On September 26th, the Province of Drenthe joined an extensive network of stakeholders to brainstorm over the next steps towards sustainable business parks in the region. With the title ‘Gouden Greep’, this meeting was designed to search for and discuss ‘golden opportunities’ for the energy transition.
Rixt van Dongera helps to discover the golden opportunities
Resources & investments
Under the enthusiastic and creative guidance of moderator Rixt van Dongera, our GRITH partners discussed how to develop a support process for the energy transition with entrepreneurs, collaborative organizations, financiers, park managers, grid operators, business associations, and think tank experts.
Security of supply and accessibility are high on the wish list in this regard, but sustainability and future-proof energy solutions require a lot of resources and major investments.
It isn’t easy
“For GRITH the energy transition on business parks is part of our daily work and the Climate Agreement goals are, not surprisingly, foremost in our minds,” says Rein Bouwer, Policy Advisor for Energy and part of the project’s team in Drenthe. “However, the same cannot be said for industrial sites and business parks - entrepreneurs have other things on their minds and are mainly focused on running companies and doing business.
Even keeping the simple yet inspiring words of Greta Thunberg in mind, it isn’t easy. Because while "just stop using fossil fuels" is the end goal, we first need to have the alternatives in place.”
GRITH stakeholders in Drenthe pool innovative ideas
Good business sense
As mediator, Rixt prodded the participants with creative exercises and questions regarding such challenges as financing, forms of cooperation and more. Who covers the potentially unprofitable part of the investment? Do larger companies carry more of the burden for smaller ones? And what if you're at a crossroads?
”It’s good to know there is a lot of support available. There are energy guides to lead the way forward,” she concludes. ” Where opportunities arise, the path to transition must be taken. No passing the buck and no bureaucracy. A united approach to the energy transition on sites also makes good business sense.”
With a treasure chest full of innovative ideas and nuggets of opportunity for collaboration, the group concluded that sustainability is not just good for the environment but is quite literally worth gold in terms of Drenthe’s economy and industry in the region. Words that resonate positively in the business community.