Pioneering Tech Podcast

Episode 5: Smart Energy Hubs and Sunny Predictions

Anic van Damme speaks with Machteld van den Broek, professor of Energy System Integration at TU Delft, about the new research project "DEFLAME," which focuses on the electrification of the Port of Rotterdam and reducing natural gas usage. She also visits Ties van der Heijden, founder of Pythia Energy Intelligence, who explains how his start-up uses new technologies, such as solar energy forecasting, to help balance supply and demand within energy networks.

The co-host this time is Angela Hulst, Innovation Manager at Stedin. She gives us an update on smart solutions like energy hubs and the optimization of existing systems.

DEFLAME

One of the main topics in this episode is the groundbreaking research project "DEFLAME." Led by TU Delft, this project focuses on electrifying industrial processes and minimizing the use of natural gas in the Port of Rotterdam.
 

Guests:

• Angela Hulst, Manager Innovatie at Stedin
• Machteld van den Broek, professor at TU Delft
• Ties van der Heijden, founder Pythia Energy Intelligence

Episode 4: Quantum: the first unhackable communications system available

Anic van Damme visits Ronald Hanson, Professor of Quantum Physics at TU Delft, to talk about quantum research and getting quantum technology market-ready. Ronald works on this day in and day out as scientific director at QuTech, a partnership between TNO and TU Delft. One of the most recent successes is Q*bird, a start-up that emerged from the collaboration. Q*bird has realised unintegrable quantum communication connections. Founder and former Delft researcher Ingrid Romijn tells us all about it.

The co-host of this session is Peter Maarten Westerhout, director Deeptech at Techleap, a Dutch network platform that facilitates promising tech start-ups to grow.  

Guests:

• Ronald Hanson, Professor Quantumfysica and co-founder of QuTech
• Ingrid Romijn, founder Q*bird
• Peter Maarten Westerhout, director Deeptech at Techleap

Episode 3: Water safety: how mobile dikes are tested at Flood Proof Holland

Anic van Damme visits Professor Bas Jonkman of TU Delft, Professor of Hydraulic Engineering, and the TU Delft test site Flood Proof Holland to see how TU Delft is working with Dirk Bon, owner of Mobile Water Barriers Netherlands, on innovations to protect the Netherlands from water. The co-host is Bart Vonk, coordinating advisor at Rijkswaterstaat and one of the chairmen of the National Coordination Committee for Flood Threat (LCO) and the National Coordination Committee for Water Distribution (LCW). He reflects on current water safety policies in the Netherlands and the role of innovations within them.

Guests:

• Bas Jonkman, Professor Hydraulic Engineering
• Dirk Bon, owner Mobiele Waterkeringen Nederland
• Bart Vonk, coordinating advisor at Rijkswaterstaat

Episode 2: Protein transition: do you like cultured sausage?

Anic van Damme visits TU Delft professor Marcel Ottens and Daan Luining, co-founder of Meatable, to find out if cultured meat proves to be an alternative to traditional animal proteins.

Marcel Ottens' cellular agriculture research group plays an important role in exploring the possibilities for start-ups to scale up solutions for the protein transition. In the next phase, startups can continue to grow on the Biotech Campus, where Meatable is also located. Startups there make use of the proximity of TU Delft's knowledge and well-trained talents.

Joanne de Mooij, Senior Policy Officer for Economics at the Province of South Holland joins as co-host. She is responsible for the protein transition at the province and explains how cultured meat contributes to the sustainability objectives of the province and how they support innovative companies.

Guests:

• Marcel Ottens, Professor of Bioprocess Technology
• Daan Luining, Co-founder and CTO, Meatable
• Joanne de Mooij, Senior Policy Officer Economics, Province of South Holland

Episode 1: Rolling out electrolysis technology for the whole of the Netherlands

A battery that also produces hydrogen: Anic van Damme visits TU Delft professor Fokko Mulder and Mattijs Slee of Battolyser Systems to view the battolyser technology. This innovative technology was invented by Fokko Mulder at TU Delft and is now being commercially developed by Battolyser Systems. It combines battery and electrolysis technology to store and release sustainable energy, making it an important player in the energy transition.

Co-host Petra de Groene, Director of Economy and Sustainability, explains how this technology makes an important contribution to the goal of making Rotterdam completely climate neutral by 2050 and what role governments and policymakers can play to accelerate this type of innovation.

Guests:

• Fokko Mulder, Full Professor Materials for integrated energy systems
• Mattijs Slee, CEO Battolyser Systems
• Petra de Groene, Director of Economy and Sustainability at the Municipality of Rotterdam