On Thursday, November 14, 2024, the meeting "Dealing with Energy Challenges" took place, a well-attended event as part of the Green Deal Kooypunt. This collaboration between the municipality of Den Helder, Port of Den Helder, the Den Helder Business Association, and Rabobank aims to future-proof the Kooypunt business park and ensure it becomes energy-neutral by 2040.
Urgency and cooperation
René de Visser, Kooypunt branch chair of the Den Helder Business Association, emphasized the importance of a sustainable approach in his opening speech. "We must make the Kooypunt business park future-proof so that entrepreneurs can continue to operate and expand," he stated. The rising energy demand due to grid congestion and electrification necessitates joint solutions. Initiatives like an energy cooperative can help with this and make the business park future-proof and attractive to new businesses.
Insight into energy profiles and challenges
Project leader Arnold Boon presented the results of the extensive survey conducted at the business park. He contacted almost all the businesses directly, provided extensive sustainability recommendations, and assessed grid congestion and energy challenges faced by the businesses. "Businesses are already experiencing problems with power supply and feed-in," he warned.
Alexander Jacobs of the New Energy Coalition presented the analyses of the total energy profiles, while Edwin van Stralen (WestFrisia industrial estate) shared practical experiences and tips. The joint conclusion: a collective approach is essential to solving grid congestion problems, although further research is needed.
Boon then presented a concrete step-by-step plan to address the challenges:
1. Save energy and organize smart consumption.
2. Encourage cooperation between companies.
3. Developing collective solutions, such as asset sharing.
Ambitions and priorities of entrepreneurs
During the interactive ambition web session, Mariëlle de Munnik (Rabobank) literally got the entrepreneurs moving and had them indicate their priorities on themes such as climate adaptation, sustainability, innovation, and energy transition. This input forms the basis for the Green Deal Kooypunt action plan and support products.
The meeting marks an important step in Kooypunt's energy transition. Thanks to the collaboration between the entrepreneurs and the Green Deal partners, practical solutions are already being developed. Kooypunt is setting an example for other business parks in Den Helder.
