ERIC/EKC-Energy Innovation Centre

Organisation name

Hanze University of Applied Science Groningen

Department(s)/Unit(s)

 ERIC/EKC

Location

Groningen

Total number of employees

35

Mission

The EKC stimulates people to work together to meet their energy needs in a sustainable and socially responsible manner. EKC does this by contributing to integration of central power generation and supply (macro level) and distributed energy production (meso and micro level). People in Power.

Objectives

Meeting energy needs will be society’s major challenge of the century. Success depends on making the right choices locally, regionally and globally and on availability of the necessary professional competences.

From its mission - People in Power - and focussing on development of smart energy grids EKC aims to make a significant contribution to meeting this challenge. Maximum use should be made of an open innovation knowledge community as is the case in our Flexi programmes.

Laboratories/Facilities

Through practical research in the field, involved teachers and their knowledge remains up to date. Practical research is also valuable as a tool for knowledge valorization. The EKC participates in RenQi. It is a not-for-profit foundation that was established by TNO, Gasunie Engineering & Technology and Hanze University Groningen as a result/outcome of EKC research plan.

RenQi’s aims are to:

-           provide an experimental laboratory environment; -            provide an environment in which knowledge institutes and commercial stakeholders can co-operate;

-           enable excellent research programmes.

RenQi is equipped with excellent facilities for technology research including comprehensive safety procedures and infrastructure to investigate gas, electricity, heating and cooling. Applied research is carried out in co- operation with relevant stakeholders (mainly SME). Market focus is increased as projects are required to report to the foundation’s executive board. Recently Gasunie sold its Engineering & Technology division to KEMA so RenQi ownership now rests with TNO, KEMA and Hanze University Groningen. The facility provides an excellent environment for students and lecturers to meet and work with KEMA, TNO and other stakeholders.

Technology expertise

The professor of Grid Integration (Prof dr. ir. Wim van Gemert) heads the umbrella theme Energy transition and the Flexines programme. The professor of Renewable Energy (biogas) (Prof.dr.ir Jan-Peter Nap) heads the Flexigas programme. The professor Energy Applications (Prof. ir. Jan de Wit) heads the Flexiheat programme.

Main research topics

EKC’s R&D plan is being made concrete by being part of four programs:

Flexines (development of smart electricity grid; runs since early 2009)

Flexigas (development of smart biogas grid; runs since early 2010) Flexiheat (development of smart heat grid; in preparation).

FlexiNet (decentralized balancing)