Essent innovates!
Essent innovates!
ColophonThis catalogue is an Essent New Energy publication
Editors: Michiel Prins, Godfried van der Heijden (Het Fabulaat),
Castel Communicatie (interviews)
Final editing: Erik van Engelen
Design: Wim de Vries & Susanna Kuiper (Castel Communicatie)
Printing: OBT, The Hague
September 2011
Contents
Trendsetter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Essent and Innovation: gathering knowledge, making choices and developing projects 6
BioBased Economy the art of making optimum use of biomass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Biomass: a CO2-neutral fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Interview: Nina Skorupska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Torrefaction and Pyrolysis: carbonised biomass and oil extracted from plants . . . 16
Energy management from passive customer to equal partner . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Energy management: optimum utilisation of energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Interview: Norbert Vroege . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Sustainable mobility carbon neutral driving is the future . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Electric vehicles: fewer particulates and less CO2 emission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Interview: Hans Streng . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Green gas: cleaner, quieter and more economical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Energy production making the supply of energy more sustainable & effi cient . . . . 39
Gasifi cation: pre-treatment for greater effi ciency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Geothermal energy: clean heat from the earth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Carbon Capture and Storage: storing CO2 instead of emitting it . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Cooperation with partners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Innovation: 'multiple heads are better than one' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Funds: investing in the future . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
“Together we have the strength to be trendsetter in a sustainable future.”
Trendsetter
The ongoing questEssent plays a special role in this process. As the largest
energy company in the Netherlands, we are one of the
trendsetters in the area of innovation. We are engaged in
the ongoing quest for innovative solutions to the energy
problems of today and tomorrow. In the process, we work in
close collaboration with knowledge and research institutes.
Everybody knows us from Green Energy, Green Gas, electric
transportation and from the High-effi ciency boiler, which
produces electricity as well as heating the home. These are
proven successes, not lucky breaks. Our innovation projects
are selected with care. The basic principles are always the
same: it must be reliable, aff ordable and clean.
Centralised and decentralisedEssent’s innovations are directed at the various parts of the
energy value chain. This includes both the sustainability of
centrally generated energy, as well as decentralised production
and energy effi ciency on the part on the end-users. We also
put increasing emphasis on the link between ‘centralised’ and
‘decentralised’. For example, the development of intelligent
products and services for homes and other buildings. As a
result, businesses and consumers will be able control their
energy consumption themselves, and thus their energy bill.
This presents opportunities for saving energy and to make
optimum use of sustainable energy sources.
Combined innovation powerEssent is part of RWE, one of the largest energy companies
in Europe. RWE invests in pilot projects in many areas, in
order to develop the new technologies that are needed to
bring about its vision of the future. It goes without saying
that Essent benefi ts from this knowledge and commitment
of resources in the same way that RWE benefi ts from
Essent’s innovative strength. Due to this combination of
innovation power, we will be able to make future energy
supply more sustainable and keep it aff ordable.
You will be able read and see what Essent is doing in the
area of innovation in this Innovation Catalogue.
The global demand for energy will continue to grow. We cannot meet this growing demand by
only continuing to build new power stations that use fossil fuels. The energy sector is expected to
develop new solutions and technologies, which will enable the supply of suffi cient aff ordable and
sustainable energy into the future.
Peter TeriumCEO of Essent
5
DEVELOPMENT
Innovation Management
Proj
ect
Activ
atio
n
Horizon Scan
OpportunitySelection
OpportunityManagement
Essent and Innovation: gathering knowledge, making choices and developing projects The ongoing quest for innovative and sustainable energy applications has yielded many results
during the last few years. It has also taught us that enormous amount of work still needs to be
done. Essent will therefore continue to invest in innovation in the future: from fuel to generation,
processing and energy storage, and from supply to mobility. As far as mobility is concerned,
Essent has caused a massive acceleration last years, by investing in electric modes of transport.
However, a number of research activities have also disappeared during the last few years. This is
connected to, among other things, the divestment of Enexis, the former ‘Essent Netwerk’.
In addition, the priority of pursuing certain innovations has shift ed, since we are focussing on
the technologies with the greatest potential. We regard decentralised production, for example, as
becoming more and more important.
6
Making it happenEssent is not so much required to invent the wheel itself,
but wants to make a contribution to the ‘enabling’ of
innovations in particular. Together with the various R&D
departments of the parent company, RWE, we look for
opportunities in the market. We also have strong ties with
knowledge and research institutes as well as investment
funds, which allows us to keep a close watch on the latest
developments. We make a selection from the many
possible technologies, which we can then develop further
as innovations. With our knowledge and experience, our
infrastructure, customers, capital and collaboration with
other parties, we are putting together the most valuable
portfolio of innovations.
DevelopmentInnovation is a specialisation. Within Essent, there is a
specialised business unit called ‘New Energy’, which is
responsible for carrying out innovation activities. Essent
New Energy, in close cooperation with the rest of the
company, is developing and implementing the innovation
strategy. New Energy is a knowledge centre and a linchpin
for RWE’s various R&D departments. It maintains
relationships with universities and knowledge institutes, and
acts as a sparring partner for government agencies.
New Energy also initiates the development of new products
and services. To do this, New Energy researches new
technologies, sets up pilot projects to test and further
develop them, and uses the results to create new business
concepts. This continuous process of gathering knowledge,
making choices and developing projects, is represented
schematically in the fi gure shown alongside.
Essent and RWE
The merger with RWE enables Essent to cooperate with
the various subsidiaries within the RWE group. This
allows both parties to benefi t from RWE’s strength, the
mutual collaboration, and the exchange of knowledge.
• Because of Essent’s pioneering role in the area of
co-fi ring biomass, an important exchange of
knowledge is occurring within RWE for the purpose
of making energy production more sustainable.
• In the fi eld of electric transportation, Essent works
closely together with RWE Effi zienz, who develop
charging stations, and with RWE Technology, for
the implementation of recharging station
infrastructure in the Netherlands.
• From its very beginnings, Essent has held an
important position in wind power generation in the
Netherlands. Soon aft er the merger with RWE, the
Essent business unit that develops wind power
projects was absorbed into RWE Innogy, the company
where all the knowledge and experience in the fi eld
of wind power in Europe has been aggregated.
The Dutch projects are therefore developed by
another RWE subsidiary, however, the Green Energy
is, of course, supplied to our own Essent customers.
7
BioBased Economythe art of making optimum use of biomass
Biomass co-fi ring is an important source of fuel for the production of sustainable energy.
In this area, Essent has been the trendsetter for years. However, a lot of optimisation is still
possible within in the value chain from biomass up to and including electricity generation,
as a result of which the value chain can become more effi cient and sustainable. You can
think of the optimisation of transport and co-fi ring characteristics of biomass in this regard.
But there is also much left to achieve in the area of extracting high-value components from
biomass. The fact is that biomass is used primarily for the generation of power at present,
and this is a missed opportunity, both in the sense of economics and sustainability. Biomass
contains a treasure trove of wealth. The art is in extracting it. This can be achieved by
splitting the biomass into its constituent components, which we call biorefi ning. The high-
value components of biomass, such as vitamins, proteins and sugars, can be used as
sustainable raw materials for various products in other industries. The low-value residue will
be used for the generation of sustainable energy. For Essent, this is the BioBased Economy.
Green Gold LabelBiomass is increasingly used as a sustainable fuel in power
stations. Using biomass has given rise to criticism from
time-to-time, since cultivating it might be at the expense
of the food supply and old-growth forests. In order to
prevent this from happening, Essent developed the ‘Green
Gold Label’ as far back as 2002. This label guarantees
that the biomass does not compete with food provision,
does not contribute to deforestation, and does not
harm the environment in any other way. The Worldwide
Wildlife Fund, together with independent certifi cation and
inspection agencies, monitors the use of label.
Wood pelletsEssent is at the forefront of co-fi ring biomass in coal-fi red
power stations and in this way has already been generating
sustainable energy on a large scale since 2001. In the Amer
Power Plant, thirty percent biomass is co-fi red in the form
of wood pellets. This is a waste stream from the timber
industry, e.g. sawdust, which has been dried and compressed
into small compact wood pellets with a high energy content.
In a recent test we successfully co-fi red more than fi ft y
percent (based on mass) wood pellets. In doing so, the Amer
Power Plant took an historical step towards becoming a
hybrid power station; i.e. a power station that co-fi res fi ft y
percent biomass on a continuous basis.
BioBased Economy:Within New Energy, we have been working on projects in the
area of Biomass Chain Innovations for some time. In this
way, we want to energetically further the optimization of the
value chain from (residual) biomass to electricity generation.
The focus in this process will be on transportation and
co-fi ring properties. This adds a new and important
dimension to the BioBased Economy.
BioBased Economy, is an overarching term for
developments in the area of biomass applications, the most
important aim of which is to use the high-value biological
structures of biomass for high-value purposes, and to use
the low-value residues for energy production.
Biomass: a CO2-neutral fuel
'Biomass' is the generic name for organic matter of all kinds, such as wood, grass and manure.
We are able to generate electricity through the incineration, fermentation and gasifi cation of these
materials. This produces fewer CO2 emissions than the burning of fossil fuels. Trees and plants
absorb CO2 while they grow, which is once again released during incineration. This is a relatively
short CO2 cycle, which we can safely call CO2-neutral. This is very diff erent from the burning of
fossil fuels, which have already been in the ground for millions of years. The CO2 that is released in
that case, is not part of the natural, short-term CO2 cycle on the earth, and has major consequences
for the environment and the climate. Therefore, the burning of biomass does not contribute to an
increase of CO2 in the atmosphere. This is the reason why we call biomass CO2-neutral.
10
Biorefi ning is used to release the high-value components.
These components can be used, for example, in the
pharmaceutical, food or feed industries, the (fi ne)
chemistry, and in the production of bio-fuels for motor
vehicles. This also means that collaboration between the
sectors referred to, is crucial for this project.
AlgaeEssent is currently researching the various possibilities
off ered by a new technology, in which the CO2 that is
released during energy production, is pumped into an algae
pond. Algae are microscopically small plants at the bottom
of the food chain. Under the right conditions, they double
in size every two minutes. Whilst they are growing, algae
produce oxygen and absorb CO2.
Algae grow very effi ciently. Their yield per hectare is ten
times greater than conventional plants. Another advantage,
is that algae can be harvested continuously, which means
that a constant supply of biomass will be available.
The abovementioned properties off er many possibilities.
For example, certain algae components can be used in the
food and chemical industries, but they can also be used as a
biofuel.
Essent and Biomass
• Essent plays a leading role in the area of co-fi ring
biomass with a successful test of co-fi ring more
than 50 percent biomass (based on mass) in the
Amer Power Plant.
• For Essent, BioBased Economy is the spearhead in
the area of biomass; the focus is on optimal
utilisation of the high-value biological structures of
biomass, and using the residue for energy
production.
• The AlgiCoat project is a textbook example of the
optimum utilisation of biomass. The building blocks
from algae are used as a sustainable raw materials
supply for paint production, aft er which the residue
is used for sustainable energy production.
11
Sunlight
Energy conversion
Cosmetics
Foods
Food supplement
Algaefarming
Harvest Extractionand refining
(Fine) chemicals
Residues
Transportfuels
Green electricityand heating
BiofuelNutrientsresidual currents
CO2
CO2
AlgiCoatIn the AlgiCoat project, Essent together with AkzoNobel,
Wageningen University and the algae specialist, Ingrepro,
is currently investigating how many high-value chemical
elements can be extracted from algae.
The researchers are also looking at the extent to which bio
building blocks from algae can be processed into sustainable
base materials for paint production. This is carried out in
an experimental setup with two tanks full of algae that are
being fed CO2 from one of Essent’s power plants.
Aft er the base materials have been extracted from the
algae, the residue is used as fuel for the power plants. At the
moment, the cost of production and processing of algae
still exceeds the returns. However, the ultimate objective of
research projects is to reduce the cost of these applications.
The AlgiCoat project will run until 2012.
12
“Algae as fuel for power plants”
13
‘As compared to volatile sustainable energy sources such as wind or solar, cofi ring biomass
provides an economic, reliable and fl exible way to reduce coal usage. Economic because
we can adapt existing power plants, reliable because the technology has already been
tried and tested and fl exible because power plants can produce in accordance with the
market situation.’
Nina Skorupska
Chief Technology Offi cer at Essent
“Cofi ring biomass provides a reliable road to complete sustainability”
Interview: Nina Skorupska
14
Nina Skorupska
Chief Technology Offi cer at Essent
‘When it comes to the technique of cofi ring coal and biomass, Essent’s
Amercentrale in Geertruidenberg is the leading lady. She provides over
3 million households with electricity alongside a heat production, saving some
125 million m3 of natural gas per year. Over 2010 we managed to consistently
replace 35% of coal with clean wood pellets. Over the next two years we will
invest in enhancing our cofi ring techniques to work this percentage up to 50%
and aft er that eventually 80%. Tests have already proven it to be possible. This
will be a big step towards achieving our goals of reducing CO2 emissions by 20%
and increasing sustainable energy production by 20% over the next 10 years.’
European hub‘Multiple industries are looking at the possibilities of a BioBased Economy in an
synergistic way. The Netherlands have the potential of becoming a European
hub, which will boost the economy. Essent understands the full chain around
biomass. We have played a leading role in aligning stakeholders to harmonize
certifi cation of biomass sources. We seek joint ventures with other industries, for
instance in chemical industry and paper industry. An example is our collaboration
with Akzo Nobel, who are using algae in their production process. The algae
residue can be cofi red in our power plants, while our CO2 emissions can be
captured and used to accelerate the growth of the algae.’
BioBased Economy‘Cofi ring biomass is one piece in the complete jigsaw of a reliable, sustainable
energy supply. However, to make the use of biomass economically viable it still
needs an adequate government support scheme. If you look at it from a holistic
perspective, this is justifi able. The Netherlands will clearly benefi t from a BioBased
Economy, from the port of Rotterdam where the biomass is received and distributed
in Europe, to power stations through to road construction companies who use the
fl y ash in their products. The most important future chains of biomass applications
will look as follows: biomass is initially used as a raw material and the (biological) rest
products of such processes will become available for energy conversion.’
15
TorrefactionThe anticipated improvement in effi ciency with torrefaction
is considerable. This technology has a number of advantages
over wood pellets, which are widely used at the moment.
With torrefaction, the weight of the biomass is reduced
by extracting moisture and volatile elements. The volume
is reduced by compressing it into pellets. This produces
a compact biofuel with a high energy content, which is
sometimes referred to as bio-coal. Other advantages are
also important, such as smaller transport volumes and
Torrefaction and Pyrolysis: carbonised biomass and oil extracted from plants Essent is a trend-setter in the production of electricity through co-fi ring or gasifi cation of biomass.
It is easier and more attractive to use biomass that has been pre-processed. Essent wants to
increase the proportion of biomass used for the generation of electricity by employing pyrolysis
and torrefaction as pre-processing techniques. These new techniques process biomass by heating
it with little or no oxygen. In the case of torrefaction, the fi bre structure of the biomass will be
destroyed and a carbonised biomass is created. With pyrolysis, an oil-like product is created,
which can serve as fuel when using special burners.
16
therefore a reduction in environmental impacts. The latter
will certainly be the case when torrefaction facilities are built
near the biomass source.
Bio-coal testsBio-coal looks like hard coal. This means that it can easily
be crushed for burning. It is also water repellent, which
meant that, unlike wood pellets, it can be stored in the
open air. These benefi ts make bio-mass infrastructure less
complex, reduce costs, and enable biomass to be used with
greater fl exibility.
Essent expects a great deal from this technology, and has
therefore entered into contracts with two torrefaction
pellet suppliers. Once the bio-coal is being delivered, we are
going to conduct large-scale tests with this fuel in the Amer
Power station over a number of years. The tests have been
designed to determine whether bio-coal does indeed have
all the virtues referred to above. Over the next fi ve years,
more than 400,000 tonnes of bio-coal is expected that to
be co-fi red as a substitute for coal.
PyrolysisWood is the most used biomass for power generation,
and demand is growing worldwide. Younger biomass
such as straw, bagasse, roadside grass clippings and other
agricultural waste have been less suitable up till now,
because a high content of undesirable components in the
ashes causes problems for the power station.
Pyrolysis solves this problem. During the pyrolysis process,
the ashes are separated from the oil product. As a result,
alternative biomass streams can be utilised for power
generation, and Essent will be able to burn biomass other
than wood. An additional advantage is that the ashes,
which contain valuable minerals, will stay behind at the
place of origin. These minerals can be used again in the
sustainable cultivation of new biomass.
Pyrolysis as a technology has been developed further than
torrefaction, but its application in the energy sector is
relatively new. Pyrolysis oil is primarily suitable for burning in
power stations. When the quality of this product is improved
further in the future, it can be converted to petrol or diesel
through a refi nement process.
Essent, together with a fi rm of consultants and other
scientists, is conducting research for potential raw
materials and locations for the application of pyrolysis,
and the possibility of burning the oil in power stations.
The process includes examinations of technological and
fi nancial feasibility.
Essent and Pyrolysis & Torrefaction
• Based on favourable test results, Essent is planning
to co-fi re more than 150,000 tonnes of torrefi ed
biomass per year in the Amer Power Station as a
substitute for burning pit coal.
• Aft er carrying out a promising study in the area of
pyrolysis, Essent is investigating practical applications
for pyrolysis oil in various areas at a centralised and
decentralised level.
17
Energy management from passive customer to equal partner
One of the greatest challenges within the energy sector is the transition to aff ordable
and reliable infrastructure for sustainable energy production. Wind power, decentralised
production, heat pumps and electric vehicles all require more fl exibility from energy
infrastructure. These developments also create a lot of new opportunities. We can, for
example, make more effi cient use of the infrastructure and the energy being generated,
by recharging electrical cars or through the coordination of micro-CHPs. Off ering diff erent
services, changes the relationship between customer and energy supplier. They turn a
passive customer into an equal partner. For example, the customer may choose to actively
sell his or her decentralised generation of energy to neighbours and family. Or he or she
lets smart soft ware adjust his or her demand for electricity to the amount available
without losing any of the comforts, resulting in a lower energy bill and a reduced impact
on the environment.
A matter of timeConsumers are still accustomed to the uninterrupted
availability of energy, without having to take anything into
consideration. They barely understand their own energy
consumption or the existing opportunities for reducing
their energy bill. Slowly but surely, customers are going
to pay more and more for the fl exibility that the energy
supplier has to provide in order to guarantee uninterrupted
availability of energy.
At the moment, suppliers of energy services are not yet able
to convince customers to make use of energy management
systems. It is oft en unclear to the customer, what the
benefi ts for him or her might be. Moreover, customers want
a personalised service which can be reduced or expanded
as desired, without having to make an investment of their
own. However, the time will come when suppliers of energy
services will be able to convince their customers to start
using the opportunities available for reducing their energy
bill and optimising the energy system as a result. It is a
matter of time and leadership.
Energy management: optimum utilisation of energy
As a result of new technologies, it is getting much easier for consumers to make optimum use of their
own energy at home and the energy available from the grid. Through the further development of solar
panels, solar boilers, micro-CHPs, electric cars, heat pumps and fermentation installation, the option
of making full use of self-generated energy at specifi c times is becoming more and more attractive.
At certain times, the production of electricity or gas will cost less and will be more sustainable than
using energy from the grid. The consumer will also be able to purchase energy at a time when it is
cheap. Saving energy yourself, is perhaps the best way of making optimum use of energy.
20
Self generationThe HRe boiler (high-effi ciency with electricity generation),
or micro-CHP, is a small power plant in the home. Like a
conventional HRe boiler, this kind of boiler produces heat
and hot water, and generates electricity at the same time.
This is more effi cient because a larger amount of usable
energy is produced from the same amount of gas. This also
reduces CO2 emissions and, what’s more, it is good for
the bank balance. In 2009 and 2010, 200 households
received a HRe-boiler from Essent. As soon as the results of
this large-scale test are available, the further scaling-up of
HRe-boiler distribution can begin.
Heat pumpIn our environment, a great deal of energy is present in
the form of ‘low-temperature heat’. This form of energy
is still diffi cult to utilise at present. Using a heat pump,
the temperature of this heat source can be increased
during the winter, so that it can be used for space heating.
During the summer months, the heat pump can use this
low temperature source of heat for cooling.
A heat pump works in almost the same way as a refrigerator.
By passing low-temperature heat from the ground, air or
Essent and Energy Management
• Essent provides smart solutions for Energy
Management such as the 'smart thermostat', so
that customers will be able to keep their bills
under control.
• In a future with electricity from sustainable sources,
self-management of energy will become
more valuable.
• Essent, together with its partners, builds Energy
Management solutions. These solutions are already
being tested by innovative consumers today.
21
Electricity25%
Central heating pump
Usableheat100%
Compressor
Outside airas heat source
75%
Evaporator
Condenser
Heat pump
water across a liquid that boils at a low temperature, the
heat is extracted. By compressing this liquid, its temperature
rises. Next, the heat is conveyed alongside water pipes of a
heating system, for example, and is transferred to it.
By applying this existing technology to existing heating
installations, it will be possible to reduce the use of
expensive fossil fuels.
Solar panelsAll energy on earth is in one way or another derived from
the sun. The sun’s energy can be converted directly into
heat or electricity by capturing the sunlight with a solar
water heater or photovoltaic cells. This is becoming more
and more attractive, because the amount of power that is
generated per square metre of solar panel increases every
year, whereas the cost of the panels is coming down every
year. When the price of energy from the grid increases, it
will become more and more attractive for consumers and
businesses to install solar panels on their roofs.
Smart buyingNowadays, Essent is continuously supplying electricity and
gas that is, in part, produced sustainably. Depending on the
availability of the sources of energy concerned, production
and network capacity, the costs incurred by the energy
supplier will vary from one moment to the next. Energy
suppliers could pass on these diff erences to the customers,
and then assist them in optimising their consumption.
For example, customers can store electricity when it is
cheap, and use it when the mains supply is more expensive.
Customer might also choose to use more energy at times
when it is cheaper or more sustainable, and less when it is
more expensive or less sustainable.
22
Energy Output Solar Panels
Electricity Consumption
Flexible Power Generation
Shifting Use
0 4 8 12 16 20 24
Power
Smart soft wareUsing information technology, customers can continuously
adjust their energy consumption to the energy availability
in their home and from the grid. In addition, information
technology is able to assist with the optimum use of their
own energy storage and electricity generation equipment.
The required information will come from various meters
and sensors, and is used by smart soft ware to switch
equipment on and off automatically. Alternatively, the
soft ware will signal the customer, so that he or she can
take action personally. Given the rising cost of energy
and the increasing fl uctuations in energy prices, the time
required to recoup the cost of the information technology
needed, continues to shrink. For this reason, information
technology is going to be used more and more oft en
to utilise equipment as effi ciently as possible. The fi rst
23
applications already on the market, are digital energy
meters and feedback systems. For larger installations such
as CHPs used by market gardeners, information technology
is already used a lot to ensure optimum use of such
decentralised equipment.
PowerMatching City HoogkerkPowerMatching City Hoogkerk is another test of the
soft ware. It is part of a project by Essent and its partners,
ECN, KEMA and Humiq, sponsored by the European Union.
PowerMatching City Hoogkerk takes a giant step
towards the introduction of the PowerMatching system.
The PowerMatcher is a smart soft ware program, which
ensures that equipment will automatically use energy in
an optimum way. This is achieved on the basis of current
energy prices for grid supply and feed-back of electricity.
In the village of Hoogkerk near Groningen, twenty-three
households have been equipped with a mix of heat pumps,
HRe-tanks, solar panels, washing machines, dishwashers
and freezers as well as a few electric cars and a windmill
are all connected to the soft ware. The system is linked
to the Dutch energy exchange, APX, and the TenneT
Imbalance Market, as a result of which the soft ware is able
to determine the optimum price for energy.
The project uses the electricity prices as a coordination
tool, so that electric cars will actually start charging when
there is a lot of wind. In the follow-up project, which starts
in January 2012, the prices will actually be used to reward
customers for the ‘fl exibility’ in energy consumption or local
generation that they provide.
Energy savingsApart from self-generation and smart purchasing, energy
saving is perhaps the easiest way of reducing energy bills
and reducing our impact of the environment. Who doesn’t
accidentally leave a light on, or (worse), the heating?
Insulating the house is oft en a time consuming and major
job that many people dread. However, once insulation has
been installed, it will quickly make a diff erence of thirty
percent in gas/heat consumption without the need for any
lifestyle adjustments. The cost of replacing an old chest
freezer with a new one, is oft en recouped within a few years,
whereas it will easily last for ten years or more. Essent wants
to assist customers in identifying the best savings options.
Essent can also play a role in the purchase of such an
energy-saving option.
Large-scale energy storage: Supply and demand in equilibriumIn addition to creating fl exibility in the energy system at the
consumer’s end, large-scale storage may also serve as an
alternative for this purpose.
Sustainable sources of energy, such as wind and sunlight,
are becoming increasingly important for our energy supply.
However, the production of wind and solar energy is fi tful
and unpredictable. This makes it more and more diffi cult
to balance demand and supply of energy. However, this
will be possible with large-scale energy storage. When the
supply of wind energy is high and demand is low, e.g. during
the night, the energy can be stored for use at times when
demand is high, such as during working days.
24
Solar cells
Wind turbine
Break-even point
HRe
Washing/drying
Charging an electric vehicle
Forms of energy storageEssent has conducted a number of investigations in the
area of energy storage. For example, the possibility of
constructing Underground Pumped Storage Power Stations,
and the creation of an energy island. This will involve
pumping water up when demand for electricity is low. A
third method of energy storage is the compression of air
and storing it, for example, in empty salt mines. So-called
CAES (Compressed Air Energy Storage), is currently
being investigated by RWE Power. Essent Innovation is
involved in an initiative to implement CAES in the north of
the Netherlands.
Large scale energy storage has shown that it cannot
resolve the demand for more fl exibility completely. Essent
continues to monitor developments in energy storage
and we see storage as increasingly being integrated in our
energy system.
25
More insight‘We have recently joined the pilot project, Energy Management, with which
Essent wants to give thirty households a better understanding of their energy
consumption. Cisco and Accenture are also taking part. Together, we provide
both the peripheral equipment and the ability to monitor consumption. Our aim
is to create the biggest possible energy savings with the least possible resources.
Moreover, in Essent we have found an energy supplier that really chooses
new forms of energy. The company takes it seriously and provides options.
The collaboration is enjoyable and the lines of communication are short.
Moreover, it is nice to see that Essent chooses to work with local partners. In this
way, we keep our knowledge and excellence close to home.’
‘The world of energy is changing; especially lately, things are changing rapidly. At Plugwise,
we noticed that until recently, parties were reluctant to collaborate. That time has passed.
The focus on innovative products is increasing, because the topic is becoming more and
more visible. Take a look at the products and services supplied by Essent, for example.
Consciously managing energy is more important than ever
Norbert Vroege
CEO of Plugwise, which provides an insight into energy consumption with
smart power plugs
“Consciously managing energy is more importantthan ever”
Interview: Norbert Vroege
26
Norbert Vroege
CEO of Plugwise, which provides an
insight into energy consumption with
smart power plugs
Smart power‘When it comes to saving energy, I like to distinguish between smart and dumb
electric power. The cheapest supplier? It is not the only thing that people focus
on. Show what you have to off er. Show how much energy they save with
innovative products. If you supply the added value in the right way, people are
more than happy to pay extra for it.
Although we increasingly look to innovation, we are lagging behind countries like
the United States of America. In the USA, the use of diff erentiated energy tariff s is
much further advanced. I nevertheless believe that we will catch up to them fast.
It will be impossible to imagine of life here without using terms such as Energy
Management in fi ve years from now. The rapid development in our distribution
networks will play an important role in this regard. Compare it to the Internet.
With the arrival of ADSL, it made an enormous leap forward. We are presently at
a similar junction’
27
Sustainable mobility carbon neutral driving is the future
In many cases, cars are still running on fossil fuels, as a result of which they emit CO2.
The total number of kilometres driven is also rising each year. Essent is working on
systems for both Green Gas and electricity that enable cars to operate in a far more
environmentally friendly way. In this regard, new infrastructure for the recharging of
electric cars is also gaining in importance. As a result, our daily routine of driving our cars
for some distance and then stopping at a pump to fi ll up with petrol, diesel or LPG, will
gradually become a thing of the past.
Electric vehicles: fewer particulates and less CO2 emission
investment deductions will oft en apply as well. There are
also a large number of municipal subsidies and benefi ts
for electric cars, including free power and free parking in a
number of inner cities.
ProductionFrom 2011, a number of well-known car manufacturers will
start mass-producing electric cars, which will make it more
attractive for the general public. Within fi ft een years, a large
proportion of all new cars will have electric engines, and will
cost approximately the same as a conventional car. Electric
scooters and bicycles are already for sale everywhere.
Essent is pleased to contribute to these sustainable
developments, and promotes the technology and the
market for electric vehicles. We provide a good example by
having tens of electric lease cars and commercial vehicles in
our fl eet. Partnerships with prominent organisations ensure
that our vision is widely disseminated and that concrete
projects are being developed. The focus will be to recharge
the electric cars of our customers in the best possible way.
Our philosophyEssent off ers an overall charging solutions plan for electric
vehicles: public and private charging points and wall panels
with BackOffi ce, smart management and a measuring
Commitment!Big cities are increasingly faced with the problem of
particulates from local emissions. European standards in
this regard, and their enforcement, are becoming stricter
all the time. Electric vehicles reduce local emission to zero,
and will be able to make a signifi cant contribution to the air
quality programs of cities.
Furthermore, driving electric vehicles already leads to an
immediate reduction in total CO2 emissions by around
60 g/km. The European Union is demonstrating a strong
commitment to a more sustainable society, and it has ruled
that, from 2012, new cars will not be permitted to emit
more than an average of just 130 g/km of CO2. Electric
vehicles, therefore, can make an immediate and large
contribution to the implementation of this ruling.
Essent is strongly committed to ensuring that electric vehicles
use one hundred percent Green Energy. This will make a big
contribution to the ‘greening’ of the transport sector.
The NetherlandsThe Dutch national government is also encouraging the
use of electric vehicles by not charging BPM (Vehicle Sales
Tax) or Road Tax, providing subsidies for pilot projects, not
charging a leasing surcharge, and discouraging the use
of cars that are harmful to the environment. MIA/VAMIL
Mass-produced electric cars are expected to be using Dutch roads from 2011. These cars do
not emit any particulates and emit much less CO2. Moreover, electric cars are an ideal transition
technology: by using more and more sustainable sources of energy, they will even be driving
without causing any CO2 emission.
30
system. Entirely in accordance with European standards in the
area of safety and interoperability. A standard plug for electric
cars and proper arrangements with regard to charging station
access, are the most important elements in this regard.
In 2009 and 2010, a number of pilot projects were
implemented in collaboration with municipal councils,
provincial authorities and businesses who, like Essent, have
major ambitions when it comes to sustainable electric
transportation. In this way, the benefi ts of electric vehicles
are demonstrated to future users, and new infrastructure,
products and services will continue to be developed.
RechargingOne important success factor for electric vehicles is the
ability recharge them anywhere. Not just at home, but
also at the offi ce, in car parks, and at service stations.
Together with other parties in this market, including the
Formula E-team, Essent is working on interoperable
charging systems, enabling everybody to recharge their car
everywhere, and whereby it doesn’t matter which energy
company a person is the customer of.
We are also working with the other subsidiaries in the RWE
group, on an international network of charging stations. This
further optimises the convenience and recharge options for
the consumer.
• Essent works with local and provincial
governments on the large-scale rollout of public
charging infrastructure for electric cars. From mid
2011, Essent will be installing between 125 and
1250 public charging stations in the area of
Amsterdam.
• In collaboration with leasing companies and the car
industry, Essent will in the future provide drivers
with charging infrastructure at home and at work.
• Essent will invest in fast charging facilities in public
spaces. Essent has installed the fi rst fast charging
stations in Leeuwarden and Amsterdam.
• Essent regards 'smart charging' in the context of
Energy Management as a sustainable and attractive
application. It is being tested in the PowerMatching
City project in Hoogkerk.
Essent and Electric Transportation
31
Interview: Hans Streng
‘I have an electric scooter myself. When I drive it to work in
the morning, I sometimes look around me in amazement while
waiting at a traffi c light. Other scooters and cars; we blow so
much exhaust gas into the atmosphere! At the moment, we still
think of this as normal, even though we all know that there is
another way.’
“Twenty years from now, we will all be driving electric vehicles”
Hans Streng
CEO of Epyon, which manufactures advanced fast chargers for electric cars
32
In half an hour‘At the start of last year, we opened the fi rst European fast charging station in
Leeuwarden, together with a number of other parties, including Essent. This will
be followed shortly by another ten such stations, where you can recharge your
car in half an hour. The limited range will become less of a bottleneckthis way. In
the future, we will no longer stop for fuel. Instead, we will mainly be charging our
vehicles between journeys.
In ten years from now, one in every ten cars will be electrically driven. In twenty
years from, we won’t know any better. We will then look back at today and won’t
be able to understand how we were able to keep going like this. This realisation is
still in its infancy, even though the business sector has already changed course.
It is now the consumer’s turn to take the step forward. The train has gotten up to
steam and is not going to stop again. I am absolutely convinced about that’
Scepticism is declining‘I know, we are still at the starting line. But with it, we are also at the start of new
way of thinking about refuelling. Scepticism is declining already because batteries
are also improving. Now it is essential to translate theory into practice; having the
courage to commit oneself. This will, of course, be accompanied by uncertainty.
For that reason, I am so happy that Essent is tackling this with us.
It is not easy to depart from existing processes, especially for a large company.
Fortunately, Essent realises that when you are big, you also have a lot of
opportunities in the area of innovation. Pioneers create the market. With a
partner like that, collaboration for us at Epyon, is a pleasure.’
Hans Streng
CEO of Epyon, which manufactures advanced
fast chargers for electric cars
33
Organic material: e.g. on waste disposal sites, in manure or kitchen and garden waste.
Biogas can be produced through fermentation of organic material.
Reprocessing of landfill gas and biogas into green gas.
Fuel
Gas andgas network
Residual products
ApplicationsGreen Gas is a sustainable, home-grown product. Essent
has successfully marketed this gas since 2008. Green
Gas busses are running in Zeeland and in The Hague, for
example, but other vehicles such as passenger cars and
commercial vehicles can also use Green Gas. The network
of independent Green Gas service stations has doubled in
the past year. In late 2011, around 100 Green Gas service
stations will have been established, which has created a
national network of coverage. As the market leader, we are
convinced that in addition to electric vehicles, Green Gas will
occupy a prominent position in the fuel mix for transport.
Green gas: cleaner, quieter and more economicalDriving on Green Gas is a clean and sustainable form of transport that can already be applied quite
easily, and is at the point of a breakthrough. Essent wants all vehicles that use natural gas, to start
using Green Gas. Driving a car using gas, is cleaner, quieter and more economical than any other
type of fuel. Moreover, Green Gas is practically CO2 neutral. It starts with the production of biogas
by fermenting organic materials. In oxygen-free conditions, bacteria convert the material into
biological gas. Aft er processing, Green Gas is created, which can be pumped into the gas mains, so
that it can be used as fuel for cars, either directly or indirectly.
34
Certifi cateIt has emerged, that Green Gas is also a good way for large
business customers to achieve a CO2 footprint reduction, as
well their promotional and commercial objectives. The basis
for this includes a certifi cate system created by Essent, which
makes it possible de-link demand and supply. This means
that, by purchasing a certifi cate, the user is buying virtual
Green Gas, whilst the gas is being produced and supplied
somewhere else. This approach is important, because
it off ers the customers in a new market the opportunity
to choose Green Gas in favour of the already very clean,
natural gas. Companies such as Gulpener and Van Houtem
are using Green Gas in this way, similar to the introduction
of sustainable beer and the production of the world’s fi rst
‘cradle to cradle’ toilet roll.
Large-scale Green Gas Essent, together with a consulting agency, the provincial
government of Friesland, network companies and local
agencies, has taken important steps towards the realisation
of an innovative, thirty-two kilometre long biogas
infrastructure system, which a number of farmers will be able
Essent and Green Gas
• Essent is the market leader in Green Gas and stood
at the cradle of the Green Gas certifi cate system,
which de-links the supply and demand of Green
gas, and stimulates this new market.
• Due to the collaboration between Essent, various
government agencies and several biogas producers,
the fi rst Green Gas hub in the Netherlands will start
operating in early 2013. This is a 32 kilometre
biogas pipeline with a refi nery to produce the
Green Gas.
• Green Gas can also be liquefi ed: Liquefi ed Biogas
(LBG). This is the way that Essent works on direct
applications for Green Gas in traffi c.
35
to start using at the start of 2013. It will be the fi rst Green
Gas Hub in the Netherlands. Essent is discussing a large-
scale rollout of this concept with government agencies.
We are also investigating small-scale, clean manure
fermentation for farms. This is another promising path for
biogas. Because of this and other ambitions in the area of
sustainable energy, Essent has at the close of 2010 signed a
collaboration agreement with FrieslandCampina. As a result,
it will be possible for the dairy farmers who are members of
this cooperative and are connected, to speed up the process
of making energy management on their farms more
sustainable, with an exclusive ‘EnergyContactPoint’.
Liquefi ed Green GasIn Haarlem’s Schoteroog, Essent will be starting the fi rst
liquefi ed Green Gas project in the Netherlands. ‘Liquefi ed
biogas’ (LBG) is created by cooling biogas to 163 ⁰C below
zero, so that it liquefi es. This technology is not the only
Defi nitions
• Biogas: methane containing gas produced from
renewable biomass through fermentation.
• Green Gas: a gaseous energy carrier extracted
from renewable biomass of a quality and
calorifi c value (35.17 MJ) that equals natural gas
quality from the public grid.
• Green gas can be obtained through the
purifi cation of biogas
• LBG ( Liquefi ed BioGas): liquefi ed methane
produced from renewable biomass. LBG is the
biological counterpart of LNG (Liquefi ed
Natural Gas)
innovative aspect of the project. It so happens that the
biogas comes from both a water purifi cation plant and from
a waste dump, and is purifi ed at the same time.
The gas will be able to become a sustainable, liquefi ed
replacement for the fossil diesel fuel that is used in trucking
and shipping. Moreover, the liquid CO2 that is thus captured,
can be used in greenhouse cultivation. Because of these
favourable prospects, Essent has chosen not to apply for a
SDE subsidy, but to start construction immediately, so that
the production plant can be commissioned in April of 2011.
The futureGreen Gas has the potential to replace ten percent of gas
consumption in the Netherlands Essent’s aim is to expand
the market for Green Gas with the production and use of
home-grown biofuel. To achieve this, Essent will develop
innovative customer off ers for 2011, whereby companies
will be able to switch to Green Gas transport fuel.
36
“Green Gas gets up to steam"
37
Energy production making the supply of energy more sustainable & effi cient
Fossil fuels are still indispensable for the production of energy at this time. However,
during the production of electricity and heat from fossil fuels, greenhouse gases are
released. Essent is aware of this and is therefore doing all it can to not only ensure that
electricity production remains aff ordable and reliable, but also that it is as sustainable
as possible. As a result, we are always searching for cleaner and more effi cient ways of
producing energy. To this end, we investigate new techniques and try to improve existing
techniques. Essent has, for example, been a trendsetter for years in the area of biomass
co-fi ring, and is working continuously to further develop this technology. Essent is also
the biggest supplier in the Netherlands of residual heat, generated in very effi cient
Combined Heat and Power plants (CHPs).
Sea
Syngas H2
Confining layer
Oil and gasfield
Gasification plant
Gas-conditioning
Gas & steam turbine
CO2 storage in exhausted field at a depth of
1,500 - 3,000 metres
Industry
Electricity
Power plant
Coal from solidBiomass
YieldThe yield obtained from the generation of electricity
through gasifi cation is greater than that obtained by direct
burning of a fuel. One additional advantage is that the CO2
can be separated more easily and will therefore no longer
have to be fi ltered out of the fl ue gases later. We expect that
the gasifi cation of biomass, waste and waste material fl ows
will eventually - e.g. when CO2 capture becomes mandatory
- produce cheaper electricity than burning it. This ensures
that interest in this technology continues to expand.
Gasifi cation: pre-treatment for greater effi ciencyGasifi cation is a pre-treatment of solid and liquid fuels before they are burned. During the
process, a limited amount of oxygen is added to the fuel – too little for complete incineration –
creating a synthetic gas mixture consisting of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. It has a number
of applications. Burning it enables the extraction of chemicals, and the generation of electricity
and heat at high levels of effi ciency. The gas mixture can also be used as the raw material for the
production of synthetic engine fuels and hydrogen.
40
Coal
OxygenO2
Waste gases
Steam
Steam turbine + generator
Gas turbine
Electricity
Syngas
Slag
Gasifi cation projectEssent is developing a number of initiatives involving
gasifi cation. The aim is to build a gasifi cation plant in a few
years time, for the (primary) purpose of gas-fi red, high-
performance ‘combined heating and power stations’. Some
of the synthetic gas produced, will also be used for the
production of chemical products for the industrial facility
that also buys the heat from the combined heating and
power station.
Waste woodAt the Amer Power Plant, Essent has an installation that
gasifi es waste wood with air. The gas produced is co-fi red
in the power plant. It is a very effi cient and environmentally
friendly way of using this ‘diffi cult’ fuel for the production
of electricity.
Essent and Gasifi cation
• Essent is working on the development of multi-
input-multi-output gasifi cation for generating
electricity at a high level of effi ciency. It will also be
possible to produce raw materials for the chemical
industry. This method is based on the processing
of agricultural residues, bio-waste and
wood pellets.
41
12 ºC
70 to 80 ºC 30 to 40 ºC
± 70 ºC
± 100 ºC
Geothermal energy: clean heat from the earth
Terrestrial heat is energy from the deeper layers of the earth's crust. It is also referred to as
geothermal energy. The amount of available geothermal energy is enormous. The six upper
kilometres of the earth's crust contain heat that equals 50,000 times the energy that can be
produced by all oil and gas reserves worldwide. Terrestrial heat can be extracted from the ground
with water, and can be used, for example, to heat homes. The higher the temperature of the water,
the easier it is to heat buildings this way. The higher the temperature, the more electricity can be
generated. At temperatures of around one hundred degrees centigrade or above, the heat is suitable
for generating electricity. When geothermal energy is used, no CO2 or other harmful substances are
released. It is therefore a clean form of energy.
42
DrillingLike natural gas and oil, it is possible drill for warm water.
The deeper the layers of the earth, the hotter the water
will be. In the Netherlands, the water that is hot enough
to heat homes and/or buildings is at a depth of about two
kilometres. From a depth of three to four kilometres, it is
hot enough for the generation of electricity.
Drilling for geothermal energy is expensive. The risk is
relatively high that the source tapped into is not a viable
energy source. New technologies, better knowledge of
geological structures and a risk capital fund will have to
reduce the risks and the costs.
Essent and Geothermal energy
• In collaboration with various parties, Essent has
researched Geothermal energy applications in
housing construction projects and in horticulture.
At the present, these Geothermal energy projects are
not yet economically viable. However, Essent regards
the utilisation of Geothermal energy - particularly
'deep' Geothermal energy - as a technology that
holds a lot of promise for the long-term.
43
Hot-cold storageWe diff erentiate between ‘deep’ geothermal sources and
‘shallow’ geothermal sources. We use shallow geothermal
sources - up to fi ve hundred metres deep – for hot-cold
storage. In this process, we extract groundwater with a
temperature of approximately ten degrees centigrade from
the water bearing layer during the summer months. We use
this water to cool buildings. When the temperature of the
water has increased, we return it to the water bearing layer.
In this way, we create a heat reservoir at this location.
During the winter period, we extract the warm water from
the ground again and use it to heat the buildings. When the
water cools as a result, it goes back into the ground and can
be used again for cooling in the summer.
Hot-cold storage is a good method if supplying buildings
with either cooling or heating. Essent is already using
this technique a lot. Examples in ’s-Hertogenbosch
include the ‘Paleiskwartier’ and the Essent offi ces at the
‘Willemsplein’ square.
Electricity generationIn volcanically active Iceland, the groundwater that is
hot enough for the generation of electricity, is already
present at surface level in the form of springs and geysers.
In the Netherlands, however, we have to drill to a depth
of several kilometres for such hot water. This requires big
investment and is a high-risk undertaking. For this reason,
deep geothermal energy is not yet used for the generation
of electricity in the Netherlands. However, Essent and its
partners are investigating the possibilities in this regard in
the province of North Brabant.
“Using geothermal energy for heating will reduce gas consumption”
44
45
Capture and storage of CO2Before CO2 can be stored, it must fi rst be separated
from the fl ue gases. This can be achieved in various
ways. For example, CO2 can be fi ltered out of fl ue gases
aft er burning, it can be captured from gases prior to
burning, or it can be fi ltered out by burning it in a CO2 rich
Power plant withcarbon capture
SeaPipelines
Empty coal fields
Deep aquifer strata
Almost exhausted oil and gas fields
Carbon Capture and Storage: storing CO2 instead of emitting it
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) describes the capture and storage of CO2 that is released when
burning fossil fuels. Many studies and scenarios have shown that, for the moment, we cannot do
without these fossil fuels. Until the time that a completely sustainable energy supply becomes
available, CCS seems a good solution for reducing the consequences of CO2 emissions. Aft er all, the
gas will not get into the air in this way.
46
gas mix. When the CO2 has been separated out, it can be
transported and stored in empty oil and gas fi elds and in
deep water layers. CO2 can also be usefully applied, for
example, in greenhouse horticulture and the cultivation of
algae. However, there are still a few problems with CCS: the
technology for large-scale capture at power stations has
not been fully developed; there are no relevant laws and
regulations for underground storage as yet; community
support is not yet universal. The average cost of energy
supply will also rise because of the cost of CO2 storage
installations and a loss of energy production effi ciency of
around 8%.
CCS developments and projectsEssent is examining the potential of CCS in various projects.
Together with Shell, research has been conducted into
the capture and storage of CO2 in gas fi elds under the
ocean. In addition, various opportunities for the storage
of CO2 in aquifers has been investigated in collaboration
with companies such as Nuon, Gasunie and Wintershall.
Aquifers are water layers located deep underground.
Because of technological and economical factors, achieving
success in these projects is diffi cult at present. Political and
community support also plays a major role.
The BORG FoundationIn 2010, the Borg Foundation was established. It is a joint
venture between seven parties: RWE, Nuon, Gasunie,
NAM, Groningen Seaports, NOM and Energy Valley.
The provinces of Groningen and Drenthe are also involved.
The Borg Foundation has to coordinate preparations for the
capture, transport and storage of CO2 in the north of the
Netherlands. The foundation focuses, among other things,
on the provision of information about CO2 storage in the
north, and on dialogue with all interested parties. Essent,
together with the University of Groningen, is carrying
out a number of research projects in the area of CCS.
Among other things, we are looking at the legal aspects
and international CCS activities with CCS. In addition to
the foregoing, we are also investigating the economic and
technological viability.
Essent and CCS
CCS is part of the Essent program for reducing the CO2
emissions at Essent power stations. To develop CCS
and to achieve large-scale implementation, Essent is
actively involved in:
• various test installations in Niederaussem,
Aberthaw and Mountaineer.
• research programs such as CATO2 and its 'own'
research at the University of Groningen.
• the development of a large-scale capture facility with
transport and storage. Essent is looking for storage
options on land and at sea for this purpose.
47
Cooperation with partners Innovation is not something we can just do on our own. Essent brings together its own
and outside expertise for this purpose, in order to achieve the best results based on
the strengths of the various parties. In the context of this objective, Essent has entered
into collaboration agreements with several universities and other educational/research
institutions, and it contributes to sustainability and innovation funds.
Innovation: 'multiple heads are better than one'
Essent collaborates with several universities and other educational/research institutions. This form of
collaboration ensures that we are closely involved in (energy-related) technological innovations, that
we are able to expand our knowledge in economic, legal, public and commercial spheres, and that we
will be able to evaluate the potential of new technologies.
By continuously investigating the latest developments, we keep ourselves sharp, which is an important
prerequisite for innovation. In turn, Essent also provides the academic institutions with the benefi t of
its own knowledge, gained from experience. In this way, Essent is making a contribution to education,
research, and the stimulation of a strong knowledge economy. The collaboration also ensures that
students and scientists have a sound understanding of the professional practices within Essent.
50
Accumulating and transferringknowledgeAccumulating and transferring knowledge for innovation
are important objectives for our collaboration with various
knowledge institutes. These are some examples of current
research projects.
• The University of Groningen is conducting research
into the potential of CCS. They are looking at the legal
aspects, international CCS activities and the integration
of technical possibilities and legal restrictions.
In addition, the viability of various CCS business models is
being evaluated. Another, current research project is
looking at the development of a measuring system
inside the chimneys of power stations, capable of
determining whether the CO2 in fl ue gas originates from
fossil fuels or from biomass.
• Together with the University of Twente (UT), Essent is
investigating the eff ects on energy supply from the
large-scale implementation of micro-CHPs. Another
study is looking at the optimisation of our energy
portfolio. Finally, the UT is assisting us with the analysis
of the potential of pyrolysis and torrefaction.
• With the Technical University of Delft , we are
collaborating on the FLOW programme (Far and Large
Off shore Wind energy). ’The TU of Delft is also assisting
us with the validation of biomass business concepts.
• For matters related to the BioBased Economy, Essent
works closely with Wageningen University, which is a
knowledge centre for this fi eld. For various projects, such
as AlgiCoat, joint research is conducted and knowledge is
exchanged about the applications and potential
of biomass.
51
InvestmentsEssent currently invests in three funds, i.e. CELP II, CELP,
and SET, and closely collaborates with RWE Innogy.
• The Clean Energy Limited Partners II Fund (CELP II),
established by Chrysalix in 2005, acts as the fund-
manager. Other investors include BASF Venture Capital,
Citigroup, Delta Lloyd, Robeco, Shell Hydrogen and the
Mitsubishi Corporation. The fund is based in Vancouver
and operates worldwide. Total value of the fund is
$71 million, $4 million of which has been invested by
Essent. At present, the full value of the CELP II fund is
invested in businesses. One example is Cyrium
Technologies, which is working towards a breakthrough
in PV solar cell technology based on semi-conductor
nanotechnology.
Funds: investing in the future
Essent has a role to play in making sustainable innovations possible. We are also involved in
Corporate Venture Capital activities. Essent invests in funds which, in turn, invest in companies
that focus on innovative sustainable technologies. Essent receives a return from these funds as well
as gaining an insight into innovation opportunities, because of the knowledge that we receive about
many diff erent developments and companies. It also creates an opportunity to connect with the
companies we fi nd the most interesting, in the form of joint ventures for example.
52
• The Sustainable Energy Technology Fund (SET) was set
up in August 2007 by Essent and Delta NV. The fund
manages and invests a total of €50 million in new, clean
energy technology. In the last few years, the SET fund
has made various investments in companies such as
Epyon, Solar Total, CrystalQ and AlertMe. As an investor
and upon request, Essent receives an insight into market
developments in the area of sustainable and
clean technology.
• RWE itself is the manager of a Venture Capital Fund at
RWE Innogy. The fund was recently strengthened, so
that the € 75 million in investments that the fund had
made already, could be continued and expanded. The
collaboration between RWE Innogy and Essent enables
Essent to benefi t from the knowledge and developments
that stem from investments by this fund.
53
54
Contact detailsIf you would like more information about Essent’s innovation activities or the
developments described in this catalogue, please contact:
Essent New EnergyMira Huussen, director
Telephone: +31 (0)73 85 31312
E-mail: [email protected]
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