Cor Klaassen & Kees NoormanDecarbonising existing plants is a complex yet pressing task. That was the central message during the knowledge event organised by ORAM – a network of businesses in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area – and KH Engineering on 8 May at the Tata Steel Netherlands site. Kees Noorman, director of ORAM, and Cor Klaassen, chief commercial officer at KH Engineering, reflect on the event. Around 120 entrepreneurs, technicians, engineers and policymakers gathered to exchange insights, share real-world experiences, and collaborate on a shared challenge: how to make existing plants more sustainable and future-proof.
The Port of Amsterdam faces the same challenges as other industrial clusters in the Netherlands, but these are even more concentrated due to the limited number of hectares. Grid congestion, nitrogen emissions and spatial constraints pose significant obstacles to decarbonisation. ‘If your business wants to switch from natural gas to electricity, but the grid is already at full capacity, the transition quickly grinds to a halt’, says Kees Noorman, director of ORAM. Spatially too, it's a matter of striking the right balance: industry, housing development and port operations are all competing for the same square metres. ‘We must ensure that industry isn't blamed for the housing shortage – these businesses have been here for decades.’
Layered approach to decarbonisation
At the event, KH Engineering presented its master plan for decarbonising existing plants in the process industry. Not a lengthy report, but a practical methodology. ‘We use the onion as an example’, explains Cor Klaassen, chief commercial officer at KH Engineering. ‘We peel it from the outside in, layer by layer. You start with the simplest step: a baseline measurement of your energy consumption. What are you using energy for, and how much? Are there immediate savings to be made through smarter control systems or energy-sharing with neighbouring companies?’ The next layer involves the smart application of existing technologies. Heat pumps and residual heat recovery can result in significant savings. Only then do you reach the core: adapting and improving the efficiency of the production process itself. ‘That’s often the most difficult part’, says Cor. ‘But sometimes it’s essential to truly become future-proof.’
Technology and the long term
Although technology continues to advance, the real challenge often lies in decision-making. Cor says: ‘Many companies base their decisions on business cases and payback periods. But if you always measure sustainability by short-term returns, you’ll hit a wall.’ Kees recognises this tension as well. ‘We need to start thinking in terms of societal value, not just euros. It’s about the survival of businesses in this region. If you do nothing, you’ll eventually lose your right to exist.’ During the knowledge event, Serdar Erdag, account manager New Energy & Infrastructure at KH Engineering, shared a striking analogy that resonated with the audience: ‘Eating at home is cheaper, but we still go out to eat because it’s worth something to us. That’s how we should look at sustainability too.’
Mini excursion to Tata Steel
As part of the event, some attendees had the opportunity to visit the Tata Steel Netherlands site. For many, it was a real eye-opener. ‘There were people who’ve worked in the port for years but had no idea what goes on behind the scenes at the Tata site’, says Cor. ‘They came back with a sense of both wonder and urgency.’
Technical, economic and societal
In addition to the mini excursion, the event featured several guest speakers. Presentations by Tata Steel Netherlands and VTTI – a major energy infrastructure company – demonstrated that sustainability is not an abstract ideal, but a concrete challenge being tackled every day, sometimes by dozens of engineers at once. Representatives from banks, accountancy firms and other supply chain partners were also present. ‘Precisely because sustainability is not just a technical issue, but also an economic and societal one, it requires a joint approach’, says Kees. ‘That’s where the real value of events like this lies.’ ’
CALL FOR COLLABORATION
During the closing panel discussion, a clear message emerged from the audience: companies must join forces in lobbying efforts towards The Hague. Kees remarked, ‘Thirteen years ago, I was already trying to point out that the industry needed to organise itself better. Now that need is more urgent than ever. If everyone only raises their own issue, nothing will change. Together, we are stronger.’
Enthousiasm for follow-up
Both ORAM and KH Engineering look back on the event with satisfaction. The collaboration was smooth, the content was strong, and concrete follow-up conversations with new contacts have already begun. Kees says, ‘As far as we're concerned, this deserves to become an annual event. As long as we can maintain the high standard of speakers and organisation, there’s definitely a demand for it.’
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
KH Engineering has summarised its approach and insights on decarbonising existing plants in a practical white paper. Download it here: khe.eu/en/master-plan-for-energy-transition
For more information about ORAM: oram.nl