The agenda covered a wide range of perspectives on the supply chain – technology, materials, people, nature, and financing. And as with all our ERC events, the value was in networking: good connects between the participants throughout the energy transition value chains, and a positive atmosphere helped by diversity in the community including different countries and many young energy professionals.

Watch the wrap up video:

We were guest at the Energy Transition Campus Amsterdam (ETCA), where we had the opportunity to learn more about this Shell initiative.
Simone Kranendonk presented ETCA’s mission to solve the world’s biggest energy challenges through collaboration, technology and innovation in one single campus. Some of the ETCA members were also participating in this ERC event, including a presentation of C3.AI in a focus group.

Ruben van Grinsven (Shell) and David Molenaar (Siemens Gamesa) as co-hosts opened the ERC event. They emphasized the importance of the value chain, cooperation, standardization and ecology. Key messages for the audience were to be curious and have courage.



Ditlev Engel (DNV) opened the floor by sketching how implementation is key. The technology is there, wind showed that improvement of business cases due to cost reduction can go fast, but the high ambitions require that we now learn by doing. This was a few times reiterated by other speakers during the day.

The remaining part of the morning was for the focus groups.
First Anne Mieke van der Werf (Invest-NL) discussed how Invest-NL paves the way for investments by connecting people throughout the value chain – knowledge, expertise and collaboration are the key ingredients.
It is proposed to start a new ERC focus group about financing of the energy transition, covering both subsidies/funding, private and public financing. ERC is inviting all its members to come forward in case you would like to be a co-leader of such a ‘Financing the energy transition focus group’.



Then we split up into focus groups CCUS, Offshore Energy, Heat Transition and Digital Energy. The feedback and the video showed that there were in-depth and lively discussions, for example about artificial intelligence, hydrogen on/offshore, value chains, and new developments in CO2 transportation and storage offshore. 

The networking lunch was quite eventful. Meet and see inspiring innovation from e.g. the Forze Hydrogen racing team & car and the start-up company Renewable Iron Fuel Technology (RIFT), together with good food, lots of conversations, and a fire drill.

We had a late start of the afternoon plenary part (but we now know how to act in case of an emergency). Luckily, we had Sofie van den Enk as moderator engaging with the speakers, interesting topics, and a nice panel session, compensating a bit for having little time for Q&As.



In the afternoon Frans Rooijers (CE Delft) and Gijs Postma (Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate) sketched the energy transition landscape and its challenges, for the ambitious goals for renewable energy generation and hydrogen. Frans also pointed how challenges can become solutions, for example a shortage of materials leading to substitution and innovation.
Gijs discussed the Dutch approach to a developing hydrogen market, with first decisions being made on infrastructure, ‘carrots and sticks’ being in development, and hydrogen import requiring strategy in a global context.



What this meant in practice, for people, technology and nature was shown by Carina Brehm (Siemens Energy). She also discussed this on stage with her young professional colleague Carolin Boerger.

Heleen Vollers (The North Sea Foundation) made a case that our human activities are a burden for nature (and not the other way around). Therefore, we need to not only focus on mitigation, but also on how we can restore nature through our energy transition activities. And in this, it is important that we as energy transition sector also engage with the other users of the North Sea.



Abel van Beest (Forze) brought some speed into the afternoon, by showing the Forze hydrogen racing car team development: every year they educate a new crew of 70 young students into becoming experts – by doing and learning from mistakes together with their partners. A really good example of a new cooperation and business model that can speed up our energy transition journey.  

Justus van Peer (JongRES) had a powerful message on how young people can bring a positive voice into the energy transition discussions and decision making. Listen to the silence (of the positive majority of people), think about what you can influence as person in your private and/or business life, and reflect on if your project helps to make the dreams of your children coming through.



The panel discussion brought the views of our speakers more to the surface.
Coby van der Linde (CIEP) reflected in her keynote on the geopolitical landscape for the energy transition. It was a wake-up call that we should be aware of our position in a changing geopolitical landscape. Was the afternoon ending in doom and gloom, or do we now have hope that by being more aware of our Netherlands and European situation, we can go into chasing our ambitions with eyes wide open?



Summarizing, it was an energizing day, with a diverse Energy Reinvented Network community.  We had speakers that did not only mention the challenges of the energy transition, but also challenged the audience:
"Start implementing, learn by doing, collaborate throughout the value chain, improve nature, apply new cooperation / business / financing models, be aware of our geopolitical changing landscape, and involve and empower young people."

All presentations as well as videos of the day and the photos taken can be found at the website www.energyreinventedcommunity.com. Login to your personal account. 
Go to FORUM, select EVENTS and select 2023-06 WIND, SOLAR AND HYDROGEN BUT WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE, MATERIALS AND SPACE ".

Looking forward to meeting you again at our next event on 9 November 2023.