Foreign Investments Europe Ministry of Economic Affairs invests in smart grids

Ministry of Economic Affairs invests in smart grids

The Ministry of Economic Affairs sets aside 16 million Euro for the construction of the first smart grids. Experts from the Smart Grids Taskforce recommended that Minister Verhagen invests in the construction of 5-10 pilot networks. Mr. Verhagen believes that the grids should be constructed as soon as possible.

The grids would purchase electricity automatically when the price of electricity is at its lowest. Machinery and equipment will be switched on when it is most economical to do so. A surplus of electricity can be given back to the grid.
Currently, much energy is spent on founding a New Energy Business Community (NEBC) to make the most of the opportunities of Smart Grids (intelligent networks) for SMEs.

NEBC is a network for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) with the objective to provide active support for generating business for players involved with Smart Grid / Smart Energy related activities. In this way, the NEBC strives to promote the industry and entrepreneurship in the Northern Netherlands. The NEBC was founded by five Northern players, being KEMA, TNO, Groningen Council, the Investment and Development Agency for the Northern Netherlands (NOM) and the Energy Valley foundation.

Why the NEBC?
The market development for products and services that make the local energy economy ‘smart’ is relatively slow. One of the reasons is that the supply and demand of technology, products and services are not aligned sufficiently. Currently, the Northern Netherlands is an incubator for the development of decentralized energy systems and smart grids. The region wishes to outgrow this status as soon as possible to become the place where these systems are developed. Entrepreneurs from SMEs are an essential part of the process. It has become evident that SMEs are experiencing difficulties in linking in with this growth market, and therefore we want to support SMEs to ensure they reap optimum benefits from the rapid developments in this market.

For whom?
Players who are active in the area of Smart Grid / Smart Energy. This concerns both the supply and the demand sides of the market. The organizations we wish to appeal to could also be called the ‘energy system thinkers’; they have a vision of the energy economy of the future and their commercial role within that. In first instance, the grid is focused on the Northern Netherlands, but collaboration with players from other parts of the Netherlands is not excluded.

Are you interested?
If you would like more information about the NEBC or if you want to join the network, please contact Allard van Dijk, avandijk@nom.nl +31 (0)50 521 44 66