The New Energy Forum 2024 was once again a great success! On Thursday, June 20, more than 1,750 visitors were welcomed at the event for (future) energy and mobility professionals. The festival offered unique networking opportunities, and the diverse program succeeded in informing and inspiring many. The New Energy Forum is an initiative of ENTRANCE – Centre of Expertise Energy, New Energy Coalition, and Hive.Mobility.
Entrepreneurial Courage
This year’s New Energy Forum focused on entrepreneurial courage. The themes of earning green money, sustainable mobility, human capital, sustainability, and circularity were central. On eight different stages, there were engaging lectures, useful workshops, and dynamic discussions. Keynotes were delivered by, among others, host Jort Kelder, Hajar Yagkoubi (former youth representative at the UN), and Eva de Mol (investment expert and entrepreneurship expert). Additionally, more than 25 demonstrations of the latest technologies were present at the innovation market.
Mobility at the New Energy Forum
Hive.Mobility had its own mobility tent and mobility program at the New Energy Forum. This program, “Mobility of the Future,” focused entirely on innovative mobility solutions:
Carlo van de Weijer (mobility expert and director of the Eindhoven AI System Institute) presented his vision on the future of mobility in an engaging keynote. Michel van der Mark (program director of innovation at Qbuzz) and Herman Pieter Ubbens (policy officer for green and smart mobility at the Provincie Groningen) presented special innovation projects around the role of public transport in grid congestion.
In addition, Aldwin Oechies of Holthausen and Ronald van Dijk spoke with students from Top Dutch Solar Racing and the Self Driving Challenge during an inspiring panel discussion. It became clear that students and entrepreneurs are stronger together than alone. Finally, Chris Dijksterhuis (research coordinator for sustainable mobility), Taede Tillema (endowed professor of transport geography), and Elaine Messham (council member at the Municipality of Ooststellingwerf) highlighted three different perspectives on the importance of sustainable accessibility in rural areas.
There were also several partners of Hive.Mobility and the mobility tent present at the innovation square. The following mobility demos were presented here: the Top Dutch Solar Racing solar car and simulator, the Holthausen hydrogen truck, the hydrogen drone from Dronehub Northern Netherlands and the Province of Groningen, the Self Driving Challenge, a scale model of the Flying Helpman airplane, and the H2 ground power units from Groningen Airport Eelde and Noorderpoort.
Relive the experience
It was a day full of inspiration, innovation, and collaboration. Check out the photos to get a sense of the vibrant atmosphere and relive the highlights with our aftermovie below. Want to truly relive the event? Then come back next year for the first anniversary edition of the New Energy Forum on June 19, 2025.
