About thea hoekstra

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So far thea hoekstra has created 23 blog entries.

End Conference

On Thursday 23 September 2021 the End Conference of the ENSYSTRA Project will take place. This conference, organised by the ENSYSTRA consortium, will focus on the feasibility of the EU strategy and targets for the North Sea. What are the opportunities and obstacles to reach the goals set for the North Sea in the EU’s future energy system? What are crucial elements for optimally using the potential of the North Sea region and how does a supra-national or European view contribute to overcoming barriers and giving a boost to the drivers?

Multidisciplinary approach

Over the past three years, a unique intersectoral collaboration between 6 high ranked universities and […]

End Conference2021-09-09T14:26:48+00:00

Blog #15 – Modelling the whole North Sea energy system

The North Sea region, located in the northwest of Europe, is expected to be a frontrunner in the European energy transition. In terms of population, it contains around 200 million inhabitants. The aggregated GDP of the North Sea region countries adds up to 9.6 billion euros, which accounts for 60% of the GDP of the EU. In contrast, in terms of land this region represents only the 15% of the EU surface.  

The North Sea region countries, in line with recent EU level policies, such as the Green Deal, have set ambitious decarbonisation targets, aiming to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. In the last two decades (Fig.1) the region has […]

Blog #15 – Modelling the whole North Sea energy system2021-06-29T07:16:11+00:00

Blog #14 – An Agent Based Approach to Model Investments in the Power Sector

What is your research focusing on?

The overall aim is to develop a computational model (an agent-based model) and explore the transition to a low-carbon electricity system. This research focuses on modelling investors’ (which is called “agent” in the model) investment choices of new power plants, and how new investments impact the development of the electricity system over time. This study also analyses which investment strategy is more robust to reduce the risk for bankruptcy when invest under uncertainties.

What has amazed you in your research so far?

This study finds out that under a growing tax scenario, the system transits from a fossil-based system to a low-carbon system. Agents with different characteristics […]

Blog #14 – An Agent Based Approach to Model Investments in the Power Sector2021-06-29T07:15:47+00:00

Policy brief #6 – From NOwnership to Ownership: How to Define and Promote Local and Inclusive Citizen Ownership in Renewable Energy Projects

This policy brief explores the option of local and inclusive citizen ownership to help accelerate the energy transition. Such ownership promotes: local acceptance, cost-effectiveness and capital contribution to investments. How this type of ownership could be promoted is discussed in this brief.

If you have any questions of queries, please direct them to the ENSYSTRA Project Manager Dirk Kuiken or Deborah Groeneweg.

If you are interested in the specifics of the 15 research projects, you can find summaries and video explanations from the researchers here.

Our project is supported by 23 industry partner institutions.

Policy brief #6 – From NOwnership to Ownership: How to Define and Promote Local and Inclusive Citizen Ownership in Renewable Energy Projects2021-05-12T08:41:41+00:00

Policy brief #5 – Renewable hydrogen for industrial decarbonisation

What role would hydrogen play in decarbonising the industrial sector? What are the opportunities and barriers? How can policy help industries in transitioning to a decarbonized future? In our policy brief, we try to answer these questions.

If you have any questions of queries, please direct them to the ENSYSTRA Project Manager Dirk Kuiken or Deborah Groeneweg.

If you are interested in the specifics of the 15 research projects, you can find summaries and video explanations from the researchers here.

Our project is supported by 23 industry partner institutions. […]

Policy brief #5 – Renewable hydrogen for industrial decarbonisation2021-05-10T10:57:46+00:00

Policy brief #4 – Synergies between hydrogen and offshore wind – challenges and opportunities in the North Sea Region

In the following years large amounts of offshore wind will be deployed in the North Sea region. Hydrogen emerges as an attractive option to provide flexibility and ease the integration of offshore wind and onshore energy systems. In this policy brief from the ENSYSTRA project we underline the economic, technical and stakeholder engagement barriers to the interaction between hydrogen and wind, and we provide recommendations addressed to policy makers in order to facilitate the transition towards a more integrated energy system.
Policy brief #4 – Synergies between hydrogen and offshore wind – challenges and opportunities in the North Sea Region2021-05-05T07:33:00+00:00

Policy brief #3 – Opportunities and barriers to interconnector expansion in the North Sea Region

This informational policy brief explores the main opportunities and barriers to interconnector expansion in the North Sea region. This is in light of Europe’s drive to increase interconnection between national electricity grids to support decarbonising the power system.

If you have any questions of queries, please direct them to the ENSYSTRA Project Manager Dirk Kuiken or Deborah Groeneweg.

If you are interested in the specifics of the 15 research projects, you can find summaries and video explanations from the researchers here.

Our project is supported by 23 industry partner institutions.

Policy brief #3 – Opportunities and barriers to interconnector expansion in the North Sea Region2021-05-03T11:19:40+00:00

Policy brief #2 – Opportunities for an efficient future North Sea energy system – the case of the Netherlands

Reaching the national renewable energy and carbon emission targets set for 2030 and 2050 requires coordinated engagement among different parties involved in the use of the offshore space, working under a common vision. This can be facilitated by providing clear legal and practical guidelines for developing and implementing integrated offshore renewable energy projects. This policy brief presents the context, opportunities, and constraints that characterize the road towards an integrated offshore energy system.

If you have any questions of queries, please direct them to the ENSYSTRA Project Manager Dirk Kuiken or Deborah Groeneweg.

If you are interested in the specifics of the 15 […]

Policy brief #2 – Opportunities for an efficient future North Sea energy system – the case of the Netherlands2021-04-30T09:02:41+00:00

Blog #13 – The Marie Curie Training Network – Energy Cultures and Agent Behaviour

What is your research focusing on?

My research explores the energy cultures and the agents’ behaviour emerging out of stakeholders interactions in the Energy Systems in Transition Project. An example of the areas I cover can be seen in figure 1 below.

Figure 1. Overview of topics being researched in my thesis.

Energy cultures refers to patterns of norms, values, practices and material cultures. In turn, agents behaviour depends on internal factors like cognitive and psychological trails, as well as on external influences, like the culture in which agents are immersed. I examine, from a socio-technical perspective, how such humans and non-humans actants bring “things” to matter (materialities). One of such […]

Blog #13 – The Marie Curie Training Network – Energy Cultures and Agent Behaviour2021-04-23T07:58:39+00:00

Blog #12 – Development of a Real-time Optimization Solution for Dispatchable Energy Supply Units

What is your research focusing on?

The overall aim of my research is to provide a generic approach for optimum management of integrated energy systems using the real-time capability of artificial intelligence based solutions, in terms of energy, economy, and the environment. Future energy systems that seek to maximize energy utilization, grid reliability and resilience while meeting the expected demand side requirements must necessarily consider all available energy sources, including intermittent renewables, storage systems and the dispatchable energy units.

What has amazed you in your research so far? For example surprising results

A reference case with supply units (heat pump, auxiliary heater), storage unit (thermal storage tank) and demand unit (swimming pool […]

Blog #12 – Development of a Real-time Optimization Solution for Dispatchable Energy Supply Units2021-04-16T09:03:33+00:00
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