Companies in the Botlek area are interdependent: companies that produce residual heat supply it to the cluster, other companies then make use of it. What is the impact of electrification of business processes?
Research
In the Botlek area operations of many companies are interrelated. An extensive network of cables and pipes connects these companies with each other. At present operations run on electricity that is obtained from the combustion of fossil fuels, mainly gas. In the coming years, sustainable energy will be much more widely available, for example from offshore wind. This will likely result in electrification of certain processes. And since the operations of the various businesses are interrelated, this will have immediate implications for other companies in the cluster: when less gas, or even no gas at all is burned, less or no surplus heat could be supplied to the cluster as a consequence.
The first point of view of the Flexnet research is technical and within this there are two focus areas, namely: Which business processes in the Botlek can be electrified while fitting in the network? And how can energy be stored in the network?
Flexnet’s second point of view focuses on scenario analysis: in which ways can an ideal network be realized in the Botlek area? And which factors are decisive in the various scenarios? This could include, for example, developments in energy prices or the speed of the growth of wind at sea.
Potential
- Companies gain insight into the options that are available to them within the energy transition. On this basis, they can take concrete steps. A much more clear image emerges of the opportunities that the energy transition offers in the Botlek area.
- The knowledge of companies will become available and will be used in the energy transition.
- The port and industrial cluster as a whole can benefit from the example of the Botlek.
Business opportunities
- It is beneficial for companies that the collaboration within the network is maintained.
- More interconnectedness benefits the economic health of the cluster.
- Companies can achieve their individual emission targets through the use of electrification techniques that can deal with the fluctuating supply of sustainable electricity.
- A joint adaptation of the energy infrastructure can be planned more effectively and is potentially cheaper due to bundled demand.
Partners
Huntsman, Nouryon, Air Liquide, Deltalinqs, TU Delft, E4U-Projects
This project is part of the Smart Energy & Industry roadmap. For more information about this project or this roadmap, please contact project developer Mel Valies.