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In what ways are you professionally involved in the energy transition?
‘Throughout my entire career I have been active in the built environment. In terms of the energy transition, this is a highly relevant sector. Many of the themes we are dealing with relate to making buildings more sustainable. How can we use buildings for longer periods of time, and what role do they play within the larger energy system?
There is an increasing amount of technologies addressing these kinds of challenges. The most prominent question now is how we can scale up collectively to really transition to a more sustainable energy system. The Top Sector Energy plays a key role in addressing this question.’

How did you become a member of the Energy Top Team?
‘Based on my expertise in the built environment and my practical experience with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in that sector, I was asked to join.
What I appreciated about the Top Sector, was that it provided a lot of practical support. For example, through the companies can apply for a budget to further develop any promising ideas they might have. And in field labs, researchers and companies can apply their ideas in practice and work together with other partners in the supply chain; an opportunity that standalone would not necessarily be available for SMEs.’

Dorien Terpstra: Across the Netherlands there are many industrial parks with small and medium-sized companies that would like to get involved in these types of initiatives, but lack the capacity or know-how to do so.

What kinds of challenges do SMEs in the built environment face?
‘Across the sector there are multiple thousands of SMEs. Many of these companies have good ideas but lack the capacity to act on them. Others find it difficult to see where things are headed and where they should invest. Collaboration between government, the private sector, and scientific research is essential to meet the need of SMEs.

Let me give some concrete examples. I work at the Zehnder Group, which develops solutions for a comfortable, energy-efficient and healthy indoor climate. In the Netherlands, we have a plant in Zwolle, which is covered by approximately 3,500 solar panels. During summer, we have a huge surplus of electricity. And during winter, we experience shortages. We explored how we could collaborate with other companies to better balance our energy supply and demand. This has led to a participation in the pilot for a Smart Energy Hub which has been live since 13 October, 2023, to optimize the collective grid capacity of the entire Hessenpoort industrial park we are part of.

Across the Netherlands there are  many industrial parks like this, that house small  to medium sized companies which would like to get involved in these types of initiatives, but lack the capacity or knowhow to do so.

Besides linking various buildings in smart energy systems, there are also challenges on the level of the individual buildings themselves. Can we enable the various systems in the building to communicate in an intelligent way to collectively balance the building’s load on the grid?

For large enterprises, the Netherlands is rather organized when it comes to energy policies: there is a national energy plan, there are hydrogen clusters, and so forth. But the vast majority of companies employs under 500 people, and they are much less well-connected. By better involving and supporting them, we can unlock an enormous potential to address energy-related challenges.’

What kind of support do these SMEs need?
‘For individual SMEs, business operations are also in transition. Take an installer, for example. Previously, homeowners or homeowners’ associations would ask for the renewal of for example a gas boiler or a radiator. Now, they are asking the same installation companies for full concepts to make their homes sustainable. Especially smaller companies need access to training and guidance to determine what services they can provide for now and the future based on this new demand. Inevitably, the energy transition and its corresponding demand will also lead to a different production capacity in the Netherlands as well as new business models. This is a major economic opportunity, if you dare and know how to seize it.’

How has the Top Sector Energy helped businesses?
‘Let’s take three scenarios. In the first scenario, SMEs have a fantastic idea but cannot implement it themselves because they lack the network, funding, or knowledge. The Top Sector has implemented tools to fill this gap, be it networking events or the funding desk. The second scenario is when SMEs aren’t early adopters but also don’t want to lag behind. They can revert to field labs, in which they can participate and experience firsthand what an innovation entails and how their company could play a role in it. And then there’s the group that will only take action when they have to. Providing local support such as the local pilot of a Smart Energy Hub or making training available in the region can remove potential barriers.’

Dorien Terpstra: Is the transition inclusive enough? Topics like citizen participation and energy justice are gaining in importance

What challenges lie ahead?
‘Fundamentally, it is good to see that the pieces of the puzzle are starting to come together. Everyone is increasingly looking beyond their own boundaries and working together toward the same goal. Nevertheless, we need more overarching system integration, focus on regional hubs and ways to translate bright ideas into actual applications that are accepted by society. Since the energy transition has a direct effect on the livability of the Netherlands, there are many social issues involved. What impact will the transition have on how we live? Is the transition inclusive enough? Topics like citizen participation and energy justice are gaining in importance.

We also need to solidify our thinking about how the Netherlands will play a role in this from a business perspective. Where is the earning potential? And with that comes the key question: What knowledge and expertise do we need to build up now and in the future, and where? In the Human Capital Agenda of the Top Sector, there is a strong focus on this question in addition to ensuring education on all levels is available as the entire workforce needs to be part of the transition.’

What role do organizations like EIRES have to play in achieving the goals of the Top Sector?
‘EIRES brings stakeholders together, both within and outside the region. The institute should share this collaborative model with other parts of the Netherlands and support similar organizations in adopting this model.

Focus on system integration: do not develop technology in splendid isolation, but in collaboration with entrepreneurs and society. SMEs cannot do this on their own, and conversely, research cannot come to fruition without SMEs.’