No future without storage

With that conviction, Maarten works along two lines. At Bredenoord he develops applications that are already being deployed, from mobile batteries to hybrid systems, while through Energy Storage NL he is building an infrastructure in which storage becomes a structural part of the energy mix. His message is clear: without buffering, there is no reliable grid, and thus no energy transition.

Innovation close to home

That search for solutions happens not only in international projects, but also in Apeldoorn itself. Part of Bredenoord's R&D is located at NewTechPark, the incubator where education and business meet. Among other things, it houses a test setup for direct current generation and storage. Students from Aventus, Saxion, the HAN and the University of Twente work there together with engineers from Bredenoord on practical innovations.

Bredenoord is also expanding its portfolio in its own development labs: from battery systems in different capacity classes (80 to 600 kW) to hybrid setups with generators and sustainable fuels such as HVO and hydrogen. A striking example is the Battery Box, a container solution that can be used immediately for peak load or temporary projects.

Storage as an indispensable link

Where once gas and coal could step in when the supply of energy fluctuated, we must now learn to deal with the vagaries of sun and wind. Batteries, heat storage and molecules such as hydrogen offer the solution. "You can't just produce. You have to buffer, too, or you will shut down. Just as a carrot is stored several times before it ends up on your plate, so too must energy pass through several buffers to reliably get to the user."

Because the demand for storage is now skyrocketing, it is not only a technical challenge but also an organizational one. Where do parties find each other, how do you share knowledge and how do you accelerate innovation? That makes the regional breeding ground at least as important as the technology itself.

Apeldoorn as a breeding ground

When asked if Apeldoorn is a logical place for this kind of development, Maarten does not have to think long. "Definitely. There are several strong companies here that are at the forefront of energy transition. Municipality and business know how to find each other. You don't see that everywhere." According to Maarten, it is this open cooperation that makes a congress on energy storage so valuable precisely in Apeldoorn.

Knowledge sharing and networking

This year Energy Storage NL is again organizing the national Energy Storage Event, with Apeldoorn as host. The goal: networking, sharing knowledge and influencing policy. "We want to show that the Netherlands is ready to move forward. Without energy storage there is no reliable energy transition. With the conference, we are building momentum and bringing together parties who can make that difference."

From vision to concrete action

What does this mean for Apeldoorn? The city profiles itself as the green and generous capital of the Veluwe region, and wants to be a leader in sustainability and energy transition. Companies like Bredenoord are giving concrete expression to this. "The key as far as I am concerned is that it is not one party that makes the difference, but the interplay," says Maarten. "Companies, municipality and knowledge institutions in Apeldoorn really reinforce each other."

Look Ahead

For Apeldoorn, the energy transition is a challenge, but also an opportunity. With companies making an international impact and a government that is thinking along, the city is equipped for progress. The Energy Storage Event promises to be an important benchmark: not only for the sector, but also for Apeldoorn as a knowledge city.Want to know more or register for The Energy Storage Event? Check outhttps://www.energieopslagevent.nl/for program and tickets.