In my newest blog post, I elaborate on the use of hydrogen. Hydrogen has many advantages (easy storage). However, to produce it, a lot of electricity is needed which can better be deployed directly. The import of hydrogen from countries where the production of electricity is much cheaper is a feasible solution. But as the countries most eager to export hydrogen are the Gulf states, many doubts are arousing.....
A slightly different version in Dutch can be found here: https://hmjvandenbosch.com/2018/12/17/waterstof-vooral-geopolitiek-bepaalt-toekomstige-rol%EF%BB%BF/
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Waag Open: energy of the future
![Featured image](https://api.amsterdamsmartcity.com/img/update/featured-image/rSBmMsFNgH11XP1vdKsmoZ5Glr3MB3Q94xOewyBW.png?w=160&h=128&fit=max&s=27131c6c0217f7c08a8a187bd9093ad6)
Get up at your feet and join for a summer excursion in Amsterdam-Noord! Although we see more and more solar panels in our streets, as a resident you see very little of the energy transition in the neighbourhood. in Amsterdam, there is already a neighbourhood where the future has started: Buiksloterham in Amsterdam North. Buildings in this area are natural gas-free and almost all of them obtain their energy in a different way.
Be aware that the main language is Dutch!
To make this visible, little glimpses have been placed in the public space. The art objects give virtual glimpses into the devices and installations behind walls and in basements. On the pavement, a 3D painting shows where the district heating network runs, and a viewing tube shows you how full the neighbourhood battery is underground. If you walk past it often enough, you will start to see connections: the weather was really nice today, so the battery is completely full!
During this Waag Open, we'll take a walk alongside different glimpses. All facets of the energy tranisty are covered: we show how deep the boreholes of the thermal storage are and where exactly the heat from the heat network comes from. There is also a focus on solar panels, batteries and heat pumps - of all shapes and sizes! Take a walk with us on Thursday 1 August and you're bound to learn something new about the energy transition!
Programme
19:15 - 19:30 | Meetup at Schoonschip (Johan van Hasseltkade 225B, Amsterdam) |
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19:30 - 19:45 | Welcome & introduction by Waag |
19:45 - 21:14 | Walk along the objects |
21:15 - 21:30 | Drinks at De Ceuvel |
Circular Cities Summit 2.0
![Featured image](https://api.amsterdamsmartcity.com/img/update/featured-image/eqTXbZcSCiygPKQoqvXXRAGKqafG50BtMtnS9yuj.jpg?w=160&h=128&fit=max&s=267ef6fb998e39b4bb3a1300b3277675)
Building upon the resounding success of its inaugural edition in Singapore, the Circular Cities Summit 2.0 is poised to emerge as a beacon of innovation and collaboration in the pursuit of sustainable urban futures. Conceived by eminent vanguards of international professional organizations, including the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA), the International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP), the International Union of Architects (UIA) and the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO), alongside other distinguished entities, this summit stands as a resolute clarion call.
This year, we emphasise the integration of circular design principles into urban planning to tackle urgent environmental challenges, including extreme weather, severe traffic congestion, critical air pollution, and issues with thermal comfort. Taking place in Dubai, the summit will explore how concepts from the circular economy can be utilised to boost urban sustainability and resilience.
The summit will serve as a platform for thought leaders, practitioners, and policymakers from around the world to exchange ideas, case studies, and technologies. It aims to inspire the implementation of innovative, sustainable urban planning strategies that adhere to circular economy principles, leading to more resilient, efficient, and clean cities. Participants will depart with actionable insights and strategies, equipped to implement these ideas in their own urban settings to drive significant environmental and infrastructural change.
Follow our detailed roadmap for circular city innovation, outlining the steps to transform urban areas into sustainable, zero-waste environments.
We aim to inspire change, one city at a time.
URLs:
Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/2461455-0?pid=5603
Website: https://go.evvnt.com/2461455-2?pid=5603
LinkedIn: https://go.evvnt.com/2461455-3?pid=5603
Facebook: https://go.evvnt.com/2461455-4?pid=5603
Prices:
CCN Member: USD 400.00,
Non-member: USD 600.00,
Developing Countries: USD 500.00,
UAE Resident: AED 400.00,
Student: AED 100.00
Date and Time: 11th September 2024 at 9:00 am to 12th September 2024 at 6:00 pm
Ondernemers met duurzame oplossingen gezocht voor aanbesteding
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De aanbesteding Scale Up Toekomstbestendige kunstgrasvelden is gepubliceerd. Met het project dagen de gemeenten Amsterdam en Haarlem ondernemers uit om duurzame oplossingen op kunstgras sportvelden toe te passen. De inschrijving hiervoor sluit op 17 juni 2024 om 14.00 uur.
De genoemde gemeenten zijn op zoek naar partijen met innovaties op het gebied van: duurzame energie, klimaatadaptie, circulariteit of slim en schoon bouwen. De duurzame oplossingen willen ze vervolgens toepassen bij de vervanging en nieuwe aanleg van kunstgras sportvelden. Naar verwachting staan er de komende tien jaar meer dan 200 velden op het programma. Hiermee wordt verwacht een grote bijdrage te leveren aan de doelstelling van de gemeenten Amsterdam en Haarlem om in 2050 een klimaatneutrale stad te zijn.
Doe mee!
Doe mee met dit project en schrijf je in voor de aanbesteding op Mercell.
Kijk voor meer informatie op de website van het project of stel je vraag door een e-mail te sturen naar sportveldvandetoekomst@amsterdam.nl.
Disclaimer: Het project wordt medegefinancierd door het LIFE Programme van de Europese Unie. Noch de Europese Unie, noch de subsidieverlenende autoriteit kan voor de inhoud van het project verantwoordelijk worden gehouden. Aan dit artikel kunnen geen rechten worden ontleend, de aanbestedingsdocumenten zijn leidend.
Hi Gerald, I'm in a position that is comparable with yours. My gas powered heating system broke down and I made inquiries to replace it and to go for a 100% electric solution (preach what you teach;-) This appeared to be impossible, even if I spent many tens of thousands at isolation. Fortunately, the heating system could be repaired with second-hand parts. So, if I could vote personally, hydrogen would be my favourite. But from a more remote point of view I think that we need a neighbourhood-centred approach, preferably with some options for choice. And I will read the WRR report that you mentioned.
Have nice Chrismas days and a well-heated new year.
Thanks for the very interesting Link. Offcourse I have some remarks :). The beauty is indeed that there is not one single solution but an intelligent and dynamically evolving, changing, mix of solutions. An open and honest critical discussion without dogmas or powerplay is of vital importance for society to move forward smartly. And THAT is unfortunately NOT really happening.
For my own house here in Amsterdam (kashuis) I am going for 100% solar (with a thermal heat battery). Knowing what this takes I realise that this solution is relatively too expensive, labour and space consuming to be applied to millions of Dutch homes within a very short timespan. (yet is by far the best long-term solution:). I also know people are risk and thus change-averse (WRR has a great report on this https://www.wrr.nl/publicaties/publicaties/2010/02/07/hoe-mensen-keuzes-maken). Add the huge lack of skilled labour then a system of simply replacing the natural gas boiler by a home micro - wkk condensing H2gas boilers (+ a non-invasive smart grid) seems to me far more realistic.
By the way...
I looked at the HYDRO website. A litthe bit self-congratulatoy..... But I know that my former colleague Jepma is also in favor for hydrogen that is directly produced in wind mills. This article dives deeply into its costs: http://www.wattisduurzaam.nl/15443/energie-beleid/tien-peperdure-misverstanden-over-wondermiddel-waterstof/
I feel unable to comment on it, but I hope that the debate on hydrogen will not end in a one-dimensional plea for its blessings, neglecting the less favorable aspects, all departing from our still limited knowledge. Because each energy source we are thinking of, has advantages and disadvantages.
We will have to look for a balanced picture, where sun and wind energy, hydrogen and geothermal all contribute in a degree nobody can anticipate yet.
You are right that upgrading the electricity grid ought te be prevented.Hopefully smart grids, in combination with locally collected sun enengy, will be solve this proble,.
As I wrote, deployment of hydrogen defenitely is a mayor contribution to our energy need in the future.. We only will have to accept that hydrogen is imported from countries that can produce cheap electricity. In that case hydrogen will be an excellent partial alternative for natural gas, especially in unsufficiently isolated houses.
By the way, hydrogen is an excellent medium for long-term storage too.
“electricity […] can better be deployed directly’. In theory yes, a. if it could get to the homes and b. if it is needed directly.
But the moment you take the whole chain (generation, buffering, transport, end conversion) into consideration a very different picture arises.
In the Netherlands 90% of all the households are already connected to the gas-grid whereas it will cost tens of billions to heavily upgrade the electricity grid. Then there is the very problematic issue of electricity storage. Most of it is generated when we don’t need it. A lot can be said about electric batteries, even in mobility. Hydrogen is again here, by far, the more effective solution.
And as for it generation, there are many great solutions already out there, like Hygro, just waiting for the green light of our policy makers. They are the only real problem.