The primary motivation of this study was to generate insights for the period 2030-2040 concerning the industrial baseload and flexible electricity and hydrogen demand, along with offshore energy production. This study aimed to identify how these demands align with the electricity supply at the points of landing for offshore wind and offshore solar-PV, as well as the electricity generation from Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). The research confronted considerable methodological and content differences between various industrial energy scenarios, necessitating the comparison of multiple datasets to align different scenarios for coherent analysis.
Kalavasta was commissioned to conduct this study by the "Power to Industry" working group (P2I), on behalf of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate. This request was part of the 'Nationaal Programma Verduurzaming Industrie' (NPVI), in consultation with the program 'Programma Verbindingen Aanlanding Wind Op Zee' (pVAWOZ). Kalavasta was engaged for this study primarily due to their proficiency in working with various scenarios related to industrial energy demand and (offshore) energy production. Their task was not to estimate industrial electricity and hydrogen demand or offshore wind power generation from scratch, but rather to utilize and analyze existing scenario data.
The findings of this study offer specific insights into the projected industrial electricity and hydrogen demands for the period of 2030-2040, primarily focusing on the interplay between offshore wind energy (wind op zee) and these demands. While the study's scope is limited to certain aspects – namely, wind and solar energy at sea, Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), and industrial energy requirements – it provides an understanding of the alignment between offshore wind energy production and industrial energy needs. This information is particularly relevant for policy makers, grid operators as well as the industrial and energy sectors, assisting in more informed planning and potentially influencing decisions on energy infrastructure and industrial strategies. However, it is important to note that the study's conclusions are specific to its scope and should not be overgeneralized beyond the parameters of wind at sea and industry-specific energy demand.