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4 Design approaches to harness geothermal energy in product development
Geothermal energy is one of the most stable and reliable sources of sustainable energy. It is also a source of inspiration for product development. The techniques used to extract heat from the earth teach you something about three of the most important design principles in product development: efficiency, resilience, and system integration. In this blog,…
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When an industry shifts: how innovation fills the gap left by gas extraction
Gas extraction in Groningen has stopped. An industry that was taken for granted for decades no longer exists. That leaves a gap. But a gap in the market is also an opening for new products and innovations. The energy transition shows how industries reinvent themselves. Not by waiting until everything is certain, but by building…
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10 hardware innovations reducing our dependence on fossil fuels
Fossil fuels will not disappear overnight. But the shift is already well underway. More and more companies, households and governments are looking for alternatives to natural gas and oil. That calls for new products and systems that make those alternatives possible. In this blog, we outline ten hardware innovations that contribute to this shift. For…
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Rethinking nuclear: what the return of nuclear energy means for tech innovators
After decades in the background, nuclear energy is firmly back in the spotlight. The Netherlands ideally wants to build four new nuclear power plants and keep the Borssele plant open beyond its planned closure date in 2033. Worldwide, we see the same pattern: countries that wrote off nuclear energy years ago are now cautiously investing…
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How solar innovation works: from concept to functional prototype
Solar panels are now one of the cheapest energy sources in the world. That did not happen overnight. Behind every solar panel available today lies decades of development: from an initial scientific concept through thousands of prototypes to a product that can be manufactured and deployed at scale. That journey is a good illustration of…
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Prototyping at scale: what offshore wind energy can teach us
Offshore wind farms are large-scale projects. They are built tens of kilometres from the coast in one of the most demanding environments that exist. Wind farms need to last for decades, require minimal maintenance and deliver reliable energy under varying weather conditions. This sounds ambitious, but wind farms are nonetheless becoming increasingly efficient, larger and…
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4 innovation insights from the development of offshore wind energy
Offshore wind farms and the innovative techniques that come with them are impressive. Dozens of wind turbines at sea, expected to deliver reliable energy for decades under the most demanding conditions. These wind farms did not appear overnight. Over the years, the sector has learned how to improve a complex product step by step. Those…
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Why choose onshore wind power?
Wind power is a form of energy that has accomplished many tasks over the years. Think of sailing ships and powering windmills. Today, wind energy is a promising and sustainable source of energy. More and more offshore wind farms are emerging. But we should not overlook the potential of onshore wind energy in the process.…
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How is the use of waste heat encouraged?
The climate goals must be met no matter what. Reasons enough for the Dutch government to boost the use of renewable energy more. The same goes for the use of waste heat. The goal? A resilient and sustainable energy future for the Netherlands. In this blog, we look at the Dutch government and how they…
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5 ways waste heat can be used
In the ongoing search for renewable energy sources, waste heat is increasingly emerging as a valuable, albeit often untapped, resource in our efforts to create a greener future. Generated as a by-product of various industrial processes, this heat offers a wealth of opportunities for practical applications beyond traditional energy sources. In this blog, we take…
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What is waste heat and what can you do with it?
At a time when sustainability and energy efficiency are key, it is important to make the best use of all available resources. A rapidly emerging source in the world of renewable energy is waste heat. But what exactly is waste heat and how can we harness it to make our society greener and more efficient?…
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5 ways the government is encouraging hydrogen use
The climate requirements are clear: greenhouse gases must be reduced by 49% by 2030 and completely by 2050. This requires drastic changes to the energy system and the industrial and resource system. The use of hydrogen is one means of meeting the requirements. Hydrogen achieves a large number of functions in a CO2-free energy and…
