The Northern Netherlands is the energy region of the Netherlands. It was, it is, it will remain. Production of Groningen gas has long since given way to knowledge and expertise about hydrogen, new energy and everything about the transition to the future.
The energy transition. we all need to get away from fossil sources and CO2 emissions, towards sustainable and climate neutral. But how?
By working together smartly, doing smart things, inventing smart things and putting them into practice. The Northern Netherlands does all this on a unique scale, with large and small companies, governments, educational institutions, financial institutions, legal counters and more all doing their part in formulating answers.
It's not just about biogas-powered buses and offshore wind turbines, although those are all important. It's about the bigger picture. Sustainable innovations are wonderful, but how do we ensure that society embraces them? The transition must happen, but what can you ask companies to do? Solar parks are essential, but who owns them?
The energy transition is so comprehensive, the tasks are so diverse, that only by approaching it from all sides can answers be found. That is exactly what the Northern Netherlands is doing. Initiatives are springing up everywhere and playing ball together in the fight against climate change. The ecosystem that is already active in this way is continuously growing in strength.
The groningen-based new energy coalition (nec) can be seen as a standard-bearer for the ecosystem.
The Groningen-based New Energy Coalition (NEC) can be seen as the standard-bearer of the ecosystem. It helps entrepreneurs with their business development and knows the field like no other. From Groningen, the NEC participates in numerous projects that help the energy transition, not only in the Netherlands, but especially throughout Europe and beyond.
Increasingly, the Coalition is bringing knowledge gained in the Northern Netherlands to projects elsewhere in Europe. It is becoming a model region. It's not going to happen here. This is where it happens. In several areas, the theory is already being put into practice. For example, the Ianos project is turning Ameland into a self-sufficient island in terms of energy, the European Lighthouse project Making-City Groningen is showing how old inner cities can become energy efficient, Why Care More is working on the improvement of biogas and hydrogen technology is already indispensable as one of the carriers of the new, green economy.
Northern Netherlands is the pioneer, the region that is moving the wagon.
Northern Netherlands as a living lab
The Northern Netherlands has everything to play a role as a living lab in the energy transition. Thanks to the presence of a broad university, the transition is studied from all sides, thanks to the large ecosystem the movement to practice is easy.
This delivers more than just CO2 reduction, sustainability and climate gains. It also provides great economic opportunities, which are increasingly recognized by the rest of the world. New techniques, pioneering system innovations, promising material research. The Northern Netherlands is the pioneer, the region that sets the cart in motion.