Common Futures. Energy Transition Specialists

While we were having our Christmas dinners, a 650 MW HVDC subsea electricity interconnector and multiple communications cables between Finland and Estonia were damaged and shut down. Finnish police and border guards landed on an oil tanker of Russia's dark/shadow fleet, which had made strange movements as it was over the cable at the time it failed, and found it had been dragging its anchor. This fits in the playbook of isolating the Baltic states, and it comes close to an act of war. It is a stark reminder of the need to take action against the shadow fleet, and to better protect Europe's vital infrastructure. Should be high on the energy security agenda too. Ongoing press conference and news in Finnish: https://yle.fi/ Western media are running behind, but have a look at my thread on Bluesky here: https://lnkd.in/e6AY7zDA

Common Futures wrapped: the 2024 edition!   We’ve been busy these past months with many important and inspiring challenges, covering a variety of topics such as security of supply, sector coupling, infrastructure and storage, from a local to a global level. We look forward to go again next year.   See you in the new year! 💫

Great North Sea Energy program event, yesterday at the Offshore Energy Exhibition and Conference! Packed room and up-do-date content on the increasingly integrated energy system developments on the North Sea. Contributions by Pit Losch, PhD (Ministère de l'Économie - Luxembourg, online), Rob van Zoelen (New Energy Coalition), Michel Dubbelboer (ENTSO-E, TenneT TSO B.V.), Robert Evers (Gasunie), Annemiek Asschert (EBN B.V.), Pim Somers (Stichting De Noordzee), and Robert Seehawer (AquaVentus). Moderated by Joris Koornneef (TNO). Some insights on the slides below, but much more to be published ;) Happy to support this important program with our Common Futures team, Daan Peters and Kees van der Leun

We're happy to have supported the European Hydrogen Backbone working group on its new paper, explaining the relevance of building EU hydrogen connections in the context of competitiveness and ensuring access to hydrogen across Europe!

Hoe kunnen we orde scheppen in de chaos van energy hubs?   Tijdens de Energy Talk begeleid door Marjolein Bot van het programma Systeemintegratie kregen we inzichten in de bouwstenen van multi-commodity energy hubs. Ron de Graaf van Royal HaskoningDHV presenteerde de uitkomsten van onderzoek naar typen energy hubs en hun betekenis voor de energietransitie. Het rapport beschrijft vier Energy Hub families:  🏠 Gebouwde omgeving  🚗 Mobiliteit  🏢 Bedrijventerreinen  🏭 Cluster 6 bedrijven  Lees meer over de bouwstenen en rol van deze families in het rapport: https://lnkd.in/eT5hs4av Daarnaast vertelde Inge Albregtse-Wijgerse hoe het project ORTESE de ontwikkeling van energy hubs ondersteunt. Bijvoorbeeld met een digital twin van het hele energiesysteem van Gemeente Emmen waarmee de impact van energy hubs op elkaar in kaart wordt gebracht.  Lees meer over ORTESE: https://lnkd.in/eY8KpKxT Aan de hand van de uitkomsten van het energy hubs rapport gaat Common Futures. Energy Transition Specialists een kennis- en innovatieprogramma opstellen. Welke vragen liggen er bij jou? Vul onze survey in: https://lnkd.in/esqJhK_6 

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐇𝐲𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐞 (𝐄𝐇𝐁) 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐤𝐢𝐜𝐤-𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐲𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭. Common Futures supported hydrogen network operators with their updated vision on the value of 58,000 km hydrogen network that connects Europe and neighbouring countries, and on the urgency to develop this network. This paper places key insights from previous EHB work in the hydrogen market and political context today. While the hydrogen market may not be advancing as swiftly as expected, hydrogen infrastructure must remain a priority. 🔑 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐨 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥? It’s a cornerstone for a enabling a secure, resilient, and cost-efficient, energy transition in Europe. It’s recognised as essential for enhancing European competitiveness by leaders such as Enrico Letta and Mario Draghi. It enables the integration of more variable renewable energy, creating a better business case for these assets. ⏰  𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐇𝐲𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰 Hydrogen infrastructure is more than a solution for the future—it's an anticipatory, market forming investment: Investment in the backbone de-risks supply chains, making hydrogen projects more viable. Enables financial close for an increasing number of production and offtake projects. Forms the foundation of a European hydrogen market, ensuring future economic and environmental benefits. ❗ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐝? While some countries, such as the Netherlands and Germany, have already taken significant steps to develop hydrogen backbones, European-level support is essential to ensure no region is left behind. Coordinated action at both EU and national levels is critical to unlock these investments and build the infrastructure required for a clean, competitive, and resilient Europe. 👉 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: [https://lnkd.in/ewDajygJ] GIE The European Hydrogen Backbone ONTRAS Gastransport GmbH Fluxys GRTgaz Enagás eustream, a.s. OGE Gasunie Creos Luxembourg GASCADE Gastransport GmbH Teréga Snam S.p.A. Transitgas AG Gasgrid Bulgartransgaz REN Gassco AS NET4GAS TAG GmbH FGSZ Földgázszállító Zrt. Nordion Energi Amber Grid Energinet DESFA PLINOVODI d.o.o. Gas Connect Austria

Last Friday, our Common Futures team had a great day out, filled with learning, laughter, and lasting memories! Here's a quick overview of our day: 💡 Energy in Action: We kicked off the day with a fascinating tour of the Combined Heat and Power plant and large boilers at Utrecht University. We recently supported their campus energy team and it was great to see their energy assets in operation. A big thanks to Jort Waegemaekers and the team for helping make this visit possible. 🍽️ High Tea Highlights: Next, we treated ourselves to a delightful high tea, filled with delicious bites and great conversations. A perfect pause to connect and recharge before the next activity. ( With unlimited tea, Daan’s day was already made!) 🎯 Cracking the Code: Following this rest, we briefly swapped the challenge of the energy transition for the challenge of an escape room! With plenty of ‘oohs’, ‘aahs’, and even a couple jump scares, our team of seven great minds managed to break out in no time. ✨ A Toast to Teamwork: We wrapped up the day with drinks and a lovely dinner, reflecting on the day’s highlights. 💬 The day was a perfect reminder of how important it is to step away from the desk, connect as a team, and celebrate the people who make Common Futures a fantastic place to work. Here's to many more moments like these! 🎊

This afternoon Kees van der Leun gave his view on four perspectives of European energy storage. Can you guess what they were? 🍃 Biomethane can be used in hybrid heat pumps in the future, which means the seasonal pattern for methane storage would remain similar to now. 💧 Hydrogen storage in the Netherlands could provide solutions for countries which have high hydrogen production potentials but limited storage options e.g., Finland 🆘 Strategic storage of methane and hydrogen will be crucial for security of supply during geopolitical shifts and extreme weather years ⚡ Dispatchable power needs a lot of gas, quickly. This means rapid withdrawal rates are needed from (methane and/or hydrogen) storage Thank you EBN B.V. for hosting a great event and Lucia van Geuns, Herbert Krajenbrink and Marinus Tabak for a lively discussion!

In het kader van ons programma Panorama Opslag stellen we morgenmiddag, op locatie bij EBN B.V., ‘Het Europese perspectief op energieopslag’ centraal. Een belangrijke invalshoek waar in Nederland nog vaak aan voorbij wordt gegaan, terwijl samenwerking in Europa op het gebied van energieopslag niet alleen noodzakelijk is maar ook kansen voor Nederland biedt. Herbert Krajenbrink, Lucia van Geuns, Marinus Tabak, Kees van der Leun en Lukas Wernert delen hun visie op waarom en hoe we in Europa samen werken aan energieopslag. En op wat ervoor nodig is om nu en in de toekomst voorzieningszekerheid te borgen met elkaar. Na een geslaagde EAGE GET conferentie, een mooie afsluiting van de week! De bijeenkomst is volgeschreven, maar houd onze website in de gaten voor het verslag!

🌍 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗶𝗮 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 🌍 We’re excited to be attending the Energeia Energy Day in Utrecht coming Monday! 🎉 With a great program focusing on the ongoing development of the energy system, we look forward to: 💡 The keynote from Willemien Terpstra from Gasunie on keeping the energy system balanced and society on course. 🔄 The breakout sessions on: “Flexibility for security of supply” hosted by EBN B.V. and“Grid congestion: from hopeless to hope” hosted by TenneT TSO B.V. 🍻 And, of course, the networking drinks! 😉 Alongside the fantastic program, it’s the perfect chance to connect with industry leaders and spark meaningful conversations. Are you planning to be there? Feel free to send any of us a message 📩, and let’s make time to meet up! 😊Kees van der Leun, Daan Peters, Lisanne Havinga, MSc. PhD, Evelien Smit, Leo Gray, Steffan Brosschot, Jelle Hofstra