Executive Committee member André Faaij discusses research’s role in advancing energy transition in the Netherlands and beyond
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In an insightful interview with the Innovation News Network, André Faaij, a member of the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA) Executive Committee (ExCo) representing the Netherlands Energy Research Alliance (NERA), delved into the role of collaboration in research to achieve a widespread energy transition in the country and throughout Europe.
The interview published last 3 June features Faaij delving into NERA’s role in advancing the Dutch energy transition. Notably, he acknowledged NERA’s ability to “utilise and build upon EERA’s well-developed infrastructure.” Faaij highlighted the several research centres and universities under the NERA umbrella, including TNO, “collaborating on EERA’s joint programmes – gathering expert opinions on a variety of subjects in the development of research programmes and proposals.”
Addressing one of the key challenges of our time, Faaij spoke more broadly about the importance of achieving sustainable energy on a wider scale, noting the crucial need to ”keep global mean temperature change as low as possible, as failing to do so will be disastrous in terms of economic damage and social disruption.” He also acknowledged the immense challenge of “delivering on the total energy transition necessary to mitigate and tackle the dangers of climate change,” requiring the establishment of a “viable, competitive alternative to fossil fuels, meaning existing green technologies must become more efficient and cheaper, and they must do so in a shorter period of time.”
He went on to discuss sustainable energy production and consumption in the Netherlands itself, observing that renewable sector investments are booming, with “aspirations and planning for its capacity to grow alongside it.” However, in the Netherlands, as with the global context, challenges in transitioning to a more sustainable energy system persist. In this respect, Faaij discussed the need to improve the international transport field in the Netherlands, “with Schipol airport and major harbours responsible for heavy gasoline, diesel, and kerosene usage,” while also pointing to grid congestion as another key consideration.
Moreover, in terms of innovations in sustainable energy research, the Netherlands' eagerness to collaborate within and beyond Europe in its research efforts is acknowledged in the article. Regarding NERA’s role in transforming the research environment, Faaij pointed to the ongoing efforts in research development, demonstration, and deployment, as well as in identifying gaps and key areas for initiatives.
