The Top Sector Energy challenges the new generation to develop innovative ideas about the energy transition with the Energy Innovation Talks (EIT). Recent months, 24 selected students and young professionals worked in interdisciplinary teams on 3 different energy issues.
The EIT program consisted of four event days where the participants were supported with training and workshops to come up with new innovative ideas. Eventually the 6 teams presented their ideas at the Work Conference of the Top Sector Energy to a jury with Paulien Herder, Ruud Koornstra and Max Aerts.
The overarching theme: The current sustainable technologies in the Netherlands could be deployed with the right (economic) priorities on a large scale for sustainable energy supply. The technology is available and develops faster and faster, but with the supply of renewable energy we are not there yet. Delivery does not make a system. There are several important problems that need to be solved.
The team of Cato, Wytse, Tom and Bjorn worked on a solution to the pollution problem in the Port of Rotterdam. Their focus was on CO2 reduction. In their pitch presentation, the larger polluters, the Port Authority and the TKI Energy and Industry were approached to jointly ensure that CO2 is no longer seen as waste but as a valuable product. By capturing CO2, transporting it per pipeline and then not storing it but applying it, a major impact can be made in the relatively short term. In the future, CO2 can even be filtered directly from the air. A number of application possibilities of CO2 are briefly touched during the pitch. From production of biofuels and bioplastic using algae, to application in greenhouse horticulture and storage in cement and bricks.
Unfortunately, the jury was not immediately convinced of the idea by this group. They will get a second chance however during the ISPT TE energy transition training on the 16th of February. During this course as part of the Process Technology Talent Program (PTTP), the team is invited to pitch their idea to the directors of TKI e&i and ISPT.
So the story will be continued..