As part of the event Developing value chains on 13 March, the Focus Groups on Financing the Energy Transition, System Integration and Digital Energy got participants to discuss what it takes to build a real value chain.

Tijs Beek, Principal of Energy Insights at Sproule kicked off with a presentation on the conditions across three different dimensions to realise major investments in industry. These are:
(i) technology needs to be ready and understood,
(ii) all infrastructure needs to be in place, and
(iii) the investment climate must be there to support your business case, from financing to regulations to the people how need to build and operate the factory. And when this is only one step in a long and connected value chain, you can start to imagine the challenges we have ahead of us.
 
The participants then broke up in small groups to dive deeply into the value chain of a wind farm that drives an electrolyser that produces hydrogen for industry, exploring opportunities and challenges in each segment. The groups then compared notes and discussed what and how to learn from and help each other and also what might push you away. For example - a wind farm wants to get the highest prices for the power sold, but the electrolyser operator wants the lowest price... how do you solve that?

The session concluded with Zarief Hasrat of Nobian reflecting on the conversations. Nobian produces industrial chemicals like salt and chlorine, alkaline and hydrogen, and more. Zarief gave great insights in what it takes when your company operates at the intersection of many value chains and wants to become fully carbon-neutral.

And, what's more, he showed what it took – over 100 meetings in one year to get to know, work and align with stakeholders across multiple ministries – to reach their transition plan under the tailor-made agreement (maatwerkafspraak). Nobian is the first to sign the tailor-made agreement with the Dutch government.

It was a very insightful session!