Integrated water and energy systems

Connect water, hydrogen, heat and electricity in one clean and future-proof water and energy system

The Dutch energy system must become clean and future-proof, but also remain reliable and affordable. Local production of sustainable solar or wind energy plays a crucial role in this transition. As a result of the increasing implementation of fluctuating energy sources like wind and solar, the energy supply and demand mismatch increases. A second problem in today’s Dutch electrical network is grid congestion. This problem arises because we want to transport more electricity than our grid can handle. Storage, transport and conversion of energy can be of help in keeping the energy system in balance, and in reducing the need to transport electricity. Ultimately, all parts of the system need to fit together like the pieces of a puzzle, at several levels: district, city, country or continent. In KWR’s vision of the future water and energy system, water, hydrogen, heat and electricity are integrally interconnected.

Methods, tools and products

Through the use of modelling studies, KWR can gain insight into the operation of integrated water and energy systems thanks to the (KWR-developed) Power-to-Hubs model. This model provides advanced insights into elements like asset dimensioning, connection capacity requirements for different energy carriers, costs and emissions. 

Besides modelling studies, KWR also supervises pilots and demonstrations, or takes part in them. For example, in 2024, Hysolar set up a 2.5 MWe green hydrogen production station at KWR’s site, and put it into operation for the purpose of demonstrating and researching the technology. KWR looks after a monitoring plan for the installation, analyses the environmental impact through a life-cycle analysis (LCA), and publishes the results.

Power-to-X

The Power-to-X concept is a good example of the integrated vision of the water and energy system. The Power-to-X approach offers an innovation solution pathway for different problem areas in the energy transition, including grid congestion. Possible elements of the integrated Power-to-X approach include the generation of sustainable electricity, conversion of (surpluses) of electricity into hydrogen or heat, exploitation of residual heat (for example from the production of hydrogen), local (rain) water use, subsurface heat storage, and heat distribution through a heating network. In this way, for example, hydrogen can be produced as a fuel for the logistics sector using green electricity, and electric cars can be used as batteries for surplus solar power that can then be used to meet demand peaks. The Power-to-X approach therefore fits in with recent developments relating to Energiehubs.

Hydrogen production 

Water is a necessary source for hydrogen – an energy carrier that plays a key part in our future energy system. Because of the increase of sustainable electricity in the energy system, there is a growing need for a more flexible capacity of response to peaks in power production and for the creation of large-scale storage possibilities. The production and storage of green hydrogen is a very promising option in this regard, partly because hydrogen can be transported in the existing natural gas network, but also because it can be used in multiple ways, for instance as a chemical building block, transport fuel or for the provision of high-temperature heat. This explains why KWR houses an electrolyser for the production of hydrogen at its own site, and conducts various research projects aimed at further understanding and optimising the green hydrogen chain.

Projects

Power-to-X Province Utrecht

KWR research for various business parks shows that this integrated approach is more sustainable and much cheaper when the different functions (heat, electricity, mobility) are made more sustainable independently of each other.

 

LIFE NEW HYTS

LIFE NEW HYTS is a LIFE project that is partly funded by the European Union. LIFE NEW HYTS stands for reNEWable green HYdrogen for TranSport. This unique collaboration of local entrepreneurs, knowledge institutions and public authorities demonstrates the possibilities and feasibility of the local production, distribution and application of green hydrogen in road transport. LIFE NEW HYTS develops terms for the introduction of green hydrogen-fuelled heavy commercial vehicles.

 

H-Flex

In the H-Flex project KWR conducts joint research with HySolar on how an electrolyser for the production of green hydrogen can contribute to increasing the flexibility of the energy system. To this end een 2,5 MWe elektrolyser was set up at the KWR site.