TU/e Controlling grid congestion, lessons from the GENIUS living lab, site visit to the GENIUS system included!!

Learn about the results of the TU/e GENIUS system November 18, 2025!!Site visit to the GENIUS system included!!

Event organized by EIRES and KIVI at the TU/e Campus.
November 18, 2025 15:30 hrs.

Grid Congestion

Grid congestion is a major topic in many countries. To lower CO2 emissions the way we generate and use energy is changing. Electrification of energy supply is important to reach such a goal. The growth of solar and wind energy in the energy mix leads to fluctuating supply. Combined with growing power demand, the grid is becoming overloaded. This leads to grid congestion and solutions are needed. Also, in the Brainport region this is happening. Innovative solutions like energy hubs are needed. GENIUS is a living lab at the TU/e to explore the options.

The GENIUS project

The experiments within the OPZuid GENIUS project were officially started one year ago with the completion of the hardware/software setup on the TU/e Campus. A 3.4 MWh battery has been installed and is connected to the campus grid. The energy related assets in all the campus buildings, labs, etc. are connected to be able to monitor and control the energy usage. The aim is to manage energy flows on the campus by using an innovative, intelligent energy management system. Using real-time data from the assets as well as historic data and predictive models grid congestion will be prevented.

Moreover, the setup is also testing ground for relevant future innovations and can be used as a living lab.

Bess (Battery Energy Storage System)

In many countries, BESS systems like GENIUS are installed and used. 
BESS is short for Battery Energy Storage System. More info about these systems In e.g. USA here and here.

GENIUS results till now

The experience and “quantitative” results after one year will be discussed. 
Two lectures have been arranged:

• The GENIUS system and how the battery fits to the assets of the TU/e. 
  What has been achieved in the first year and expectations for the future. Presented by TU/e real estate. (Thijs Meulen).
• The ideas behind the energy management system (EMS) of the TU/e campus, including GENIUS. How does the EMS perform? What is the role of AI? Presented by the software partner of the project Zympler (Tom Selten). The experience and “quantitative” results after one year will be discussed.

GENIUS site visit

The site of the GENIUS system will be visited after the presentations.

Network Drinks

There will be ample time to network with the speakers and others during the network drinks.

About the speakers

Thijs Meulen is active in energy management and building automation at the TU/e. He is a Fontys alumnus.

Tom Selten is co-founder of Zympler company which was founded by him and Lightyear colleagues in 2023. He is a TU/e alumnus.

Program

• 15.30 Location open
• 15.45 Welcome by TU/e (Thijs Meulen) and KIVI (Rebecca Kossen).
• 15.50 GENIUS on TU/e Campus and results for the first year. (Thijs Meulen, TU/e)
• 16.15 Smart energy management, avoiding net congestion with GENIUS, Tom Selten Cofounder Zympler
• 16.45 Q&A.
• 17.05 Site visit to GENIUS and networking drinks.
• 18.00 End of visit.

Visit to GENIUS

Last Tuesday, 40 attendees, including a large group of master students from TU/e, visited GENIUS on the TU/e ​​campus. Prior to this, two presentations were given about the setup and its successor “BACH” by Ing. Thijs Meulen and by Ir. Tom Selten of the Zympler company. The event concluded with a pleasant networking drink. Thank you everyone for contributing to the inspiring and interactive evening!

Registration and participation

The event is a joint effort of EIRES and KIVI. The intention is to have a wide range of participants from students and teachers to senior engineers. 

This limits the number of participants in each of those categories. The acceptance of your participation will be preliminary. 

A few days before the event, your participation will be confirmed by e-mail. Be sure to fill out the questionnaire and give a short motivation for your participation on the registration page to enable this process.

Registration is free for students, TU/e employees and Fontys employees. 

We ask TU/e and Fontys employees to register as “student”.

Location & Parking

Technische Universiteit Eindhoven: Horsten 1, 5612 AX Eindhoven (Multimediapaviljoen/Disruptor). The entrance is located at the spot indicated by the blue arrow in the image below. The event will take place at the right, behind the small hallway after the large wooden entrance door.

Please note: When entering the TU campus, you will pass a barrier. Upon exiting, you can pay directly by card at the barrier (€2 per hour); there is no need to first go to a payment machine with your ticket. There is plenty of parking available at “De Rondom” (see image below), and alternatively at the indicated “P” on “De Lismortel.”

OPZuid GENIUS

Nine parties are part of the GENIUS consortium covering many facets of the project. 

The parties are: TU/e, EIRES, EASISI, Fudura, RIFT, Zympler Voltgoed, VBOptimum, ZEnMo, Cube Charging, Enerzien, Eindhoven Engine and Woonbedrijf. 

With support from the province, municipality and Enexis.