Beyond Grid Pressure - Exploring Public-Private Partnerships for Multi-Commodity Energy Hubs in The Netherlands: Insights from the Harselaar Case
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2025-07-21
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en
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Energy is one of humanity’s most fundamental needs, with electricity delivering power to nearly all aspects of modern life, our homes, schools, businesses and public spaces. Yet, the Dutch energy system faces significant challenges. Growing demand for electricity, complex prosumer behaviour, and lacking grid expansion by transmission and distribution operators result in expanded congestion. By 2030, over 350.000 energy users are projected to face grid-related constraints. In light of this situation, short-term solutions are required, both organisationally and technically. Nevertheless, implementing such niche-innovation solutions presents several challenges. This thesis explores the feasibility of implementing a Multi-Commodity Energy Hub (MCEH) via public-private partnerships (PPPs), within the Harselaar project in Barneveld. A case study was conducted using a mixed-methods data strategy, incorporating interviews, observations, and focus groups, to examine internal and external factors influencing PPP formation. The findings indicate that voluntary agreements structured towards a formal partnership, established in the cooperative format, are most suitable to facilitate local decentralised energy projects. Additionally, both internal and external influences, exacerbated by the energy landscape and PPP elements, define critical success factors (CSFs) that determine operational success in partnerships. Although this thesis provides general insights, PPPs remain highly context-dependent, hence requiring tailored partnerships for success.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen