Laatste nieuws in green
Dutch Hospital Partners with Battery Company to Combat Grid Congestion Crisis
Netherlands, Friday, 23 January 2026.
Nij Smellinghe hospital becomes the first Dutch healthcare facility to deploy smart battery storage, partnering with AQ Storage to install a 1.6 MW system starting March 2026. The innovative approach addresses the Netherlands’ critical grid congestion problem while enabling sustainability goals. AQ Storage’s algorithm makes predictions every 15 minutes using weather data and market signals to optimize battery performance. The company aims to create a virtual nationwide battery network by 2031, transforming how Dutch businesses access renewable energy without expensive grid upgrades.
Noord-Holland Tackles Energy Grid Crisis with Smart Business Hubs
Noord-Holland, Friday, 23 January 2026.
Noord-Holland’s largest provincial economy faces a critical energy bottleneck threatening business expansion, prompting ROM InWest to champion Smart Energy Hubs as an innovative solution. These collaborative systems allow companies to share and optimize energy consumption, creating additional grid capacity without costly infrastructure upgrades. With 21 active hubs currently supported and financial backing planned through 2026, the initiative addresses both immediate economic growth constraints and long-term sustainability goals, potentially revolutionizing how businesses access energy in congested markets.
Dutch Company Delays Revolutionary Plant-Based Plastic Plant Due to Welding Issues
Delfzijl, Friday, 23 January 2026.
Avantium’s groundbreaking FDCA plant in the Netherlands faces a six-month delay until mid-2026 due to titanium welding problems, adding €7 million in costs. The facility will produce FDCA, a key ingredient for PEF plastic made entirely from plant sugars that outperforms traditional PET in barrier properties. This setback affects Europe’s timeline for scaling renewable plastic alternatives that could transform packaging sustainability across industries.
Dutch Agricultural Innovation Hub Shuts Down Due to Funding Crisis
Lelystad, Thursday, 22 January 2026.
Wageningen University’s internationally acclaimed Farm of the Future project in Lelystad has been forced to pause operations in 2026 after losing government funding that expired in July 2025. The 20-hectare research facility, which attracted thousands of global visitors over six years, served as a crucial testing ground for sustainable farming technologies including strip cropping, precision agriculture, and robotic farming systems. The shutdown represents a significant blow to Dutch agricultural innovation leadership at a time when climate challenges demand urgent solutions. Only one of four similar projects across the Netherlands secured continued funding, highlighting systemic vulnerabilities in long-term agricultural research support. Researchers warn this pause demonstrates the fragility of innovation programs essential for addressing mounting environmental pressures on modern farming.
Dutch Bank Launches Program Making Home Energy Upgrades Cost-Free for Homeowners
The Hague, Thursday, 22 January 2026.
ABN AMRO has launched a groundbreaking pilot program targeting 1,500 homeowners in southern Netherlands, making sustainable home improvements financially neutral by ensuring energy savings offset upgrade costs. Built on TNO research methodology, the program could potentially serve 450,000 homes in the bank’s mortgage portfolio without increasing monthly expenses. Participants achieve average 35% carbon emission reductions through heat pumps, solar panels, and insulation installations while maintaining current housing costs, addressing the primary financial barrier preventing residential energy transitions.
AI Could Fast-Track Europe's Renewable Energy Goals Despite Global Slowdown
Brussels, Thursday, 22 January 2026.
While renewable energy deployment faces headwinds globally, artificial intelligence emerges as a game-changer for Europe’s clean energy transition. With renewables already powering nearly half of European electricity in 2024, AI technologies are optimizing grid management and energy distribution to overcome critical bottlenecks. The technology enables real-time demand forecasting and seamless integration of intermittent solar and wind power, potentially unlocking hidden capacity in existing infrastructure and accelerating the shift away from fossil fuels at lower costs.
Wind and Solar Power Surpass Fossil Fuels in European Union for First Time
Brussels, Thursday, 22 January 2026.
Europe reached a historic energy milestone in 2025 as renewable sources generated 30% of electricity compared to fossil fuels’ 29%. Solar power drove this breakthrough with remarkable 20% annual growth for four consecutive years, now providing over one-fifth of electricity in countries like the Netherlands and Spain. This shift occurred across 14 EU member states, with coal falling to just 9.2% of generation. However, infrastructure challenges persist as outdated power grids force renewable operators to waste electricity during peak production periods.
AI Data Centers Could Boost US Carbon Emissions by 29% Within a Decade
United States, Wednesday, 21 January 2026.
AI systems now match New York City’s carbon footprint and consume water equivalent to global bottled water usage annually. Without policy intervention, data center emissions could surge 19-29% over the next ten years as electricity demand skyrockets 60-80% by 2050.
Europe Awards €270 Million to Six Hydrogen Projects That Will Cut Millions of Tonnes of CO2
Brussels, Wednesday, 21 January 2026.
The European Commission has finalized grant agreements with six renewable hydrogen projects, injecting €270.6 million from emissions trading revenues into clean energy infrastructure. These facilities, located across Spain, Finland, and Norway, will collectively produce 500,000 tonnes of renewable hydrogen annually over the next decade. The projects represent a breakthrough in commercial-scale hydrogen production, with installations ranging from 5 to 200 megawatts of electrolyser capacity. Most significantly, these initiatives will eliminate 3.4 million tonnes of CO2 emissions over their operational lifetime, equivalent to removing hundreds of thousands of cars from European roads permanently.
Dutch Students Create Electric Car That Owners Can Fix Themselves
Netherlands, Tuesday, 20 January 2026.
University students in the Netherlands have developed a revolutionary electric vehicle called Aria that eliminates expensive mechanic visits through user-friendly design. The car features a diagnostic app that connects via USB-C to smartphones, using 3D models to guide owners to broken components. Most remarkably, the modular battery system can be removed by hand, while exterior parts like bumpers snap off easily for replacement. This innovation directly addresses the growing complexity and repair costs of modern electric vehicles, potentially transforming automotive maintenance from specialist-dependent to owner-empowered.