Energy transition

The energy transition touches various activities in our high-tech systems and materials sector (HTSM sector). Which explains why the energy transition takes centre stage in our approach. Read more about the current state of affairs and ambitions for the future, focused on strengthening, expanding, and the role of Holland High Tech as an essential partner for research, innovation and growth within the energy transition.

State of affairs

Ambitie

Actielijnen

State of affairs

The energy transition is an important theme in the mission-driven innovation policy. The Netherlands wants to be completely climate-neutral by 2050. Before 2030, the target is to achieve a 55% reduction in CO2 emissions compared with 1990. We will achieve this through making the electricity system and built environment more sustainable and through realising a climate-neutral and competitive industry, emission-free mobility and climate-neutral agriculture.

We transition from fossil fuels to energy from renewable sources. In the climate agreement it has been agreed that 70% of all electricity will come from renewable resources. Our industry has to become circular and emit almost no greenhouse gases, and factories will run on sustainable electricity. In the Netherlands, we have agreed that industry will pay for the major share of the necessary investment, that various CO2 levies will apply and that grants will be made available for researching new technologies, for developing and implementing them.

As a sector, we can make a difference in a different way. We are an important party for the development and implementation of technologies for sustainable energy.

The energy transition touches various activities in our high-tech systems and materials sector (HTSM sector). As a sector, we plan to reduce our own energy consumption and make more use of sustainable energy. We will re-employ energy and generate sustainable energy. This is only possible through adapting our current manufacturing processes and business models. If we fail to do this, we run the risk, as a sector, of losing our license to operate (see TNO white paper: High-tech industry 2040).

As a sector, we can make a difference in a different way. We are an important party for the development and implementation of technologies for sustainable energy. We should not sit and wait for this, as is clear in the TNO report ‘Phasing out fossil-based technologies’.

We are convinced that the high-tech sector has an essential role to play in achieving the energy transition objectives. In the majority of roadmaps for our sector, there is increasing attention for the energy transition and the opportunities this transition has to offer. To increase attention for this even more, we established the Transition Team Energy Transition.

Theme.kiavmagazine.return

Ambition

Holland High Tech supports the energy transition through focusing on strategic innovation programmes. Through these programmes, we focus on solutions and applications that reduce the dependency of processes on fossil fuels, making them more energy-efficient or through reducing energy consumption.

We focus on the development of solutions and application of innovations that facilitate the green and sustainable generation, storage and transport of energy. To this end, we are developing a tangible agenda for action. Based on the agenda, we work on innovations for, in and with the high-tech manufacturing industry that make global contributions to the energy transition.

Action points

Establishing the agenda

In parts of the HTSM sector, the energy transition is already an important driver for innovation. Good examples are new applications for mobility. Also for programmes with the National Growth fund, including GroenvermogenNL, Luchtvaart in Transitie, NXTGEN Hightech and Material Independence & Circular Batteries, the energy transition is a stimulus for development and innovation. With our Transition Team, we bring this and other activities focused on the energy transition to the fore across the HTSM sector. This is how we can properly identify the need for new developments. And this is how, as a sector, we tackle the challenges and opportunities that the energy transition offers us, and act as a catalyst for developments based on this theme.

Through our agenda for action, we target the three energy transition opportunities for our sector: how do we innovate to make processes employing fossil fuels greener, how do we innovate to facilitate greener and more sustainable energy generation, storage and transport and how can we take advantage of the opportunities that the transition offers for new value chains?

Programming

Based on our agenda for action as a starting point, we give the energy transition its well-earned centre stage position. Not just in the programming for Holland High Tech and the Top Sector High Tech Systems and Materials, but also in the roadmaps for our sector.

In addition to the Dutch and European activities, we encourage developments and innovation that contribute to the energy transition. With the Transition Team, we table proposals for additional stimulating measures. Within our strategic programme, too, we devote extra attention to projects for energy transition.

Finally, as Holland High Tech, we are in consultation with national and regional authorities to remove obstacles and to promote new initiatives and the application of energy transition innovations.