Cofely and Delft University Foundation Fund present first Energy Efficiency Awards to innovative master’s students
Bunnik. Four ground-breaking ideas that stand out in the field of energy efficiency and sustainability have been crowned with the Energy Efficiency Award by Cofely and the Delft University Foundation Fund. Young, rising scientific talents took on the challenge of devising innovative solutions to significantly reduce energy consumption. The four most innovative ideas were rewarded today during the award presentation in the TU Delft Cultural Centre. Each project was presented with an award valuing 2,500 euros.
How energy efficient are you? With this question, Cofely challenged TU Delft master’s students to come up with innovative solutions targeting the reduction of energy consumption. The winners have written a report about their project, thesis or research that, in the opinion of the jury – led by Prof Hellendoorn of TU Delft - stands out due to its innovative and sustainable character.
Ground-breaking innovations
“Cofely supports organisations in the achievement of energy efficiency by offering the most efficient, environmentally conscious and energy efficient solutions. Energy is a primary necessity of life and the demand for energy will rise greatly in the next few years. It is our social and professional duty to think about revolutionary solutions to answer energy issues,” explains jury member Hans van Happen, and as the board member at Cofely also responsible for energy efficiency. “We want the Energy Efficiency Award to stimulate young talent to think up ideas that could contribute to sustainable energy supply, energy efficiency and sustainability, for example, in the field of CO2 reduction, something that Cofely as part of GDF SUEZ has been investing in for years. We are greatly inspired by the high quality of the submissions. Without exception, they are very creative solutions that may be among the ground-breaking innovations of the future.”
Smart software saves tens of thousands of litres of diesel
Steven Mulder – master’s student in Systems & Control – went to work on the energy lost in the processing of containers in ports and transfer stations. The use of hybrid container cranes – which store and reuse energy released – makes a visible contribution to energy efficiency. With the focus on higher system effectiveness, Mulder designed new control software with relatively simple algorithms. Despite his client’s reserves, Mulder succeeded in convincing the company that the new control software was more effective than with an optimisation of the existing system. This resulted in a 16 percent improvement of the energy consumption in comparison with other hybrid cranes and a more than 50 percent improvement compared with standard container cranes. A container terminal with an average fleet would thus be able to save 60,000 litres of diesel each month with a simple control software update.
Heat recovery in shipping
The project by Erik-Jan Boonen – master’s student in Mechanical Engineering – focused on the recovery of heat from ship diesel engines. In diesel engines, half of the input energy is lost in the form of heat. The project discussed how that heat could be reused with a view to energy generation. The principle of heat recovery is only sparsely applied in shipping, because the engine load is so variable. Boonen’s research shows that a dynamic system – in contrast to a static/efficient system – can make a substantial contribution to energy efficiency, even in smaller ships and ships with a variable engine load.
Sharing the energy flows in heavy industry
Jurjen Thomas – master’s student in Real Estate & Housing – mapped how the development of areas with heavy industry could be coupled to energy flows and residual currents and thus result in industrial estates becoming more sustainable. Chain integration and sustainable cooperation within the complete chain are preconditions for this. The government also plays a role, by setting the sustainability bar ever higher and setting strict requirements on the sustainable character of companies. In the jury’s opinion, the project is very applicable and may act like a crowbar to break open deadlocked projects.
Fountain driven by wind
A striking water fountain in the shape of a giant tulip that uses wind energy: that is the tangible result of the project by Sin-Yun Yang, master’s student in Sustainable Process & Energy Technology. The student set the goal to inspire people and to challenge them to become more sustainable. Yang gave this idea life in the design of a wind-mill shaped like a flower, to highlight the ‘green’ nature of the design. Thanks to wind energy, water is pumped up and ejected via the tulip. The jury considered this a remarkable project that distinguished itself by going beyond just the functional aspect of energy efficiency.
Cofely, a GDF SUEZ Company
Cofely is part of GDF SUEZ Energy Services, the European leader in multitechnical services. GDF SUEZ Energy Services offers its customers in industry, services, and infrastructures made-to-measure solutions, whether in the fields of engineering, installations or energy services.
GDF SUEZ Energy Services employs 77,000 people and achieved revenues of € 14 billion in 2008.
GDF SUEZ Energy Services is a business line of GDF SUEZ, one of the leading energy providers in the world.
Press Contact:
Ingrid Clauwaert, Manager Public Relations
Cofely Nederland NV
Kosterijland 50, 3981 AJ Bunnik; Postbus 210, 3980 CE Bunnik
Tel: 00 31 30 656 94 59; fax: 030 656 94 15
e-mail: ingrid.clauwaert(at)cofely-gdfsuez.nl
