a swamp. By building the rings of canals around the medieval centre we turned the problem of water into an advantage. The canals reduced the risk of flooding, and they became the means of urban transport. So finding solutions is in our genes. We are not afraid to take risks and we have results. We are at the forefront of the electric car adaption, our Waste and Energy Company (Afval Energie Bedrijf), with an electrical efficiency of 30%, is the best in the world.

The City of Amsterdam has to be the place where people like to work and to live. Our new initiative to establish a new applied technology institute fits perfectly in this view. We are now inviting institutions, companies and other partners to participate in our design contest for this new institute. They can send their proposals until the beginning of June. An innovative knowledge centre suits a smart city. Other cities like New York and Barcelona are having similar initiatives.

It is very important to work together with private partners, and by giving them the right examples, you can attract them. For instance Tesla Motors, manufacturer of electric vehicles from the US, is establishing its headquarters in Amsterdam. Companies like Tesla Motors see the opportunities that Amsterdam has to offer.

Looking towards 2023 | I believe that in the future, smart cities will be connected to each other. An example in this direction is Amsterdam exchanging ideas with Barcelona and Boston, in order to help one another to make life in the cities of the future as pleasant as possible.

What: Smart City Event 2013Including: 50 national and international keynote speakers Co-creation sessions Round table sessions 3 Unique excursions to Smart Projects Canal cruiseWhen: 29th and 30th of May 2013Where: Amsterdam RAI, NetherlandsPrice: 399 euro for 1 day, 599 euro for the 2 daysMore information at: www.smartcityevent.com

All photos are courtesy of Smart City Event 2013

The “smart citizen” is our starting point

Karl-Filip Coenegrachts, Head of the Department

of Strategy, Coordination and International

Relations, Ghent

The Smart city development in Ghent is built on participation, which has a long tradition, starting in the 1980s’, and co-

creation, which meant that, in different fields, the local government

does not work as director, but as an equal partner to achieve results. The

“smart citizen” is our starting point. These are people who, because of these new opportunities, are able to contribute to the development of their own living environment and who also get more chances to promote their own ideas on a bigger scale. Our smart city development is more focussed on the approach and less on actual products. We believe that a bottom-up approach offers more guarantees for flexible, sustainable and future-proof solutions than a central, ICT-driven one.

Ghent Living Lab | We started some different initiatives to guide our smart city, such as Ghent Living Lab, a cooperation between higher education institutions, the university, companies, creative industry and citizens, who use the public space in Ghent as a Living Lab. The partners enrich each other’s ideas and projects. Citizens are involved from the start. Another initiative is Open Data. Co-creation asks for transparency and data. Through different initiatives, urban data has been released for external usage, so that companies and students can work on solutions themselves. We “celebrate” this every year with the AppsForGhent event.

It is paramount that that all initiatives are embedded in the strategic long-term goals. The City of Ghent uses a unique system for its long-term planning, Ghent 2030, in which all projects are being framed in the planning. This makes ownership, responsibilities and financial matters immediately clear.

Looking towards 2023 | It will be fascinating to follow how the own specific characters of each city will be reflected in the smart city development. I hope Ghent will be a good reference.

Learn about:

l European policy and funding opportunities

l Successfully implemented business models

l Challenges for public and private partnerships

l Innovative solutions to increase citizen participation

The experiences of other Smart cities: Amsterdam, Ghent, Barcelona,

Dublin, Manchester, Nantes, Copenhagen, and Birmingham

Last year

more than

350 participants

Official host:

Your Chairman:Boyd CohenAuthor of the book Climate Capitalism (2011) and publisher of the Smart City international list

Carolien Gehrels

Councillor, Amsterdam

Norela Constantinescu

European Commission

Bart Somers

Mayor, Mechelen

Huib Morelisse

CEO, NUON/Vattenfall

Peter Molengraaf

CEO, Liander

Hannu Penttilä

Mayor, Helsinki

Paul Bevan

Secretary General, Eurocities

In cooperation with:

HET BEGINT BIJ GLASVEZEL

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Zaanstad for instance is implementing a threefold campaign: reducing energy consumption, increasing the local production of sustainable energy and increasing innovation.

Wageningen approached climate neutrality ambitions by formulating quantitative goals: • 50% savings on gas and electricity consumption compared to 2008 levels • producing the remaining 50% of the gas and electricity demand in a sustainable manner, supplemented with the purchase of green electricity and green gas• 60% reduction of CO2 emissions produced by transport fuels, by 2030

In fact, the municipality of Wageningen actively involved 300 individuals in the creation of its climate policies back in 2011. By using social media (LinkedIn), the municipality website, various meetings, as well as placing articles in the local media and suggestion boxes at busy locations, Wageningen gathered 250 good ideas for improving its climate roadmap. Additionally, a large number of research institutes and businesses also wrote letters of intent. The city is bustling with climate activities - a great first step towards achieving the goal of being climate neutral in 2030.

There are also many similarities with respect to how municipalities work on achieving their climate policy ambitions. Various municipalities, like Wageningen, have already created an energy roadmap. Moreover, it has become clear that municipalities can only achieve these ambitions by cooperating with local businesses and residents.

From Analysis to Action | Effectively involving businesses and residents in climate plans is the key to success. Rommelse Communicatieadvies can deliver this key. It all starts with the creation of a “climate analysis”. Where can appealing initiatives be found? Where are the enthusiastic ambassadors? Who is able to inspire others? Which (financial) possibilities are there available to facilitate initiatives for businesses and residents? To what extent are municipality employees able to fulfil the position of project initiator? Which individuals within the municipal organization structure should be involved? Which (social) media can be used most effectively? Answers to these questions provide the basis for an effective communication action plan, which enables well thought out and strategic cooperation between businesses and residents. At the moment, this cooperation consists of unrelated activities. Ambitious climate

change goals require real partnerships between governments and (private) parties. This is a large task for both administrators and officials, but it suits the modern methods of municipalities in 2013. Nowadays, municipalities are facilitating proceses more than directing them.

Climate related problems are urgent. Cooperation between businesses and residents is essential. The collaboration with an experienced communication consultancy is a must!

Rommelse Communicatieadvies Supports Climate Policy

Rommelse Communicatieadvies (RCA) is specialized

in communication for and about sustainability. The

RCA consultants combine their knowledge about

sustainability related topics and their connection

to networks dedicated to energy, mobility,

environment or area development with their

communication expertise. Their services range from

strategy and advice, to training and implementing

diverse communication activities. RCA has

supported various municipalities in realizing their

climate neutrality ambitions. For more information

please visit: www.rommelse.nl



Alphons Rommelse, Senior Communication Advisor

at Rommelse Communicatieadvies

Ambitions for reaching climate neutrality remain important to municipalities, despite budget cuts. There are notable differences in the way municipalities intend to achieve these

ambitions. One of these differences is related to the time span set for achieving climate goals, which varies from 2020 (Zaanstad) and 2030 (Wageningen), to 2040 (The Hague) and 2050 (Zeist). Other dissimilarities may include the type of goals or the parties involved.

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Approximately 50% of the total CO2 reduction and energy savings potential in the Municipality of

Hardenberg lies in existing housing, 85% of which is privately owned (14,000 homes). Consequentially, the municipality’s sustainability programme focuses on stimulating homeowners to make building improvements by connecting them to businesses in the region - Hardenberg is creating its own sustainability marketplace.

Steps towards Sustainability | In order to make the transition process a reality, the Municipality of Hardenberg has gathered its sustainability ambitious in a five year programme (2010 – 2014). The programme revolves around five areas (i.e., own organization, built environment, companies, mobility and sustainable energy) and has three basic steps: setting a good example, taking responsibility and facilitating the civil playing field.

The municipality has already succeeded in making the first step with the new Hardenberg City Hall (image above), which has a geothermal ground deposit and PV cells on the roof. The city hall has triple glazing, cooling ceiling and adaptive lighting making the building an energy efficiency symbol. Additionally, it is made of recyclable and renewable materials. This first step also includes the municipality yard.

The programme continues with the “Bewust Duurzaam Thuis” (“Conscious Sustainable Home”) project, created

in order to take the responsibility of energy savings potential and building improvement possibilities to the homeowners. For this, two large energy markets are organized each year in partnership with businesses. The project is aimed at providing basic communication about the Conscious Sustainable Home constantly, with periodic intensification (e.g., heating season, community development). One of the unique points of this project is that it engages and communicates with local football clubs, church communities and other groups, in order to addresses the psychological and social aspects of retrofitting buildings. Thus far, the project has succeeded in making 740 homeowners to take energy savings measures.

“In the third step we take the total social playing field to act with us,” says Peter Hermans. The Pak Aan! project comes into play in the third step. Pak Aan! is a pilot in which 2,000 private homeowners in Dedemsvaart and Balkbrug are stimulated to take energy savings measures through more intense tactics. Some of them have expressed interest in collectively purchasing a range of measures. Hence, businesses are asked to provide an offer and Pak Aan! conveys the offer to the homeowners.

The Projects | Both Conscious Sustainable Home and Pak Aan! aim to create a market for products and services that help to make the built environment sustainable. In this market people, communities and companies come together and work on

sustainable home improvements, and the Municipality of Hardenberg is facilitating this type of cooperation. “We are trying to reach a normal market for supply and demand,” explains Gertjan Brand.

Some of the challenges of these projects include: developing an approach applicable for distinct target groups; creating customized, suitable offers together with businesses and activating 2,000 homeowners to implement energy savings measures (i.e., the target being to achieve two label steps or label B). The two projects are supported by Syntens, Innovation Network for Entrepreneurs, Enexis Infra Products B.V., Foundation More with Less, 5plus1 Marketing & Communication, the Province of Overijssel, the Nature and Activity Centre “De Koppel” and local and regional businesses.

Conscious Sustainable Home is financed by the Municipality of Hardenberg, while Pak Aan! has been made possible with a 0.5 million euro subsidy from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Kingdom Relations. Completion of both projects is expected for 2014. As future plans are concerned, the aim is to enlarge these projects beyond the local scale, to more homeowners in the Netherlands.

Fore more information please visit:

www.hardenberg.nl

Creating a Sustainability Marketplace



Energy savings and efficiency are driving energy policies around the world. Nevertheless, a global integrated set of plans to speed up reaching sustainability is not easy to create or implement. This is where local action comes into play. Local governments and municipalities have a vital role in the sustainability pursuit. The Municipality of Hardenberg is engaged in the implementation of a major sustainability focused programme in the region. Peter Hermans (Environment and Sustainability Policy Officer for the Ommen-Hardenberg Administration Service) and Gertjan Brand (Project Leader “Pak Aan!”) are working for the municipality in order to motivate and stimulate the transition to a more sustainable lifestyle through policies and integrated projects.

Expert Section with IBM

NRG Magazine celebrates experts. In this edition Andy Bochman, Energy Security Lead IBM Security Systems, and Coen Egberink, Market Leader Public Safety IBM Nederland, share their views on energy security: role of cyber security, challenges and solutions.

When we think about technology and innovation, IBM is top of mind. The global company recognizes the pressing need for sustainability and acknowledges that energy supply should be affordable and have a reliable delivery. The challenges that come with climate change do not make ensuring energy security easy, but IBM is prepared with strategies, solutions, advice and a healthy view on what needs to be done.


Expert Section

Andy Bochman, Energy Security Lead IBM Security Systems

Coen Egberink, Market Leader Public Safety IBM Nederland

Photos courtesy of IBM

Expert Section with IBM


“The energy environment is a critical infrastructure for all of us. This is why there is a

very important relation between energy security and reaching sustainability. Consequentially, the way the energy environment must be secured is one of the main drivers for what we do,” says Coen Egberink. IBM takes on energy security in different ways. “Utilities around the world are facing the aging infrastructure problem causing, for example, electricity supply issues. In this sense, IBM is helping energy security by being involved in infrastructure modernization efforts around the world,” says Andy Bochman. Nevertheless, while modernization is necessary, it also implies adding many of new advanced communication technologies, new networking technologies and more interconnectivity in the grid, thus exposing the grid to a greater amount of security risks. Mr Bochman and Mr Egberink are working to make sure that building the new grid is done in a secure way and that appropriate security control is added, whether related to smart meters or distribution automation or the activity of control centres.

There are sound reasons behind the increasing interest in smart grids implementation. The grid is being modernized in order to support a much higher percentage of renewables in the portfolio of utilities. “The more utilities can generate their own energy by using clean technologies, the less dependent they are on acquiring fossil fuels from other countries. The US for instance wants to depend less and less on oil from troubled places in the world. Also in Europe there are certain countries dependent on external fuel supply. When countries generate their own electricity on a modernized grid to support renewable energy, they achieve national energy security and are closer to sustainability,” remarks Mr Bochman.

“As the grid gets modernized, the world is going more on the internet. This means that the role of cyber security in energy is increasingly bigger,” continues Mr Egberink.

Nevertheless, cyber security is not related only to security of electric energy. “Also in the oil and gas market cyber security risk is becoming a bigger issue,” explains Mr Bochman. The entire energy sector is trying to prepare itself to be better protected from cyber security threats. “The awareness is growing in this area,” adds Mr Egberink.

With over 100,000 employees worldwide and an impressively large range of products and services, IBM also has numerous experts in different areas. Hence, the company can look at different pieces of the solution for energy security. “The first part usually begins with conversation and strategy, working with the utility to understand what its current challenges are and what are the objectives of its modernisation effort. This is where the experience of the consultant comes in,” says Mr Bochman.

IBM is already very familiar with the industry. Its consultants work together with utility companies on creating road maps, then picking the right technologies and then on implementation and deployment. “Part of what is deployed is not just related to grid functionality, it is also related to security functionality or security characteristics,” clarifies Mr Bochman. For example, when a large number of smart meters is deployed in an AMI network, security threats can come from outside the utility (e.g., an attacker using the smart meter network to reach in and steal data) or they can come from inside the utility (e.g., someone reaching out across the network and using something disruptive to the meters). IBM has a product called “DataPower” that can

handle both types of threats. DataPower is placed on both sides of the utility system (“The Head End”). This solution protects the utility, the meter network and the customers and has been already deployed to dozens of utilities. Mr Bochman: “The idea of security technology is monitoring the traffic from both directions to make sure nothing accidently or intentionally goes bad on either side.”

IBM is currently involved in over 150 smart grids projects around the world; these are either completed or ongoing. Within IBM, all cyber security issues and solutions are combined in the security framework, which handles the entire silo with people, processes, data, infrastructure and environment monitoring. “Our cyber security approach starts with monitoring over the silo and getting information and intelligence out of it. So IBM has a very broad and detailed way of handling security, with a combination of services, products and intelligence from those products,” says Mr Egberink.

According to the IBM experts, the future of energy security starts now. The company has a team of security researchers and analysts called the “X-Force”. These experts are stationed around the world, in different security and network operations centres, and are monitoring the traffic for new types of attacks and looking for new types of vulnerabilities that attackers could take advantage of. “If they see a new attack signature they can relate that signature to customers who can immediately have their security control updated. Attacks are growing in number and are getting more powerful,” remarks Mr Bochman. IBM is also concerned with making information about security public, thus raising awareness about cyber threats and immediate action. “This shows the completeness of our security framework,” concludes Mr Egberink.

Economies need an uninterrupted flow of energy sources at an affordable price. This means that economies need energy security. In 1974, the International Energy Agency was created in order to tackle the pressing security of oil supply. From then on governments and companies became aware of the need to have effective policies and tools to ensure energy security. The world of energy is changing and so are the challenges of energy security. On the one side, as things get “smarter” in energy, more data goes online, hence more data is vulnerable to cyber threats. One the other hand, our planet has aging infrastructures with issues of their own. Overall, insuring energy security has never had more or better experts to handle it as now.

The how-tos of Energy Security

In the Province of Drenthe, Deputy Henk van de Boer views the deal as a business arrangement, in which a

company or organization specifies the type of investment or effort it would like to make for meeting these energy objectives. “If certain conditions are met, then the province will support the plans administratively, financially or with personnel. The main principal behind the province’s Energy Programme is that the market has to make the first move, but we are happy to give a helping hand when needed and wanted,” remarks the Energy Deputy. The list of closed Green Deals for Drenthe includes the Green Planet gas station, Dutch Recycling Solutions, DSM and AVEBE, which are detailed further on.

Green Planet Gas Station | The Province of Drenthe and the sustainable Green Planet gas station in Pesse have closed a Green Deal for the construction of a filling station for green gas. The province will make available part of the necessary budget for the construction. What is unique about the filling station in Pesse is that it gives the possibility for cars, as well as for trucks and buses to be fuelled with green gas. Moreover, the Green Planet gas station is the first in the Netherlands that sells green gas that is 100% pure and locally produced. At the moment, the construction of this sustainable gas station is in full swing. Its completion is expected for the autumn of 2013.

Dutch Recycling Solutions | Dutch Recycling Solutions (DRS) would like to build a fibreboard factory in

Wijster, in the Energy Transition Park (Energietransitiepark). With the closing of a Green Deal, the Province of Drenthe provided a bridge loan for the project. This loan ensures optimal integration of the fibreboard factory in the Energy Transition Park. The factory will be called ABC-Board and will produce high quality fibreboard from organic waste, especially tomato foliage.

The Energy Transition Park offers DRS the opportunity to utilise residual heat from the Attero waste management plant. Additionally, there is a possible arrangement involving renewable energy / gas from the fermentation process of the biogas production in the Attero digestion plant, in Wijster. Consequentially, the high quality fibreboard, as well as its production process will be sustainable. DRS expects to start production in mid-May 2014.

AVEBE | The Green Deal with AVEBE is part of the larger sustainability related

cooperation between the Province of Drenthe and AVEBE - the potato starch company. The Green Deal will help to scale up the fermentation process for the production of biogas in Gasselternijveen.

AVEBE produces starch and high quality proteins from potatoes. The fermentation of the fluid that results from this process produces biogas and a mineral-rich substance that can very well serve as fertilizer. The Province of Drenthe supports AVEBE’s ambitions through administrative assistance, permits and by helping AVEBE connect to other projects and funds. The partnership is expected to last for approximately four years (February 2012 - December 2015).

The Biogas Plant of the Future | The coalition formed among NVP, DSM and Energy Valley aims to build the Biogas Plant of the Future in the Energy Transition Park. As a result of closing a Green Deal with the coalition, the Province of Drenthe supports the initial research process leading to the construction and realization of an innovative digestion plant. The coalition wants to reach a production capacity of circa 150 kilotons of biogas that is primarily extracted from chicken manure and sewage sludge, which are preferably locally available. The partnership is scheduled to last two years (September 2012 – December 2014).

More information about the Green Deals in the Province

of Drenthe can be found on: www.provincie.drenthe.nl

Close a Green Deal with the Province of Drenthe

The Province of Drenthe aims to attract 300 million euros worth of investments for sustainable energy and for producing 60 million cubic metres of green gas, by 2015. Companies and institutions from the region, that would like to contribute to reaching Drenthe’s energy objectives, are invited to close a “green deal” with the province. Green Deals were created by the government to encourage the transition to a sustainable economy.



Henk van de Boer, Deputy of the Province of Drenthe.

Energy focus areas for the Province of Drenthe

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Climate policy in Oss, going further together in a sustainable way | Even after our climate programmes

are implemented, we continue with our work, but we also try to actively involve businesses, housing associations and citizens. The business sector is the largest energy user in our municipality. This sector is a source of innovation and plays a vital role in making Oss sustainable. We put emphasis on strengthening our economy and we work together on renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable mobility and accessibility. As a follow-up to our climate plans we have laid down our climate objectives in a “Routekaart duurzaam Oss 2013-2025” (“Roadmap for Sustainable Oss 2013-2025”).

Together with the Business Sector | In order to achieve a sustainable business climate we support the business sector in the inevitable transition from a fossil fuel economy to a low-carbon or even carbon-free economy. For this purpose, a “sustainability file” was created within the partnership “De Kracht van Oss” (“The Power of Oss”). This was launched during the sustainability conference on March 19th 2013.

Together with Housing Associations | The Municipality of Oss collaborates with housing corporations in making the existing housing stock more sustainable. We have analysed the housing stock in Oss in order to see which energy savings measures give the best results.

We have agreed with the housing associations that in case of renovation also nearby private home owners get the opportunity to participate in the energy savings actions. Furthermore, the Municipality of Oss and our regional municipalities are carrying out various projects that focus on making homes energy efficient.

For more information please visit:

www.oss.nl/duurzaamheid

www.dekrachtvanoss.nl/duurzaam

www.wegvandetoekomst.nl

Working Together towards a Sustainable Future

Drs. ing. Dirk-Wim in ‘t Hof, Sustainability Policy

Officer, Municipality of Oss

“Especially in times of spending cuts and economic recession, sustainability provides opportunities for energy savings and innovation. This is why we carry on with our sustainability policy and strive to maintain the balance in the relationship between citizens and the economy and environment. We share this responsibility with our partners and residents. In 2025, our own buildings will be energy neutral, and at least 25% of the regional energy requirements of the northeast region of Brabant will be generated from renewable sources,” says Dirk-Wim in ‘t Hof, Sustainability Policy Officer at the Municipality of Oss.

Working together on innovative sustainable concepts:

• We involve nearby home owners in renovation

activities carried out by housing associations.

• We purchase solar panels together with

neighbouring municipalities.

• The city hall in Oss is the most sustainably

renovated city hall in the Netherlands.

• We offered 6000 homeowners a free customized

advice and energy label.

• Together with the business sector, we carried

out energy scans on industrial sites and outlined

business cases for the exchange of renewable

heat output and electricity.

• A sustainability file was initiated where

sustainable businesses share knowledge

(www.dekrachtvanoss/duurzaam).

• We are realizing the road to the future together

with the province and local businesses

(www.wegvandetoekomst.nl).

• The concept of a sustainable energy cooperative

is being researched with residents and businesses.

• In cooperation with businesses we have built

filling stations for natural gas, LNG and electricity.

• With local banks and businesses we are creating

smart financing options for sustainable

(re-)building loans, grants and “ESCOs”.



Oss invests in sustainable mobility

Photos courtesy of Municipality of Oss

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In 2009, the municipality of Duiven and the companies in the InnoFase business park identified several major

opportunities for developing a profitable sustainable concept, with cascading and generating sustainable energy as key objectives. The municipality collaborated with the province of Gelderland for making available the necessary resources (i.e., 300,000 euro for research and initiating projects and one FTE for programme and project management). The Sustainable InnoFase programme started in July 2011. In the meantime, the province of Gelderland marked InnoFase as one of the four pilots in its “Business Park of the Future” campaign. The InnoFase business park (148 acres in total) contains mainly waste processing industry. At present, there are still 35 acres of undeveloped plots for sale.

Goals | Through Sustainable InnoFase the Municipality of Duiven wants to stimulate the regional bio-based economy and the regional energy and environmental technology. Moreover, the programme is designed to help companies anticipate changes in the energy and raw material market, thus getting ahead of competition and staying ahead. “With this programme we try to secure the current employment and create new lasting employment.

We are building a favourable business climate and creating a unique selling point,” says Jeroen Smits, Programme Manager for Sustainable InnoFase. The unique combination of companies that are already established in the business park (e.g., Bruins & Kwast - biomass management, Topell Energy – torrefaction plant, Waterschap Rijn en Ijssel – waste water management plant) make the potential synergy benefits very large. Additionally, the programme is positively contributing to the energy transition and the climate goals of the region.

Themes | Sustainable InnoFase is structured in six major themes. All the themes have a research based approach. Business cases are created beforehand in order to assess the feasibility of the projects in each theme. When a project does not have a good business case, it is cancelled from the programme. The first theme is dedicated to spatial quality (initiation phase) and involves integrating InnoFase in its surroundings in a manner that is complementary to the business processes in the area. “For instance using wetlands as the last stage of waste water management,” pinpoints Mr Smits.

The second is focused on the cascading concept / Integrated Chain Management

and implies that the output from one company (energetic or physical) forms the input for another company. “By doing this you maximise the synergy possibilities and each step you go lower into the production chain, there is less energy wasted or material wasted. It is like a closed loop system. In addition, we are also looking into possibilities for creating a biorefinary,” emphasizes Mr Smits. This theme is in the definition phase.

Sustainable transportation is tackled in the third theme. This entails stimulating alternative fuel usage (initiated) – already four regional transport companies have purchased a number of trucks that run on liquefied natural gas (LNG). The theme also involves stimulating long vehicles and multi modalities, but this part has not been initiated yet.

The fourth theme is all about the energy challenge and encompasses effective and efficient use of heat and electricity. This theme is in line with the International Energy Agency advice for global focus on energy efficiency in order to tackle climate change and energy demand challenges (World Energy Outlook 2012). For this theme, the Sustainable InnoFase programme is focusing on two parts: private network and cool energy.

Sustainable InnoFase: The Road to a Sustainable Economy

The municipality of Duiven has a proactive attitude towards sustainability. For Duiven sustainability is the transition to a new and circular economy, in which fossil fuels are no longer used. The municipality has been implementing a large programme to meet its sustainability goals called Sustainable InnoFase. At the InnoFase business park, the municipality of Duiven and its partners are working hard on a unique sustainability concept. The key objective of the programme is to cascade and generate sustainable energy, while creating an optimum synergy between companies in the business park. The output from one company forms the input for another company. This allows the programme to utilize the many untapped opportunities and possibilities for energy, water, waste, raw materials and logistics.

Jeroen Smits is Project and Programme Manager

at the municipality of Duiven. He is in charge of

the Sustainable InnoFase programme.



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“We researched the possibilities for a private network. The research has shown that a private electricity network is not desirable. Therefore we had to stop that project. However, research for a private steam network will be initiated if a company with demand for steam is ready to establish itself in the InnoFase business park,” says Mr Smits. The cool energy part is still in the preparation phase. For the project, a field test with a new generation, low temperature sorption cooling machine is ready to be installed at the waste incineration installation. This means that the plant’s offices can be cooled by using waste heat from the installation’s own processes. “This is a very innovative technique that can be used on several places within the region and the country, and we are testing it right here. When the test is successful, it can be implemented all over the world at plants and where there is waste heat,” explains Mr Smits.

Biogas production is the fifth theme of the programme. For this theme, a business case was developed to research the possibilities for companies to join forces in a consortium that can build and run a regional digestion plant. The business case showed that the profit margins for such a project are low and the risks are high. “There is also a growing resistance to use biomass for energy production. It is far better to use biomass as a commodity for the chemical industry or manufacturing products, which are more sustainable and have better business cases,” remarks Mr Smits. Consequentially, the biogas production project was cancelled.

The sixth and final theme in Sustainable InnoFase is dedicated to constructing an

LNG station (in the realization phase). The construction of the first public, unmanned, zero emissions LNG station for freight traffic in Europe has already started.

Healthy principles | The Sustainable InnoFase themes are approached with a long-term vision and driven by healthy principles. Mr Smits: “I think it is very important not to go ahead with projects just because of political goals, but to keep on thinking for the long haul, keep on checking the business case and stopping the project when the business case is not favourable. In the end it’s all about economics.” Besides the large InnoFase projects, the municipality of Duiven is also pursuing smaller goals. One of them is to stimulate the companies in the region to collectively buy solar cells, thus encouraging renewable energy production in the area.

Successes | As the programme is a work in progress, we cannot talk about finalized projects yet. Nevertheless, there are already small successes, testimony to the Sustainable InnoFase programme good planning and reasonable goals. One success is related to the “cool energy” and “LNG station” projects, which will be completed in a few months. Another success is the fact that regional transport companies have adopted LNG fuelled trucks. The biggest success is the actual start of the Sustainable InnoFase programme, which will impact the region in a very positive manner, not only from a business and transition to sustainability perspective, but also from the labour market point of view. Mr Smits remarks: “Gathering all the companies and parties together, that’s a success in itself. A few years ago everybody was on their own on the industrial compound and nobody worked together. Sustainable InnoFase means that these companies are regularly discussing business together and making better profit together in a more sustainable way. This improves their collaboration and their future prospects.”

Regarding involving businesses in the transition process, Mr Smits notes that companies will not contribute to sustainability goals unless these goals also bring profit. “We can initiate projects, we can facilitate projects, we can help companies to work together on projects, but, in the end they have to make money out of it, otherwise it won’t work,” concludes Mr Smits.



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Conference Chairman Dr Wolf Ketter is Director of the Erasmus Centre for Future Energy Business at Rotterdam School of

Management, Erasmus University (RSM). He says: “Energy production will become much more sustainable and decentralised – that is clear. Examples are residential wind turbines and solar panels. But the biggest challenge we’re now looking at is how best to bring balance to supply and demand and create greater reliability and consistency in the energy supply. The beauty of the Forum is that for the first time, we will get answers from the perspectives of management, ICT, consumer behaviour, energy production and politics.”

Dynamic pricing | According to Wolf Ketter, the problem with the future production of wind energy lies in the fact that storage of wind energy is still not a realistic option. So it is important to encourage users to use power at production peaks by offering lower rates. You want to automate that, and this is where ‘smart homes’ come in. It will require a complete change in consumer behaviour, and Huib Morelisse (CEO of energy company Nuon) and Volker Beckers (former CEO of UK gas and electricity supplier npower) will discuss this in particular. Dirk Schlesinger will show how CISCO (computer networking equipment) is going to create smart homes.

Cars to be used for power storage | Jochen Kreusel, Head of Smart Grids at ABB (power and automation technologies), will explain the latest applications for energy provision in the future, for example rapid charging points for e-mobility and the potential for returning power to the grid. Kerstin Meerwaldt of BMW will elaborate on the role of e-mobility and what part electrical cars can play as storage facilities for energy. Jessica Stromback, Executive Director of the Smart Energy Demand Coalition, will discuss the European-level political aspects, while Prof. Shmuel Oren will make the scientific case for the future commercial running of smart grids.

Two new awards | The Forum will also see the presentation of the first Erasmus Energy Business Award for the best innovative and sustainable energy concept or business model that contributes to improving people’s lives, business success and the planet. The winner gets five minutes on stage to pitch the innovative idea or concept to the entire audience at the Energy Forum event. In addition, a donation of €2,500 will be given – on behalf of the business prize winner – to the United Nations Fund for Energy & Climate.

The first Erasmus Energy Science Award for research presented during the event’s poster session, which pairs practical relevance to future energy business and

presents new findings with scientific rigour, comes with a prize of €1,000 for the researcher. Nominations for the Business and Science Awards can still be made up to and including Monday 3 June.

Practical information | The second Erasmus Energy Forum takes place at the Wereldmuseum in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on Friday 21 June 2013. Participants are welcome from 09:00, and the forum will end at 19:00. A pre-forum dinner will be held on Thursday 20 June.

Registration includes refreshments, lunch and networking drinks. Reduced rates apply for special groups such as students.

The Erasmus Energy Forum is organised by the Erasmus Centre for Future Energy Business, which is part of Erasmus University Rotterdam. The Centre is a joint venture between Rotterdam School of Management and the Erasmus School of Economics.

For more information and the complete programme, please go to: www.rsm.nl/energyforum

Important opinion leaders from science, politics and the corporate world come together at the second Erasmus Energy Forum in Rotterdam, on Friday 21 June, to share the latest knowledge on the challenges of safeguarding energy provision in the future. The event is hosted by the Erasmus Centre for Future Energy Business and has the theme of ‘Reinventing the Energy Landscape’. Presentations will explore E-mobility and Smart Homes.

Photo: Erasmus Energy Forum event 2012 – copyright RSM / Ronald van den Heerik

Erasmus Energy Forum gets industry, science and politics talking Consumer behaviour needs to change for sustainable energy to succeed


Electricity providers buy green certificates and “grey” electricity separately and sell their

combination as green electricity. You will have to trust your electricity provider that it sources green certificates of your desired quality, and that these certificates are cancelled on your behalf after the purchase. Evidence is often lacking. Some companies have been fined in the past for not surrendering sufficient green certificates.

Our research into the 25 most traded companies listed on Euronext Amsterdam (AEX-INDEX) shows that 76% of them purchase green electricity, but only 40% know how green their electricity is (or choose to report on how green their electricity is). Only 24% source their electricity locally.

This is changing. Companies are becoming increasingly transparent about their supply chains and are fostering dialogue with their customers. It is not about being flawless, but about being open. This is already happening with carbon reporting. Since 2003 the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) requests large corporations to report on their carbon emissions on behalf of institutional investors.

The best-in-class of the AEX-25 companies approach their green electricity purchase in a proactive manner. They are conscious of the idea that locally sourced green electricity contributes more to a greener world than large old hydro plants. They have a portfolio approach; they purchase

“grey” electricity on the market and then draw up a list of criteria that their green certificates must meet. The green certificates are then purchased separately. Some even go further; they want to know the actual project that generated the electricity and supplies the green certificates. Green electricity is becoming localized.

In 2012, approximately 13TWh of green electricity were generated in the Netherlands. However, 35TWh worth of green certificates was used. This is not sustainable. As companies move to being more open, stakeholders will demand that they source high quality and locally based green certificates.

Climex is a market leader in bringing transparency to energy and carbon markets. We help companies in developing a portfolio of green certificates. We offer a safe and efficient transaction process and provide a guarantee that the green certificates are cancelled. Answering the question “How green is your electricity?” will soon be much easier.

For more information about Climex, please

contact our Client Service Desk:

Phone: +31 (0)20 305 6200

Email: [email protected]

Shifting towards an identifiable renewable energy portfolio

Your organization may have purchased renewable or green electricity. But chances are that you don’t know where your electricity really comes from. This is about to change. Purchased green electricity is “grey” electricity supplemented with green certificates (or Guarantees of Origin in Europe). Green certificates can be traded separately from the electricity and can come from any source that is considered clean: from large 80-year old Norwegian hydro projects to wind turbines and highly innovative tidal wave electricity in the Netherlands.

Martijn Ophuis is a leading expert in energy procurement

strategies and (EU) tendering procedures for energy

contracting in the Netherlands. Martijn joined Climex in

2006 where he is leading the energy contracting practice. His

responsibilities include developing risk management strategies

for users of (sustainable) electricity and gas, negotiating details

of energy contracts and maintaining client relations.



“We help companies in developing a portfolio of green certificates.”

Energy and CO2 reduction | An example of sustainable procurement which leads to CO2 reduction is the use of recycled paper, possibly with FSC certificate. This leads to 40% more energy savings compared to paper made from virgin fibre.

Integrating sustainability by management systems | Management systems like ISO 9001, ISO 14001, CSR Performance Ladder (MVO Prestatieladder), ISO 26000, FSC and the INK management model give the opportunity to integrate sustainable measures within the framework of daily activities in companies and organizations. In this way, they are not a burden any more, but a significant addition.

INK management model | The ‘INK management model’ is a Dutch approach aimed at helping an organization - especially government organizations - to evaluate its own performance. The model makes clear how ‘mature’ an organization is and helps to focus on areas where improvements are possible. This approach can help with formulating possibilities in terms of sustainability.

Contingency plans | In the innovating world of Sustainable Development, contingency plans are rather new. They are aimed at handling emergency situations like a fire, energy breakdown or a serious accident with many employees involved. With this kind of risk management, exceptional risks which threaten the continuity of an organization can be controlled.

These kinds of plans can also be integrated within management systems like ISO or INK. An important advantage here is the possibility to lower insurance premiums.

Circular Economy | A new revolutionary concept has been developed to combat the economic crisis and make a breakthrough towards a real sustainable economy: the “Circular Economy”. This is a strategy to restyle the economy by organising production systems in loops which allow materials to be reused when their present function is not necessary anymore.

Certification | For many organizations, the reward for all the work done in certain fields is a certificate. This is often used to prove to the outside world that organizations have seriously addressed environmental and social issues. Triple P Solutions can help to obtain such certificates for management systems. A comprehensive package of formats is available, which can be customised for the client’s specific situations.

For more information, please visit: http://www.triplepsolutions.nl/

Integrated Solutions for Sustainable DevelopmentTriple P Solutions

Some people and organizations see ‘Sustainable Development’ as a complicated approach with too many dimensions. How to start? What to choose? Triple P Solutions can help with identifying relevant

developments. The company has an extensive experience in providing practicable solutions for most of the aspects like Corporate Social Responsibility, (environmental) management systems, sustainable procurement combined with CO2 reduction and recently, contingency plans. This article presents a small overview of these possibilities.



“Verbeter & Bespaar – Zwolle en Kampen” is an initiative of both the cities of Zwolle and

Kampen to save energy in local housing and strengthen the local economy. The approach is based on meeting the demands of modern day citizens. It has proven to be very successful, and has resulted in over 550 renovated houses within a few months’ time. The approach is based on the following principles:

• Citizens want information that is available fast, easy, always and everywhere. We are information seekers, not receivers.

• Citizens seek tailor-made information that meets their personal demands and needs.

• In order to share responsibilities, citizens and companies should be treated as partners rather than clients: communities have the future.

Toolbox to energy efficient households | With these 3 principles in mind, Verbeter & Bespaar Zwolle en Kampen developed a toolbox. This toolbox consists of the following tools, among others:

A personal energy adviser, who visits homes and offers free advice. Citizens are not only instructed about how to save energy but also receive help with applying for governmental grants and offers from local companies. Next, citizens are asked to become ‘energy ambassadors’ to share their experiences with their neighbors. Furthermore, the energy properties of ‘model houses’ (Voorbeeldwoningen) are shared online.

The Verbeter & Bespaar Zwolle en Kampen websites which offer information for the household level. House owners are informed how to save energy regarding their personal housing situation. The online Solar Map (Zonnekaart) offers homeowners insight into the expected efficiency of solar panels on their roof. The energy advisors are the eyes and ears in the neighbourhood, keep information up to date and match citizens expectations.

The ‘Neigborhood Approach’ (Wijkaanpak), during which the Energy Bus, a mobile energy information centre, meets citizens in their own street. On the bus, citizens are informed about energy savings and the offers of local building and installation companies.

Energieplein (Energy Square) | The Verbeter & Bespaar Zwolle en Kampen approach is already expanding to sports clubs, schools and small enterprises. While at the same time the initiative is working in cooperation with local governments, networks of civil societies and businesses to make use of existing resources and create a mutual benefit. The Energieplein offers citizens and companies an online market place (Marktplaats).

The first Energieplein was developed for Zwolle and Kampen. For the future, plans have been made to open different Energiepleinen in other regions in the Netherlands together with local stakeholders. In combination with the work on the ground we plan to develop a third space for energy that will help us achieve the policy goals set for CO2 emissions reduction and renewable energy, and preferably beyond!

Contact: Project Manager Coos Timmermans,

(0031) (0) 6 2397 6208

For more information please visit:

www.verbeterenbespaar-zwolle.nl

www.verbeterenbespaar-kampen.nl

www.energiepleinzwolle-kampen.nl

Our social awareness of global warming and energy savings was raised by governmental campaigns in the seventies, instructing us to turn off lights and turn down the heater. Nowadays, these kinds of campaigns are no longer effective. They only marginally raise the already existing awareness, without offering citizens the tools to actually lower their energy usage. The current energetic society needs a different approach.

Zwolle and Kampen are saving energy in the energetic society



Energy

College

Local government has a clear stake in investing in education and in lifelong learning. Not only does it enhance active citizenship and social inclusion, it also gives citizens the tools to participate in the knowledge economy. And crucially, it contributes to the competitiveness of the local economy by supplying it with skilled and innovative personnel. Intermediate vocational education and training, with the option of streaming into higher vocational education, is an essential part of the local education system. Over forty percent of the working population in the Netherlands has attended one of the many institutes for intermediate vocational education.

The North-Netherlands has a vibrant energy industry, which is making a vital contribution to the local and national economy. The energy sector has a growing demand for well-trained and innovation-minded professionals, as the industry is adapting to engage in the energy transition and increasingly relying on its ability to innovate. National and local government support the creation of an education infrastructure to train these much needed energy professionals at different levels, from intermediate vocational education to post-doctoral degrees for instance via the Green Deal. An essential part of this energy education system is the Energy College, which is linked to the Energy Academy Europe. Lambert Zwiers, director of the employers’ organisation VNO-NCW Noord: “The Energy College is the main supplier to the energy industry in the North-Netherlands. As a region we are on our way to become the key energy region of Europe. Over the next few years billions of euros will be invested in the Eemshaven seaport area, creating tens of thousands of jobs. Together with the Energy College we will ensure there will be enough personnel trained at intermediate vocational level to deliver this growth.’’

The Energy College is a network organisation and comprises five Regional Education Centres (ROCs) and two Agrarian Education Centres (AOCs) in the northern provinces. They are the AOC Terra in Groningen, AOC Friesland in Leeuwarden and the ROCs Drenthe College (Emmen), Alfa-college (Hoogeveen and Groningen), Noorderpoort (Groningen and Delfzijl), Friesland College (Heerenveen and Leeuwarden) and the Friese Poort (Drachten and Leeuwarden). The province of Noord- Holland is also keen to get involved in this network. The Energy College fits in well with the Human Capital Agenda of the Dutch top sector policy, which stresses firm links between knowledge institutes and businesses. The College’s strong links with local businesses and the greater role of business in education via the new Hotspots approach ensures energy education is in line with market demand.

Students at these ROCs and AOCs will take a number of basic modules after which they will specialise at one of the five Hotspots. These hotspots are attached to ROCs or AOCs and are partly financed by government via the Green Deal. Each hotspot forges partnerships with local businesses, so that working and learning are gradually integrated. Companies help shape education and training

in line with the market demand, while students will be equipped with the right skills to find local employment and help shape our energy future. The Dutch oil company NAM for example, has been together with other companies and local government at the forefront of the new AOT course at the Drenthe College in Emmen. This is now one of the five hotspots and it will train young people to become All-round Operational Engineers, a qualification for which there is high demand in the energy industry.

Another hotspot is the Technological Innovation Centre (TIC) at the Alfa-college in Groningen. It is an educational and working environment where students come into direct contact with innovative technological developments. Henk Huberts, manager TIC: ‘’The TIC links Energy and Sustainability to the normal technical courses and will in the future offer specialist training and courses. This will ensure the creation of a wide offer of education in the area of innovative technology for energy and sustainability.’’ The third hotspot is the Centre for Innovative Craftsmanship Energy Eemsdelta (CIV E-E), which focuses on training energy engineers for the Eems seaport region with a strong focus on innovation. It is situated at the Noorderpoort College in Delfzijl.

The Frisian capital of Leeuwarden is home to two hotspots. The Centre for Sustainability is part of ROC the Friese Poort. Project leader Jouko van der Mast says the Centre is focusing on integrating sustainability in existing courses, focusing on the areas of energy, built environment, sustainable mobility and production technology. ‘’We are mainly interested in technologies that are already deployable at a large scale. We offer students who are interested in engineering but also in sustainability, ample opportunity in courses, projects and internships to see what’s going on in Friesland in sustainable engineering.’’ The other hotspot in Leeuwarden is the MBO Life Sciences at the Friesland College and the Nordwin College. The MBO Life Sciences is operating in the areas of chemistry, microbiology and process technology, focusing on Water, Food and Energy. This hotspot is working towards creating an ‘Integral Sustainability’ course.

The Hotspot approach and the Energy College, with its linkages to local business and knowledge institutes, will make an important contribution to energy education and innovation in the North–Netherlands region within the framework of the Green Deal. This will further strengthen the energy industry in the region and serve as a spring board for further international cooperation to establish the North-Netherlands as a European Region of Energy Excellence.

Energy College meets market demandThe Energy College, supported

by government and local

businesses, is an essential

element of an education

strategy to boost the energy

industry in the North of the

Netherlands.

Energy

College

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Energy College


Energy College

EAE NRG magazine 10_def.indd 48-49 19-04-13 12:43

Energy Academy Europe

Our society urgently needs a transition to a sustainable energy system.

We need young and motivated people to make it work. Studying Energy is a good start.

Energy Academy Europe the Centre of Excellence for Energy Education, Energy Research and Energy Innovation.

Training and degrees are offered across a range: higher education (applied and research universities), and vocational education in collaboration with ROCs and AOCs (regional training centres):

Energy

Aca

dem

y Eu

rope

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w.e

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Institution Degree programme Energy Track

Hanze Bachelor of Applied Science: Chemical Engineering Specialisation Sustainable Energy

Hanze Bachelor of Engineering: Industrial Technical Management Minor Energy & Society

HanzeBachelor of Engineering: Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering

Specialisation International Power Generation & Distribution

Hanze Master of Science European Master in Renewable Energy Entire core semester is about energy

RUG Bachelor of Science Chemistry Sustainable Energy and Chemistry

RUG Bachelor of Science Physics Energy and Environment

RUG Master of Science Energy and Environmental Sciences Entire master is about energy

RUG Professional Master North Sea Energy Law Programme Entire degree is focused on energy

E-College is a collaboration between fi ve ROCs and two AOCs in the Northern Netherlands. It provides technical vocational education in energy that connects with the higher energy education of the Hanze University of Applied Sciences.

Apply for E-College energy education at Drenthe College Emmen, Alfa College Hoogeveen and Groningen, AOC Terra Groningen, Noorderpoort Groningen and Delfzijl, Friesland College Heerenveen and Leeuwarden, Friese Poort Drachten and Leeuwarden and AOC Friesland Leeuwarden.

These programmes are just a selection. Check for more: www.energyacademy.org/students/education

Energy

Aca

dem

y Eu

rope

The Energy Academy Europe (EAE) has achieved a great deal in a short space of time, says Henk Pijlman, president of the executive board of the Hanze University of Applied Sciences.

The Hanze University is one of the founding fathers of the Energy Academy, together with the University of Groningen, GasTerra and local government. Consequently, ties between the Hanze University and the EAE are very close. Pijlman: ‘’All energy research and education of the Hanze University is being clustered around and brought into the Energy Academy. But the research is being done by the universities and other knowledge institutes. The same holds true for education. The Energy Academy itself does not provide education, because it is not licensed to do so; the knowledge institutes are. The Energy Academy brings it all together, making it greater than the sum of its parts.’’

The north of the Netherlands, says Pijlman, is developing into a proper Energy Valley, producing 40% of Dutch energy. Research and education is increasingly being organised around this. Not surprisingly, energy is one of the focal areas of the Hanze University. ‘’It is one of the areas we are investing in. ‘‘It is because of this focus and specialisation, linked to the strategic goals of the northern Netherlands region, that the higher education review committee has rewarded the Hanze University with an excellent rating. It’s also the reason why we’re allowed to establish a centre of expertise for energy, together with businesses and other institutes. Part of this endeavour is the EnTranCe test bed facility we’re developing for the Energy Academy. It is where university and businesses come together, looking into new energy concepts and where products are further developed with a view to launching them onto the market.’’

In this bringing together of education, research and businesses lies one of the strengths of the Energy Academy. Students come into contact with various job opportunities through the Energy Academy’s programmes. Those programmes are really taking shape now, says Pijlman. ‘’We’ve got a fi nal document outlining development of research and how it will link in with all the knowledge institutes. On the educational side, we will shortly have a clearer picture of which bachelor, master and associate degrees we will develop. In addition, there will be coordination with vocational training at the Energy College. It is important to develop these continuous learning trajectories. I think now is the time to show that Groningen - with its natural gas - has a unique knowledge position and that this knowledge can be used to move towards a more sustainable energy system. It is full steam ahead for the Energy Academy.’’

Energy Academy: full steam ahead

Henk Pijlman

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Energy Academy Europe

EAE NRG magazine 10_def.indd 50-51 19-04-13 12:43

Whichever area of our business you join, whether it’s engineering or one of our commercial teams, you’ll help provide answers to the questions on everyone’s lips.

Your energy shapes the future www.eon.nl/werkenbij

EON-AD_NRG_Magazine_v1.indd 1 29-04-13 09:55

nrg magazine edition 10

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