Monthly Archives: December 2013

The first SWITCH meeting held on 19 December was a big success. Lots of ideas for the northern energy agenda for the forthcoming years were put forward. Companies, social enterprises, knowledge centres and governmental bodies will execute the programme together. Energising deltas was among others discussed by Jaap Bond, representative of Noord-Holland and chairman of BONN (Governmental Consultation northern Netherlands) and was brought to the attention by Hans van Breugel (managing director of Tocardo) and Rik Siebers (managing director of REDstack). The development of the Afsluitdijk as a centre for renewable energy with net techniques as blue energy and tidal energy. SWITCH is the umbrella to fill in the northern part of the National Energy Agreement which the provinces of Noord-Holland Noord, Fryslân, Groningen and Drenthe will work on together. The Northern part of the Netherlands, known as the Energy Valley region plays an important role in delivering clean energy. Based on the existing plans for the near future, the Energy Valley region will take up 16% of renewable energy in 2020. Offshore wind farms will stimulate the percentage even more. In this way it will pass the ambitions of the National Energy Agreement.

Premier Mark Rutte talked with his Chinese colleague Li Keqiang amongst others about the collaboration between China and the Netherlands aound sustainable energy. This was part of the trade mission to China with Lilianne Ploumen (minister of foreign trade and development cooperation) on 15 and 16 November. Oranjewoud is doing a feasibility study of Dynamic Tidal Power together with Dutch and Chinese companies. It’s about an energised water defence for more than 30 kilometers long with a great amount of turbines that can generate at least 5 GigaWatt of energy. Rutte sees this project as an example of outstanding collaboration between both countries. Oranjewoud is one of the companies that campaigns globally for tidal energy. The project in China is a perfect example. Closer to home, Oranjewoud is very active in making possible a Tidal Testing Center Grevelingendam. Source: oranjewoud.nl.