Energy-Now was organized by a group of seven enthusiastic students who spend almost a year of preparation. The organizing committee is headed by Martijn Wijers and is part of student platform Team Energy at the TU/e.

The goal is to activate the discussion on the subjects of energy and smart grids, as wide as possible. Energy Now is supported by many organizations. This includes the TU/e with the Strategic Area Energy (SAE), one of the three strategic areas of the university.

Start
Jim Stolze was present as host of the day. He started the program after his arrival on a solar bike. First speaker was David Smeulders (Professor in Energy Technology) about issues with smart grids and energy storage, specifically related to the large fluctuations in electric energy from sun and wind. Smart grids and storage are needed to build a reliable energy supply system.

SETalks
Next three inspiring talks, SETalks (Sustainable Energy Talks), about formic acid as option for cars and (VDL) busses, stimulating the energy transition using a business model where more money is earned by selling less energy,  and innovative solutions like the micro-grid  used in the Blijburg restaurant at  the beach at IJburg Amsterdam.

Workshops
The next part of the program consisted of interactive workshops. Five workshops before lunch and five after lunch. During the lunch there was a poster session from various institutes and companies. Ample opportunity to get information and do some networking. In the workshops a problem was defined and explained by the owner of the workshop. During the session information was exchanged and options for solutions generated.

Review of the attended workshops:
Eneco
The topic of the Eneco workshop was making the City of Utrecht energy neutral in 2030. The conclusion was clear, something has to be done to get the user involved and motivated to make things happen.
Nuon
Nuon discussed their plans to “store” energy by producing Ammonia and storing it for later use in the Magnum power plant in Eemshaven.  It was explained how this could contribute to the lowering of CO2 emission as needed for the Paris agreement on climate change last autumn.

NERA/ECN/DIFFER
NERA/ECN/DIFFER organized a workshop on  the Dutch Science Agenda  . The question was to give the priority at the roadmap for the energy transition and to focus and to zoom in. A pre-set model “Playing field of the energy transition” (Simplified picture for the Dutch Research Agenda) was very helpful. See here the NWA roadmap of the energy transition

Schneider Electric
The topic of the workshop with Schneider Electric was the adaptation of DC. Mr. Ton van den Ham formulated the problem to consider the basics needs for a complete Direct Current (DC) Installation in our houses or offices. Instead of the common AC (400 V/ 230 V AC) installations the DC installation is less energy consuming and safer, with lower costs to install. The question was to formulate the needed basics for the technical and political development of the DC systems. In both cases the urgent of an actual "Regulation on rules for DC installation" (as NEN 7250 for PV, and NPR 5310, NEN1010) was the most needed.

Panel session concluding Energy Now
Energy-Now was concluded with a panel session.
Different questions from the workshops were discussed. 
The answers gave a good picture of the issues coming up in an energy transition:

Joris Knigge: ‘’Storage of sustainable energy is only possible with use of a large amounts of energy with medium as hydrogen. An electric car with hydrogen battery is the real solution.’’

Geert Verbong: “Let’s get the user in the process of the energy transition!!”

For more info please have a look at the Energy-Now website http://energy-now.nl/ 
or a  View The Energy-Now offical aftermovie 2016    .

More on DC is in the presentation " Een nieuw DC net, heeft dat wel zin? at June, 14 on the "Vermogenselektronica Event 2016"  and by DirectCurrent B.V. in: "Zonder gelijkspanning geen duurzame smart grids".


Report by Dr. Ir. Steven Luitjens and ing. Paul van Moerkerken
Members of Royal Dutch Engineering Society department Electrical.

Programma

 -  uur Entry
 -  uur Plenary Opening
 -  uur Settalks
 -  uur Break-out sessions and lunch
 -  uur Final debate
 -  uur Closing and network drinks