Circular Energy Grid

The energy transition is in full swing, and Alliander is working on it every day. But without a fundamental shift in how we handle materials, a truly sustainable energy system remains out of reach. The future demands not only an improved energy infrastructure, but also a transition in how we design and use materials. Sustainability means circularity. But how do you design solutions that can adapt to the demands of tomorrow?

Alliander invites designers to join a new Co/Lab to explore how circular thinking and doing can become the norm within the energy infrastructure of the future.

Did you know that around 50,000 new secondary compact substations will be needed in the coming years to enable the electrification of the Netherlands? It is a major and urgent logistical challenge. But it also is an unique opportunity. What if we did not just build these substations to meet today’s demand, but designed them to meet the needs of tomorrow?

In this Co/Lab, within the broader challenge of circularity in the energy sector, we focus on the adaptive secondary compact substation of the future, the quiet powerhouse of the energy grid and one of the key components of the energy transition. How can we make these spaces modular, flexible, reusable, and future-proof? And how do we ensure that circularity is not just a sustainability label, but a natural starting point in every step of the design and development process?

Together with experts, technicians, buyers, engineers, and other Alliander colleagues, you will work on scenarios, concepts, and tangible ideas that contribute to a circular energy system. Not theoretical models, but concrete solutions that fit within the technical and societal realities of today and tomorrow.

We are looking for design studios, creatives, and researchers who want to help shape a new perspective on energy infrastructure. People who believe that circular design is not only about material choices, but also about behavior, systems, processes and collaborating with the people who will ultimately bring it to life.

Does this energise you?

The briefing (see below) contains all the information about the challenge, the context, and the conditions. The specific participation terms will be published on this page soon.

You can apply for this Co/Lab until September first 23:59 PM.