Turning a partial discovery into an application, while improving existing technologies. According to Aris de Groot (51) from Uden, this is the fundamental idea behind sustainable innovation. Based on his philosophy, the former architect developed Ecovat®, a system for thermal energy storage that incorporates the vessel-in-vessel principle. The system features a unique characteristic: water in the underground buffer is not circulated by a pump. He learned about FME on social media.

“I first learned about FME on LinkedIn. FME’s Hans van der Spek moderates a LinkedIn discussion group about the energy transition. He is an active contributor, has meaningful things to say in my opinion. The online discussions led to a first meeting at FME a year and a half ago, followed by participation of Ecovat® in the Holland Energy House at Hannover Messe in 2014. These contacts, in turn, led to my close involvement in Energy Storage NL, which was founded in November 2014. As board member, I co-manage the portfolio ‘thermal storage.’ Membership at FME became a natural consequence.”

“FME takes heed of the important contribution tech starters can make. However small I was, I was taken for a fully fledged player.”

Read the entire feature article on FME’s website

Images: Mark Prins Fotografie