Redefining our energy system
Today’s traditional energy systems are ill-equipped to meet the demands of our future, sustainable energy aspirations. National, centralised, power grids are increasingly hampered by grid congestion and limitations, meaning that – despite increasing renewable energy sources like wind and solar – businesses and industries cannot expand or become more sustainable in their energy use.
An Energy Hub, or microgrid, addresses this challenge by serving as a dynamic node in the energy supply chain, directly connecting power generation, consumption, and storage, in a local, decentralised system. High-tech business parks or industrial estates, where large-scale energy supply and demand come together, serve as natural candidates for Energy Hubs.
In their implementation, Energy Hubs can improve energy autonomy, while saving costs for businesses by allowing energy flows to respond to the bespoke demand of those connected to the hub. For utilities, it reduces the need for additional grid connections reduces grid investments and creates both a more robust and flexible energy system.
Unlocking the potential of Energy Hubs
Despite their potential, Energy Hubs are still in their early development, requiring the coordination and collaboration of a diverse range of stakeholders. For Energy Hubs to succeed, their implementation must occur alongside efforts to expand and optimise the grid, while enabling energy storage.
Adequate storage allows Energy Hubs to manage their own energy supply and take advantage of peak shaving strategies - utilising stored power during peak demand or when renewable generation is low. Improving energy storage solutions is also crucial for enhancing flexibility, enabling the use of different energy sources, improving efficiency and reliability. Without enhancing this underlying infrastructure, their full potential remains unrealised.
Leading the way in Energy Hub solutions
At Royal HaskoningDHV, we are at the forefront of Energy Hub implementation, having played a pivotal role in their successful deployment in the Netherlands. This includes identifying the essential technical and organisational building blocks needed for various Energy Hub types, and developing a tool to quantify and track societal benefits, including peak load reduction and carbon reduction, at regional and national levels.
Our Energy Hub services include:
- Insights into Energy Hub potential and feasibility at national and regional levels
- Energy system modelling and analysis
- Technical design of Energy hubs at plant, industrial park or regional level
- Grid congestion and carbon reduction impact analyses
- Finance, organisational, governance and legal advisory
- System integration, conversion to heat, hydrogen and seasonal storage
- Permitting and consents
- Project and process management
- Programme management
