Individual companies are increasingly unable to expand or electrify due to grid congestion. But as a collective, this often becomes possible. The new Energy Hub Optimizer, tested by consultancy firm Quo Mare on behalf of RVO and TKI Energy and Industry, provided valuable insights to twelve companies that are members of the Amsterdam Port Energy Cooperative (ECAH). The tool offers quick, quantitative techno-economic insights into opportunities for lower energy costs, increased sustainability, and greater energy autonomy, while also helping to reduce grid congestion.Each participating company shared data with Quo Mare — including historical electricity demand and supply, contracted capacity, and gas (heat) consumption.“The model showed what investments companies could make in electricity and heat systems, interconnections, renewable generation, and storage,” says Auke Boersma of Quo Mare. “Participants could set their own priorities, whether that’s maximum cost savings, sustainability, electrification potential, or autonomy.
Martijn Glass, program manager at TKI Energy and Industry, emphasized the value of an integrated approach:“Sustainability discussions often focus only on electricity and ignore heat. Instead of each company installing its own e-boiler or heat pump, they should ask: can I use my neighbor’s residual heat? That’s why the simulation also included heat demand — who has excess heat, who needs it when, and at what temperature? What are the costs of a heat pump compared to a shared heat network?”Scenarios showed that sharing residual heat could significantly lower both annual energy costs and CO₂ emissions.
Sitting around a table to explore needs and synergies takes time — especially with many participants. This model-based approach, where companies share their data with one trusted party who fills in gaps and builds scenarios, proved far more efficient. It shifted the conversation from assumptions to hard data: euros, emissions, grid space, and autonomy.
Gem Beemsterboer, chairman of ECAH, notes:“Several of our members were inspired by Quo Mare’s optimizer to continue discussions around collaboration on electricity and heat. The potential value is significant.”
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