SIG Energietransitie

Introduction

What is the energy transition and what challenges does it bring?

Driven by aggressive greenhouse gas reduction targets, the Netherlands embarked on a large program of electricity generation by offshore wind, phasing out power generation by means of fossil fuels. The country aims for full carbon neutrality in electricity provision and energy-intensive industries by 2040, with all other energy use becoming carbon neutral by 2050 ¹. Fossil fuels will be replaced by renewable, highly distributed, and intermittent energy sources ².

On the demand side, massive electrification is required to reduce carbon emissions associated with transport and heating. Electricity use is expected to increase fourfold due to the electrification of heat and mobility ³. This shift necessitates moving from a demand-driven energy system to a supply-driven one. The energy transition is projected to require an additional €350 billion in investments by 2050 ¹.

Increasing systems interdependency, digitalization, datafication, and smartification—if not implemented and integrated correctly—may lead to unnecessary complexity ². This is not a slight modification but a complete revamp. The conversion of the electricity grid (both transmission and distribution) generates significant and unforeseen challenges ³. There are constraints on technical resources, insufficient progress in digitalization, and a lack of systems integration ². Massive upscaling, including the digitalization of the energy infrastructure, is taking place in a fragmented field characterized by stakeholder silos ¹. The energy system is going to change and become more complex ³.

Systems engineers can play a crucial role in this transition by volunteering their expertise to help navigate these challenges and ensure a smooth and efficient transformation ².

¹: Government.nl ²: IEA ³: Energie Nederland

Mission

What does the SIG energy transition see as its main mission?

The SIG energy transition sees as its main challenge to help identifying, promoting and implementing best practices from Systems Engineering to tackle the main transition challenges. This far the SIG has identified 4 crucial gaps. Here’s a detailed look at each gap identified in the Dutch energy transition from a Systems Engineering perspective:

System Overview: The current energy transition efforts are often siloed, with different stakeholders focusing on their specific areas without a comprehensive understanding of the entire system. This lack of a holistic view can lead to inefficiencies and missed opportunities for optimization across the energy network ¹.
Knowledge: There is a significant gap in applying a system-level engineering approach. Such an approach is crucial for designing a robust and future-proof energy system that can handle the complexities and interdependencies of modern energy infrastructure. Without this, the system may face vulnerabilities and inefficiencies ².
Collective Ownership: Effective energy transition requires collaboration across various organizational boundaries. However, there is a lack of collective ownership, which is essential for addressing the complexities that arise at the intersections of different domains. This gap can lead to fragmented efforts and suboptimal solutions ³.
Qualified Personnel: The demand for skilled professionals in the energy sector is increasing, but the availability of qualified personnel is not keeping pace. This shortage can hinder the progress of the energy transition, as there are not enough experts to design, implement, and manage the new systems and technologies required ¹.

Addressing these gaps will be critical for the Netherlands to achieve its ambitious energy transition goals and ensure a sustainable and resilient energy future. The role of Systems Engineering (SE) and Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) in addressing the main challenges of the energy transition can be summarized as follows:

Managing Complexity and Risk: SE methodologies, proven in other industries, can be applied to manage the growing complexity and risks in the energy sector.
Efficient Design: SE is essential for designing a more efficient and robust energy system, ensuring that all components work together seamlessly.
Improving Efficiency: By applying SE principles, the efficiency of work processes can be significantly improved, reducing costs and time.
Enabling the Transition: SE will be a crucial enabler of the energy transition, helping to orchestrate the upscaling of infrastructure and rethink the future energy system’s architecture.

¹: Netbeheer Nederland ²: International Economics and Economic Policy ³: RUG Research

First Steps and Ways of Working

As a first concrete step, catalyzed by discussions within the SIG, three key parties have joined forces for a paid study to understand how to systems engineer the energy system of the future:

Network operators: Acting as problem owners, their aim is to understand the common needs for applying Systems Engineering (SE) and to identify what can be achieved through collaboration.
TNO: Serving as facilitating experts in Model-Based Systems Engineering, system digitalization, and the impact of sociotechnical policies.
INCOSE: Providing technical authority and bringing the body of knowledge of Systems Engineering.

The network operators Stedin, Liander, Enexis, and TenneT are collaborating with TNO to:

Create an overview of Systems Engineering practices currently used by the network operators.
Explore how Systems Engineering can be utilized to increase productivity and address the immediate bottleneck of qualified personnel needed for grid extension.

The Members of the SIG Energy Transition

Naam	Functie	Organisatie
Harry van der Velde	Voorzitter	INCOSE/NL en Shell
Bas Huijbrechts	FuESSE	TNO
Frans Speelman		Stedin
Jacques Verriet	FuESSE	TNO
Jan Kappelle	Secretaris	INCOSE
Jasper Groenewegen		DNV
Jelena Marincic	FuESSE	TNO
Marcel Willems		Enexis
Mark Rienks		TenneT
Rembrandt Koops		TenneT
Wouter Leibbrandt		TNO
Clemens Lohman		Stedin
Simon Rasing		Qirion
Rik Smith		SemmTech
Bryan de Goeij		TNO
Sjors Hijgenaar		Stedin
Teun Hendriks		TNO
Steven Haveman		Hogeschool Utrecht
Wouter van Deurzen		Stedin

Planned activities for 2025

Datum	Locatie	Onderwerp
22 Jan 2025		1. FuESSE update 2. Laatste voorbereiding voor IW2025
1-4 Feb 2025	Sevilla	IW2025
20 Mar 2025	INCOSE-NL Netwerkavond	Terugkoppeling IW2025 / FuESSE
30 April 2025		1. Presentatie TransMissie benadering voor complexe transities 2. Discussie volgende stappen
25 June 2025		1. Close-out FuESSE 2. Netbeheer Nederland
25 September 2025		1. Systeem Integratie - Topsector Energie 2. Economische Zaken
26 November 2025		1. Topic on Energy storage 2. TBD