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Three innovation programs submitted to the National Growth Fund to accelerate the transition to sustainable mobility
Under the coordination of RAI Automotive Industry NL and Brainport Development, a lot of work has been done in recent months to set up three innovation programs that have been submitted to the National Growth Fund. These are proposals on the topics:
- Battery technology (Materials Independence & Circular Battery Technology – NL)
- Charging infrastructure (Charging Energy Hubs)
- Hydrogen technology (Innovations and roadmaps for a profitable hydrogen chain in mobility)
The goal is to innovate and scale up together, in order to accelerate the transition to a sustainable mobility and energy system. On Friday 3 February, the proposals were submitted to the National Growth Fund.
Strategic independence of scarce materials for batteries
The Battery Competence Cluster – NL has drawn up a multi-year program Materials Independence & Circular Battery Technology – NL with more than 60 companies and knowledge institutions. To make the Netherlands less dependent on scarce and critical raw materials for batteries and to capitalize on opportunities in the battery industry. The program focuses on sustainable and circular batteries, which are important for the mobility sector and for energy storage of renewable energy. The latter should ensure stabilization of the electricity network.
Smart use of charging infrastructure as a solution for the overloaded electricity network
The electrification of the logistics sector is currently being slowed down. Sufficient charging infrastructure cannot be connected, due to congestion problems on the electricity grid. Heliox, in collaboration with DAF, Prodrive, Shell, Scholt Energy, Firan, ElaadNL, Dynniq Energy, TNO and 20 other companies and knowledge institutions, has drawn up a program to work together on the development of Charging Energy Hubs: decentralized (local) energy systems that form the connecting factor between customers and suppliers of electricity.
By linking charging infrastructure, renewable energy sources, energy storage and other local consumers, local flexibility on the grid is created. This flexibility can be used when the electricity network can no longer cope with the power demand. This offers a solution for grid congestion as well as for the business case of investments in charging infrastructure.
Hydrogen technology as a solution for making heavy transport more sustainable
With Bosal Nederland B.V. as the driving partner, the program 'Innovations and roadmaps for a profitable hydrogen chain in mobility' (H2M) has been set up. In the program, 28 partners want to realize a fast and smooth transition to emission-free heavy transport and local energy supply (minigrids). The focus is on applications where electrification does not seem to be a solution. This way, Dutch technology suppliers and industry are building a competitive position in the emerging hydrogen technology market. A special focus is on hydrogen combustion engines for applications in automotive, inland shipping and non-road mobile machinery, Solid Oxide (SO) fuel cell technology for heavy stationary and mobile applications and finally the development of an efficient robust hydrogen compressor technology for the rapid filling of tube trailers, tube containers and other large customers.
National Growth Fund
With the National Growth Fund, the government will invest € 20 billion between 2021 and 2025 in projects and programs that ensure sustainable economic growth. For the third round (2023), 4 billion euros will be available for both 'knowledge development & research' and 'development & innovation'. The National Growth Fund is an initiative of the Ministries of Economic Affairs and Climate and Finance. They jointly manage the fund on behalf of the cabinet. An independent committee has been set up to assess the submitted applications and give advice. The cabinet will decide in the summer whether funds will be allocated to the submitted programmes.
Program office Green & Smart mobility
RAI Automotive Industry NL and Brainport Development have joined forces in the Green & Smart mobility program office to implement the long-term strategy of the HTSM Automotive roadmap in various innovation programmes in collaboration with public partners, knowledge institutions and the Dutch automotive sector. The cooperation in and between the programs forms the basis for programmatically working towards the (climate) goals towards 2030 and 2050.