Working on the energy transition with ‘good’ energy and the right insights

The energy transition is one of the biggest challenges we will face over the next few decades. Detailed negotiations are being held at several levels, and deciding on alternatives is far from easy, as we are spoilt for choice when it comes to abandoning fossil fuels, with heating grids, full electric, storage, and insulating existing homes being just a few of the options. And how do we give both currently untapped and familiar renewable energy sources such as solar and wind energy the most strategic locations in this overcrowded country?

Not all areas at the local level are equally suitable, and in addition all the available alternatives will have an impact on the physical environment, both aboveground and below ground. And once you have decided on a new source of energy or storage method, how do you get your community to back you? The reality is that most residents will be less than thrilled at the idea of a scheduled renovation project in their neighbourhood or the arrival of a windmill obstructing their view. And then, of course, there is the issue of time. How do you develop an effective integrated plan for 2021, keep track of the work, and keep things moving along?

Access to reliable and comprehensive spatial data is vital to the success of sustainability projects. Where do you start with natural gas-free neighbourhoods? Where are the areas with potential to install solar panels in wind turbines in your town, and what challenges in an area can be taken on in their entirety?

By answering these and other relevant questions using location data, you can glean valuable insights, prioritise certain projects and discover interrelations in order to make maximum use of space, funds and financial resources. In addition, you can use the information and knowledge gathered to highlight transition issues from different angles.

The outcomes and the different transition scenarios can be easily added to the Energy Transition Viewer. This will give you a razor-sharp and dynamic picture of the situation. This will make it easier for you to create support among your stakeholders, as they will have a clear and honest picture of the impact of the plans on their environment, as well as enable you to achieve targeted results more quickly, based on realistic planning.

The basis for the Geodans Energy Transition Viewer are datasets and energy models created by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (Planbureau voor de Leefomgeving/VESTA), the National Programme for Regional Energy Strategies, the BAG, Statistics Netherlands (CBS), and Geodans Energiedata (PICO data). You can also easily add your own datasets to the Energy Transition Viewer.