Calling on all innovative companies: we depend on your help to create a resilient and smart grid for a successful green energy transition (5 min read)

Recently, I had an engaging conversation about the #EnergyTransition with Han Stegeman of TenneT, the national electricity transmission system operator of the Netherlands, and my colleagues Victoria Madalena Otter and Tyrone Pater. We observed that climate change challenges faced by both the Netherlands and the U.S. are similar, yet the grid and energy sectors of both countries are organized so differently. There is a surging demand for power and we hope to move from traditional fossil fuels for our energy to greener alternatives like wind turbines and solar. To have a successful green energy transition, we need a resilient and smart grid that can accommodate the required transition.

An opportunity for international learning and cross-collaboration, the conversation spurred the idea of hosting an interactive program on how digital innovations for the grid can accelerate the renewable energy transition. The event, organized together with the Innovation Attaché in San Francisco at the Netherlands Consulate in San Francisco, had impressive pitches by innovative companies and a panel discussion, with participants from both the Netherlands and the U.S. taking part. U.S.-based innovative digital energy companies – BattGenie Inc., Camus Energy, Swell Energy, and Utilidata – pitched game-changing tech solutions to meet the needs of the energy transition. The panel – moderated by Haje Kamps, a reporter with TechCrunch – featured speakers from TenneT, SF Growth Capital and Snowflake.

During the event, I learned about the essential role of digital solutions like smart grids, virtual power plants, and blockchain technology in driving a more sustainable future. I was truly impressed by the innovative companies and the panel discussion, which included participants from both countries. One thing that stood out to me is the need for global collaboration between companies. I realized that innovation and fostering a culture of collaboration is crucial. Inspired by our event, I wanted to share some of my take aways.

Driving sustainable energy technology

The Netherlands has been at the forefront of the #GreenEnergy transition, with ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the share of renewable energy in its energy mix. Digital solutions have played a key role in achieving these goals, enabling greater efficiency, flexibility, and transparency in the energy system.

For example, Maastricht Mill is switching to an ‘e-boiler’, so that they can incorporate solar and wind energy in their mix. Steam is pivotal for paper production and traditionally the boilers that produce this steam have been powered with fossil fuels like gas.

The Amsterdam ArenA, home to the Ajax football club, also installed a large energy storage system consisting of used electric vehicle batteries. The system is used to store excess energy generated by the stadium's solar panels and provide backup power during peak demand.

And TenneT supports several offshore grid connection projects, including the Borssele Alpha and Beta offshore grid connections, which are part of the Borssele Wind Farm Zone.

During the event Utilidata showcased how they developed grid edge software for smart grid chips to operationalize real-time data at scale on the distribution grid. It provides grid management of rapid decarbonization, electrification, and resilience against severe weather conditions.

BattGenie Inc. explained their specialized software solution for model-based battery management systems to predict the performance of batteries in the grid, sufficiently improving battery performance and increasing energy supply reliability. 

Balancing grids for reliability, sustainability and affordability is one of the global challenges of the energy transition. Therefore, one of the most important digital solutions for the green energy transition is smart grids. These electricity networks use digital technologies to monitor and manage the flow of electricity, enabling better integration of renewable energy sources and more efficient use of energy. The Netherlands has been a leader in the development of smart grids, with several pilot projects and demonstrations underway focused on this exact challenge as described above.

Powering the future, virtually

Have you heard of virtual power plant (VPP)? In the Netherlands as well as in the U.S., several VPP projects are underway. Software solutions are enabling smart grid innovation and make grid hardware more resilient and flexible to the intermittent nature of renewable energy.

Swell Energy explained their energy management and smart grid solutions that provides homeowners and businesses with financing and VPP programs to allow the mass adoption of distributed clean energy technologies.

Another great example was given by Camus Energy when they shared the details about their open-source grid orchestration platform to distribute renewable energy sources. The platform is used by energy utility companies to offer real-time analytics and data about system usage and forecast resource information. Utility companies can use orchestration to optimize grid systems via price signaling.

Merging the virtual with the physical, North Sea wind farms in the Netherlands aim to create a virtual power plant using offshore wind. These resources use digital technologies to manage the output of the wind farms, enabling them to provide more reliable and predictable energy to the grid.

Blockchain is another digital technology that is being explored for the green energy transition in the Netherlands. Enabling secure and transparent recording and sharing of data, blockchain has the potential to enable new business models for energy trading and enable more efficient and transparent management of the energy system.

Virtual power plants (VPPs) and innovative software solutions are revolutionizing the energy landscape, making grids more resilient and adaptable. Harnessing digital technologies like blockchain and grid orchestration platforms, we can effectively manage renewable energy sources and transition towards a greener, more sustainable future.

The new paradigm of energy supply

As much momentum as there is with new technology driving the energy transition, there are needs that must be met with continued expansion, innovation and digitalization. As society moves away from centralized energy generation to distributed energy, we need the grid to be more resilient and efficient with energy distribution and the convergence of hardware and software. In addition to this we need to use the capacity on the grid as efficiently as possible. Flexibility and reducing the peak load should be an integral part of this. Many of the challenges shared between the Netherlands and the U.S. include managing congestion in the supply of energy to consumers (and industry), sufficient battery, network reliability, and real-time data for energy management.

One of my favorite reflections from the program is that it was a mini example of collaboration on a global level. Companies are realizing that they need other companies’ initiatives to elevate to the next level. Open innovation is welcome, which feels like the first step in sharing new technologies and celebrates a culture of collaboration. Equally important is that law and legislation need to follow, or perhaps even lead, the transition as well.

I could not have phrased it better than Han Stegeman, Head Grid Innovation (TenneT), when he told me: “it was a great event, because it concerned two countries, the same climate challenge, and different approaches. Together we can converge technologies and ideas to enable reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy for everyone. We have one earth and the technology to save it.”

A more sustainable future

Smart grids, virtual power plants, and blockchain technology are just some of the digital solutions that are being explored to enable a more efficient, resilient, flexible, and sustainable energy system. These digital solutions are playing an increasingly important role in the green energy transition in the Netherlands. One great example in the Netherlands is the partnership between Nord Pool and Equigy for power flexibility that creates a crowd balancing platform that incorporated six transmission system operators.

The Dutch have a strong tradition of public-private partnerships in the energy sector, which has helped to drive innovation and investment in sustainable energy solutions. Home to some of the largest offshore wind farms in the world with significant expertise in this area – including the development of innovative wind turbine technology – the Netherlands has infrastructure with a high level of renewable energy integration, smart grid development and energy storage solutions.

So this is a call for all innovative companies looking for collaborations: get in touch and let’s start the conversations.

Looking to learn more about the impact the Netherlands is having on digital solutions for the energy transition and how your company can be part of the momentum? Connect with me at maarten@nfia.com. #InvestInHolland #smartgrid #energytransition #renewableenergy