Energy and Materials Transition
Climate change, increasing resource scarcity, and environmental issues make the sustainability of our society one of the biggest challenges for the coming decades. To actually achieve the climate and sustainability goals, the transformation of the energy supply and resource use must and can be accelerated. This transformation also presents huge opportunities. Consider, for example, exporting crucial technologies and addressing key environmental issues such as reducing waste, air pollution, and resource depletion.
Accelerating the energy transition and promoting the circular economy
As a knowledge partner and driver of innovation, we are ready to accelerate the energy and materials transition, so that the Netherlands will be fully circular and climate neutral by 2050. Our aim is to contribute actively to a climate-resilient, sustainable, and circular society through technical knowledge and policy recommendations, thereby strengthening the competitiveness of Dutch industry.
We focus on six critical areas:
Renewable energy
Developing technologies to extract energy from solar and wind more cheaply and effectively, making smart use of the scarce space available in the Netherlands.
Carbon-neutral industry
Developing ground-breaking innovations and system innovations to make energy-intensive industry carbon-neutral and increase the export potential of the Netherlands. Among other things, we focus on the industrial energy supply, carbon capture and reuse, hydrogen production and use, electrification of production processes, sustainable fuels and chemicals, and onshore and offshore energy infrastructure.
Circular economy
Developing technologies for recycling plastics, and processes for the sustainable design of materials. We also look at the design of the circular value chain, investigating the environmental impact of products and processes, in conjunction with the societal and economic impact.
Climate and air quality
Developing methods to measure and monitor particulate matter, nitrogen, and greenhouse gases. In doing so, we identify the sources and consequences of emissions, enabling companies and public authorities to take effective action.
Sustainable subsurface
With our Geological Survey of the Netherlands, we are in a unique position in terms of comprehensive knowledge of the subsurface. This enables us to provide valuable insights, data, analyses, and advice in this area. We are also working on underground energy and carbon storage techniques, and geothermal energy for heating greenhouses and homes.
System transition
Besides technological solutions, economic consequences and social aspects play at least as big a role in the energy and materials transition. We are committed to transparent policy and government direction, responsible entrepreneurship and strengthening citizen participation, to actively contribute individually or collectively to sustainable living, living and working in 2050.
Unique knowledge and facilities, recognised internationally
TNO is internationally recognised as a leading and independent centre for applied energy and materials research and the knowledge centre for the subsurface and for quantifying gas emissions. We take an agenda-setting, initiating, and supporting role in the energy and materials transition. In this role, we work intensively with entrepreneurs, scientists, and policymakers, both nationally and internationally.
To achieve our goals, we use state-of-the-art research facilities and have extensive research infrastructure and facilities in various locations, bridging the gap between fundamental research and practical implementation.
Energy and materials transition
Since 15 November 2022, the Energy and Materials Transition unit has been created. This unit is an amalgamation of the units Energy Transition and Circular Economy.
Expertisegroups
- Advisory group for Economic Affairs
- Biobased and circular technology
- Heat transfer and fluid dynamics
- Wind energy
- Solar technologies and applications
- Applied geosciences
- Solar energy
- CO2 reduction in the Netherlands
- Sustainable process and energy systems
- Sustainable technologies for industrial processes
- Geomodelling
- Energy transition studies
- Geo data and IT
- Climate, Air and Sustainability
- Environmental modelling, sensing & analysis
Contact us
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Henk Jan Vink
Functie:Managing director-
Standplaats:Den Haag - New Babylon
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Telefoon:+31 88 866 30 31
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Email:Email Henk Jan
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LinkedIn:Henk Jan on LinkedIn
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André Faaij
Functie:Science Director at TNO and Professor at Utrecht and Groningen University on Energy System AnalysisMy research interests and priorities contribute to TNO’s objectives by advancing the capabilities and use of state of the art system analyses methods and tools to inform the energy transition and industrial transformation across the board.
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Standplaats:Utrecht
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Telefoon:+31 6 28 97 55 14
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Email:Email André
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LinkedIn:André on LinkedIn
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Richard Braal
Functie:Market director-
Standplaats:Delft - Leeghwaterstraat
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Telefoon:+31 88 866 63 01
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Email:Email Richard
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LinkedIn:Richard on LinkedIn
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Peter Wolfs
Functie:Market director-
Standplaats:Utrecht
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Telefoon:+31 6 22 26 07 63
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Email:Email Peter
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LinkedIn:Peter on LinkedIn
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Tirza van Daalen
Functie:Market director-
Standplaats:Utrecht
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Telefoon:+31 88 866 25 09
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Email:Email Tirza
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LinkedIn:Tirza on LinkedIn
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Harm Jeeninga
Functie:Market director-
Standplaats:Petten
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Telefoon:+31 88 866 73 59
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Email:Email Harm
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Marieke Verheijden
Functie:Director of Operations-
Standplaats:Utrecht
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Telefoon:+31 88 866 62 10
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Email:Email Marieke
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Wind turbine blade inspections can be faster, cheaper and safer. TNO and SpectX are combining their expertise areas on a new one-year project known as the IBIS project (Increased Blade Inspection Safety).
Producing renewable DME using renewable energy and CO2
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