'We give entrepreneurs the wind at their backs'
Read the story of Energie Expertisecentrum Flevoland
Entrepreneurs find space in Flevoland to realise their ambitions.They have a hands-on mentality, tackling is in the Flevoland people's blood.Guts to do things differently from others.Daring to experiment, to be idiosyncratic and innovative.
Energy Expertise Centre Flevoland - 'We give entrepreneurs the wind at their backs'
Entrepreneurs find space in Flevoland to realise their ambitions.They dare to experiment, are quirky and innovative. On the former seabed, it is not only bursting with wind turbines, but also with the knowledge and expertise to make it sustainable fast. Sitting still? That's not an option. The Energy Expertise Centre was set up specifically to keep the momentum going.
For those who want to take big steps forward - often also requires a dose of guts.
In the country's youngest province, you will not only find all the space you need to do business, as an entrepreneur or institution you will also get all the space you need if you want to make work of renewable energy. Solar energy on your roof, heat pumps, insulation and wind energy? This very young country is bursting with knowledge and expertise on sustainability measures. The Energy Expertise Centre Flevoland (EEF for short) is happy to share knowledge and make the energy guzzlers clear at a glance. By turning off your lights on time or insulating pipes, you can easily save money in no time.
Taking big steps forward often also requires a dose of guts. They have that in Flevoland. As an entrepreneur, you can start working on your plans the very next day. The Energy Expertise Centre was set up by the province, but is separate from the government. 'I dare say that we have an answer for every question, have funding resources available or know where to find information or funding,' says director Willem Enklaar.
What does EEF do?
In short, Flevoland institutions and entrepreneurs help prepare, finance and implement sustainability measures. Take Lambri Wood Panels from Lelystad, for example. It now has 2,310 solar panels on its roof. Enough to power around 250 households. A substantial investment, which came together thanks to a sustainability voucher combined with standard financing from EEF.
'Our strength is to get practical right away and always think one step ahead and advise on that,' explains Willem. The local energy cooperative Almeerse Wind, which anyone can join, got a standby loan for the wind farm through EEF. 'We also helped to calculate a feasibility study (business case) for a solar farm.'
Stimulating innovation
'We are really there for the entrepreneurs and institutions: schools, sports clubs, energy cooperatives and the municipalities themselves.' The beauty of our country's youngest province: cooperation is very easy. EEF consciously seeks cooperation with many different parties in Flevoland. Take for instance agricultural organisation LTO, Sportservice Flevoland, the six municipalities, all business circles, the MKB Schakelteam and the regional development company Horizon Flevoland.
'Flevoland is an orderly province. The lines of communication are short and everyone is willing to help each other.' The perfect breeding ground to ensure that all companies and institutions in Flevoland know how to find EEF. Important, because we are there to accelerate the energy transition. 'We can also finance risky costs in the preparation phase. Think of us as the push for what the market does not do, insufficiently or too slowly.' Flevoland: the place where the wind always blows. Fresh and firm. Where the outlook is forward. Exactly as the creators of this new country did. With the wind at their backs.
Two best practice stories - from EEF
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Green thinking is in DNA family business Lambri Wood Panels
Green thinking. That's in the DNA of Lelystad-based Lambri Wood Panels. The family business has been making acoustic wall and ceiling systems for public buildings for almost 60 years. Virtually without gas. How do they do that? With a heat/cold storage system (WKO) in the ground, a heat pump and solar panels. Looking ahead. Seeing opportunities. Taking risks. It can be done in Flevoland!
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Almeerse Wind: citizens decide on power
Citizens deciding what happens to the profits from the energy generated? At Almeerse Wind, this is quite normal. For example, there are plans to temper the price of home energy use or start new energy projects. A story from residents about entrepreneurship with guts!