Will the Netherlands be completely off coal by 2030?

Source: Cursor TU/e

On Thursday afternoon, 6 October, Eindhoven Institute for Renewable Energy Systems (EIRES) hosted EnergyDays, an event organised every two years in which speakers from different perspectives look at energy.

This edition's theme was 'Decision-making in times of climate change'. With two academics, a young talent, a politician and someone from the service industry, those perspectives were spot on.

"We are moving towards a system that is completely 'decarbonised' (decarbonised, ed.) by 2030, but that has major implications for flexibility on the power grid."

Alternatives to power plants still need to be found because the power grid must always remain balanced.

This is the intro to the report in Cursor magazine. For more see the link.

The short and the long term: decision-making in times of climate change

We are feeling the consequences of climate change now. But the more severe impacts will happen further in the future. Decision-makers, in government and business, need to weigh long-term risks against short-term needs.

Crises enlarge the problem. Should we build those houses now, despite rising risks of flooding?

In the rush to build energy infrastructure for fast-increasing renewables, how do we make it climate-resilient?

Burning coal, so gas storage can be filled, but worsening climate change and losing international credibility?

With a behavioural scientist, an electricity transmission operator, a young climate activist and a regional politician, this EnergyDays reflects on such questions and discusses how decision-makers can handle them.

PROGRAM

Walk-in with sandwiches
12h45 - 13h30

13h30 - 13h40
Welcome by Chair of the day
Heleen de Conick - Eindhoven University of Technology

13h40 - 14h20
Linda Steg - University of Groningen
Human behaviour: short-sighted and self-interested, or provident and considerate?
Many assume that most people are self interested, and prioritise personal outcomes in the short term above long-term collective outcomes. Yet, many people engage in climate actions, even though this may be somewhat costly or inconvenient. Linda Steg will discuss what factors enhance the likelihood that people engage in climate actions.

14h20 - 15h00
Maarten Abbenhuis - TenneT TSO B.V.
Gearing up together - a TSOs perspective

15h00 - 15h20
Break

15h20 - 15h35
Topic: t.b.c.
Lisa van der Geer - Young Climate Movement

15h35 - 15h50
Topic: t.b.c.
Anne-Marie Spierings - Province North Brabant

15h50 - 16h10
General discussion with audience

16h10 - 16h15
Wrap-up & closure by Chair of the day

16h15 - 17h00
Open café & networking

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