The energy transition will make us money

Ruud Koornstra is perhaps the best-known green entrepreneur in the Netherlands. During the World of Technology & Science fair, Koornstra will present his vision on a sustainably operating industry to explain: “the energy transition will not cost us money, but will generate money.”

By: Dimitri Reijerman

A greener Netherlands is urgently needed, not only in the eyes of the sustainable entrepreneur. Ruud Koornstra, as national energy commissioner, is currently working with the government, the business community and other stakeholders to prepare the Netherlands for a more sustainable future. Various energy tables are working on concrete plans, laid down in the Climate Agreement, to significantly reduce CO2 emissions in the coming years. The industry must contribute a significant share to the government's ambitious reduction targets.

Despite the resistance from society and the business community, Koornstra is not concerned about the chances of success. In his view, the Netherlands is the country to make the energy transition a success, thanks to three main ingredients: “Firstly, because the Netherlands is one of the most innovative regions in the world. Nowhere in the world will you find so much diversity, knowledge, patents, creativity and innovative power in just a few square kilometers. It's safe to say The Netherlands First,” says Koornstra.

“Secondly, we are a very enterprising country. Foreign countries want to do business with us, they accept it from us. If you read the studies, the Netherlands is considered the goodest country seen. What we do is important to people abroad, that's how they view it. And thirdly, we are one of the richest regions in the world.”

Catching up

“If you take those three ingredients together, it is of course strange that we are one of the dirtiest countries in Europe in terms of energy. We therefore have to catch up to become the cleanest boy from the dirtiest boy in the class. And we have the three ingredients to do that. So if we don't do it, what can you expect from the rest of the world," says the passionate energy commissioner. “We have to set the bar high and reach Paris. You now see that the political, official and business mood is that we do not want to achieve anything, but that we want to win, become the leader, become world champion of energy transition.”

In Koornstra's view, this pursuit of far-reaching CO2 reduction has also created a new revenue model, with all the opportunities for business: “Unlike all other solutions, the sustainable solution has a payback period. And that is a new dimension in the energy model. I give the sports sector as an example. I spoke to the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport. Do you know what the joint energy bill is for all sports clubs in our country? Half a billion euros. They throw that in a well every year. By investing 2 billion euros one-time, all sports clubs will receive zero on the meter. Then you save half a billion every year and you are done after an average of 4 years. That money can go back into sports.”

Innovation in the industry can also deliver concrete and quickly achievable savings and CO2 reductions. For example, Koornstra points to inventions in pumps, an important energy consumer in the process industry. “With these innovations you save up to 30 percent energy per pump, good for 6 megatons of CO2. Companies can recoup that in 1.5 to 2 years.”

However, there is still resistance within some companies. “These sustainable pump systems have been successfully tested at Tata Steel and Shell Pernis. When I ask some experts at those companies: 'why don't you do something with that?', I get the answer: 'I can't get past my boss'.”

Unique composition

Koornstra also points out the unique composition of the energy tables: “They are major competitors of each other, not friends but competitors. They have to do with the ambitions of the Dutch government. And the government is not always a reliable partner for the industry. Then you have regional conditions and Greenpeace, Natuurmonumenten, Milieudefensie and Natuur & Milieu are also at the table. That is of course the most unsafe situation for the industry. Yet it is great that they sit together at the table and say: we have to do something together.”

In conclusion, Koornstra, the born optimist that he is, sketches a green horizon towards the future; “The energy transition will not cost us money, but will make money. We once did it with the Delta Plan, and that is now an important export product. I am convinced that we can complete the revolution in the Netherlands in twelve years. That means we are the winner and everyone comes to see us. We make money with it. And our residents have a cleaner city, a cleaner country, a lower energy bill and we are no longer dependent on rogue states.”