Energyhubs in the News

To tackle grid congestion and accelerate the energy transition, the Province of Drenthe is fully committed to developing so-called energy hubs. A new cooperation partnership aims to position the Northern Netherlands as one of Europe’s leading regions for energy experimentation, to develop opportunities and chances for businesses and educational institutions alike.

According to Henk Slabbekoorn, project leader for sustainable business parks & SMEs at the Province of Drenthe, energy hubs play a crucial role in the energy transition. “The government has encouraged the use of renewable electricity, but grid operators began upgrading the electricity network too late. As a result, we’re now dealing with grid congestion: the demand for transporting electricity exceeds the capacity of the grid. This slows down the energy transition, hinders expansion and new construction plans, and makes the region less attractive for companies and residents. In the Netherlands, 14,000 companies are waiting for a new or upgraded power connection, and hundreds more apply each month.”

Local balance

Energy hubs are local energy systems that enable the sharing of renewable energy sources. Through collaboration with nearby companies, you can align your available grid capacity among participants. This way you reduce peak loads, and you make better use of lower capacity moments. Slabbekoorn: “For example, with the help of an Energy Management System, surplus energy generated by solar panels can be offered to a company that needs power at that moment. Excess energy can also be traded via an exchange platform. This way, demand is balanced with supply more productively.”

Such a local energy hub isn’t just a temporary measure to combat grid congestion, it serves as the foundation of our future energy system 2.0, which is built around local energy sources and local energy communities.

Because of national funding provinces can accelerate the development of energy hubs, and Drenthe has taken critical action, supported by the European Union’s Interreg GRITH programme. Alongside businesses, municipalities, grid operators, and the NOM (the investment and development agency for the Northern Netherlands), an implementation agenda has been created which outlines how the province will support energy hubs. Slabbekoorn: “To realise an energy hub, you need a revenue model or business case, collaboration between at least three parties, an organisational structure, and agreements with all involved stakeholders. The Province of Drenthe facilitates the development of energy hubs through free advice, knowledge sessions, and the Community of Practice called Drents Net op Groen. Additionally, we also support municipalities in their approach and policies around energy hubs.”

Sharing Knowledge

The Community of Practice (CoP) is a network of entrepreneurs, municipalities, grid operators, experts, and the province that focusses on developing local energy hubs in Drenthe. Each month, there is a physical or virtual meeting to share knowledge and experiences. Experts are invited to these meetings, and participants’ initiatives are discussed. “By learning from one another, we can accelerate progress,” says Slabbekoorn. “The CoP has grown to include thirteen initiatives.”

‘Local energy systems bring supply and demand into balance’

The project leader also highlights the emergence of virtual energy hubs, a collaboration developed together with insurance company Univé from Assen. “Traditionally, Univé has many agricultural clients. Many agricultural buildings still have asbestos roofs, which can no longer be insured. This can cause financial problems for farmers and agriculture investors, alongside posing health risks. Due to Univé’s initiative and with support from Deputy Henk Jumelet and the Drents Energy Fund, it is made possible to replace asbestos roofs with roofs fitted with solar panels. This results in removing the health risk and helps farmers operate sustainably. When enough farms participate in the project, you create a kind of virtual energy hub that, in collaboration with the grid operator, can reduce pressure on the electricity grid. We’re currently in the pilot phase and if this works here, Drenthe could become a model for the whole of the Netherlands.”

Becoming a frontrunner

The energy transition offers major opportunities for the Northern Netherlands according to Slabbekoorn. Under the name PIOENN, abbreviated from Proeftuin Integraal Ontwerp Energiesysteem Noord-Nederland, partners across the region are working together on a future-proof energy system. Slabbekoorn: “With partners including grid operator RENDO, Rabobank, the University of Groningen, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, NOM, New Energy Coalition, Univé, the Province of Fryslân, and VNO-NCW Noord, we’re developing a resilient and independent energy system that can be replicated throughout the Netherlands and Europe. The North can become a true frontrunner in the field of energy hubs. As someone born in Zeeland, I can’t help comparing it to the Delta Plan after the 1953 flood disaster. That project also arose from necessity and through simply starting and learning from the process. The expertise gained through the Delta Plan made the Netherlands a world leader in water management. In the North everything is present which is needed to claim a unique position in the energy transition: a strong focus on innovation and knowledge, regional cooperation, and the drive to build a future-proof economy. Energy is a part of who we are: think of Groningen gas, and historically, Drenthe peat.”

Original text: Provincie Drenthe zet vol in op ontwikkeling energiehubs - ZakeNN

Translation: I. Moorkamp