Port of Rotterdam
Making the energy transition tangible in Europe’s largest port
To cut emissions, the Port of Rotterdam needs more electricity. The problem: the grid is already reaching capacity. We worked with the Port of Rotterdam to make that complexity visible through an interactive energy simulation, showing how different decarbonisation strategies would affect the system.
How might we help stakeholders evaluate decarbonisation strategies without adding pressure to an already congested electricity grid?
Inform
Cutting carbon when the grid is at capacity
More than 150 companies operate in the Port of Rotterdam, together accounting for almost one fifth of the Netherlands’ emissions. Their operations depend on large amounts of electricity, gas and steam, connected through shared infrastructure and involving different grid operators and government bodies, each with their own systems and priorities. At the same time, the electricity grid is reaching capacity. Sustainable companies want to establish themselves in the port, while existing businesses need more electricity to move away from fossil fuels. One transition therefore affects many parts of the system, making it difficult to see which measures could reduce emissions without creating new bottlenecks.
Analyse
Cutting carbon when the grid is at capacity
To understand those trade-offs, we built an interactive simulation with the Port of Rotterdam that maps the energy flows of a representative industrial subcluster. It shows where energy is used, how demand changes over time and where the system reaches its limits. By combining current and future demand with local supply options and grid capacity, stakeholders could test different measures and immediately see their effect on reliability, cost and CO₂ emissions. The model also showed where more flexible energy use could reduce peak loads.
Activate
Turning energy flows into a working simulation
The result was a prototype energy map built with real data and visualised across space and time. It made bottlenecks visible and helped stakeholders see what each party could contribute to addressing them. By making the effects and trade-offs of different measures tangible, the simulation created a shared basis for more informed planning and showed where renewable energy or flexible capacity could have the greatest effect. The prototype is ready to be scaled with additional scenarios, creating a first step towards a virtual energy system for the port.
Results
- Fact-based decisions replace uncertainty
- Diverse parties aligned around shared challenges
- Strategic guidance for infrastructure investment
“This prototype has helped us gain insight into how local energy pieces fit together, who's using what, when, and where we hit the limits.”