Erasmus University Rotterdam
Erasmus University Rotterdam

Erasmus Centre for Energy Transition

Young man is presenting at the Erasmus Centre for Energy Transition narrative

Why?

There are many challenges we face regarding the energy transition and its implications for climate change, such as decarbonization of industries, cities, organizations and our individual homes. Often the energy transition is managed as a technological transition, however a large part of the energy transition is especially a social transition that requires new business and finance models, a new type of collaboration between public and private stakeholders and a re-evaluation of the driving values of our society towards sustainability and inclusion. This requires answering questions related to: politics, economics, technology, and society. 

Young woman presenting at the Erasmus Centre for Energy Transition narrative

In order to achieve the climate ambitions outlined in the Paris agreement, expertise from different backgrounds needs to be combined to create a holistic perspective and approach and create the required level of energy transition literacy for different stakeholders to work together in accelerating the required transition.   

The Erasmus University Rotterdam because of its excellence in social sciences, business, economics and law offers the ideal environment to offer this interdisciplinary and holistic perspective. It can therefore play a pivotal role in supporting our students, industry, government, and NGO’s in accelerating the transition in a just, inclusive and sustainable way.

The audience listens attentively to a presentation of Erasmus Centre for Energy Transition narrative

Rotterdam is home to several thriving industries, green tech startup and scaleups and is the largest port in Europe.  Together we create a flourishing ecosystem, whereby working together we can push the boundaries together, focusing on innovation, sustainability, inclusivity and transitioning to become the most resilient city in Europe.

How?

With a great sense of urgency to help accelerate the energy transition the Erasmus Centre for Energy Transition is a centre of expertise focused on advancing the energy transition and investigating climate impact. We want to do this by:

  • Building a community of energy professionals and change makers crossing generations, cultures and industries, and stimulate sharing of best-practices and peer-to-peer learning. This community includes, and is supported by, renowned scientists and knowledge institution representatives.
  • Identifying knowledge gaps and raising awareness among experts, industry professionals, students and citizens on energy transition topics with the input of academia.
  • Stimulating applied research and innovation to understand and accelerate the energy transition. Develop and disseminate research of the highest caliber on the social, economic, organizational and managerial problems associated with the energy transition and climate change, and to translate this research in the language of practice. 
  • Supporting education and life-long learning to make students and established professionals aware of the challenges and opportunities that characterize the energy transition, and provide them with the skillset to lead the necessary changes.
  • Facilitating collaborative valorisation/impact initiatives that arise when industry and science join forces. Stimulate the formulation of energy transition goals and provide insights into the progress on related efforts within organizations.

Upcoming events and programmes

People playing around with VR glasses at the Erasmus Centre for Energy Transition narrative

What?

Our mission is to provide all students at Erasmus University Rotterdam with the necessary knowledge, skills and mindset to master the energy transition.

We aim to provide a holistic, interdisciplinary, and collaborative view on the complexity and dynamics of the Energy Transition. Whether it be in pre-experience learning programs or post-experience, the Energy Transition holistic education portfolio will take our students on a learning path, during which they will be confronted with the urgency of the Energy Transition.  

To successfully see the energy sector and all linking industries and organizations transition, we will develop and use impact driven education to enhance each student's experience.  This includes working with practical cases and teaching materials, that directly tie to positive impact and real societal change. 

Research is done many ways at EUR.  Either individual research done by one person or in a team in the same discipline, multidiscipline or interdisciplinary teams.  However, the focus for more complex societal grand challenges like the energy transition is requiring transdisciplinary research, co-creation between quadruple helix actors (academia, government, industry and societal partners). Co-creation and collaboration deeply evolve the role of scientific knowledge and increases its impact in addressing the societal challenges we face. 

We take a holistic approach to solving and accelerating the global Energy Transition challenge by combining various complementary disciplines by funding collaborations between experts from various domains to make positive socio-economic impact that helps to create and accelerate a sustainable, inclusive, and just energy transition that is so urgently needed. 

Examples of Research Topics included in our research now:  

  • Inclusive energy markets that give incentives and rewards for sustainable, green, and just steps for energy supply and use 
  • Legal and regulatory frameworks for the implementation of renewable smart technologies 
  • Public administration, governance, and policy advise (societal assessment, forecasting, and support/guidance) 
    - Governance framework that enables societal acceptance and support 
  • New market, business, and finance models that smartly connect and manage energy supply, operation, and demand taking all stakeholders into account and supporting a globally resilient and safe energy system, while satisfying the diverse needs of individual stakeholder groups from macro to micro levels throughout society.
    - Setting up a Flexible Energy Market including diverse energy sources and societal stakeholder and shareholders
    - Inclusion/connection of key players and their ownerships: industrial, governmental, private households (citizen inclusion)
    - Smart guidance and management systems/platforms for the operation and management of a flexible and resilient energy market
  • Creation of production, storage, and supply systems within a smart, efficient, resilient, safe, inclusive, and just energy system for The Netherlands and EU to be connected to global systems for a green and sustainable future that provides sufficient energy for the human population without destroying the planet we live on.  

To achieve the climate ambitions outlined in the Paris agreement, expertise from different backgrounds needs to be combined to create a holistic perspective and approach and create the required level of energy transition literacy for different stakeholders to work together in accelerating the required transition.   

Community building together with companies, governments, researchers and students to work together on sustainable solutions for a new energy system.  Our internal and external Learning Community work together on problems and research questions and then share their knowledge, insights and experiences.

We uphold the highest standards for our creativity and academic integrity to effect the transformation of the energy market. The center will take an orchestrating role to create a community of public and private stakeholders and link these to our students and academics across different faculty, institutes, and disciplines. There is great potential for impact through collaborative and inter-disciplinary and transdisciplinary research together with socio-economic stakeholders and companies.

Generating awareness and curiosity on topics of the energy transition are of importance and a goal of the center.  Energy literacy is key to creating a common understanding of the energy system of today and what the energy system will look like after the transition.  Energy literacy is the affective and behavioral characteristics that enable citizens to make appropriate decisions regarding energy, their energy usage and what they can change to contribute to an accelerated energy transition.   

Through education and research, this will lay the groundwork for energy awareness and literacy.  With online education programs and published articles by our researchers, this will contribute to a common understanding.   

Portrait photo of Eelco Hoekstra.

EUR alumnus

"We understand the energy transition is not a purely technical issue. It will require understanding of geopolitical developments, national policies and politics, technical solutions at competitive pricing, economic modeling and risk reward balances, capital markets with broad social implications."

Eelco Hoekstra

Member of the Executive Board of Directors of SHV

Woman presenting at the Erasmus Centre for Energy Transition narrative

For whom?

What can we offer? How to collab? 

  • Will work to embed energy transition impact driven education across regular curriculum with the faculty education coordinators, so that you leave campus with a holistic understanding of the transition and how you can support and influence it.   
  • Interested in a summer school brining you and TU Delft students the holistic perspective, let us know and we will organize this.  
  • Create awareness on energy transition through seminar, guest lectures and masterclasses  
  • Join the energy transition junior ambassadors  
  • Will connect you with companies committed to the energy transition through career sessions focused on roles and careers in sustainability and Energy Transition.

What can we offer? How to collab? 

  • Position EUR as a front runner in the context of Energy transition and climate change mitigation and therefore support the Netherlands with the net zero plan 
  • Creating a strong connection between the energy industry partners and academic energy research community 
  • Strengthening international collaborations in both education and research 
  • Attracting external funding and sponsorships for research and Faculty positions 
  • Positioning EUR as a focal energy research point in Europe with a strong network with local and international research communities 
  • Aligning the energy transition research capabilities of EUR 
  • Creating multi-disciplinary competence and share knowledge  
  • Exploring cross functional innovation and research opportunities  
  • Join forces with different faculty and EUR research groups and collaborate with students and connect to public and private organisations 
  • Access to case studies and company challenges (for teaching purpose) 
  • Connecting with industry for future opportunities and practical output (specifically for PhD's) 
  • Growing research and professional network 
  • Update repository of datasets, algorithms and work with climate action models and visualization space  

What can we offer? How to collab? 

  • Support organizations with hands on learning through executive education  
  • A place to discover and discuss the latest developments for the energy transition  
  • Meet and recruit the next generation of change agents  
  • Build a community that shares expertise  

What can we offer? How to collab? 

  • A place to discover and discuss the latest developments for the energy transition  
  • Build a community that shares expertise  
  • Latest expert knowledge and research access through publications, white papers and website repository of latest information  
  • Citizen outreach and support through research and large municipality projects support the transition with cities  
  • Improving the awareness of the urgency of energy transition and the guidelines for the optimal transition 

Team

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