On 5 November, government and industry leaders came together in Haarlemmermeer for the Business Lunch on Energy Transition. The session was hosted by the Municipality of Haarlemmermeer and Amsterdam Airport City, under the flag of Amsterdam Trade & Invest.
We brought together leading companies active in smart energy, electrification, data-driven efficiency, power electronics, engineering, energy management and sustainable heating and cooling. Many of these organisations operate internationally and are based in Haarlemmermeer, playing an essential role in shaping robust and future-proof energy systems for the region.
Discussions were focused on joint solutions for grid congestion, renewable generation and regional heating networks. We believe that collaboration between public and private partners is key to accelerate the transition from strategy to implementation.
Shared ambition
Haarlemmermeer aims to be climate-neutral by 2050, with a 50 percent CO₂ reduction by 2030. This ambition is part of its programmatic approach to the energy transition, which connects public and private stakeholders within one coordinated framework.
As Amsterdam Airport City, Haarlemmermeer is a unique testing ground for large-scale sustainability challenges, from renewable energy and smart grids to sustainable heat networks. Working together with partners such as Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Liander and regional companies, Haarlemmermeer translates ambition into tangible projects that strengthen both the local economy and the regional energy system.
Key Discussion Themes
During the lunch, each participating company introduced its activities and local ambitions. We then held a joint discussion centred around several crucial themes, including:
- accelerating local energy-hub pilots that balance generation and demand
- coordinating peak-demand reduction around Schiphol and nearby business districts
- unlocking datacentre and industrial residual heat as a stable local energy source
Concrete outcomes and next steps
Participants agreed to continue shaping joint initiatives that can be developed into concrete projects across the Amsterdam Airport District. As a next step, we look forward to organising a follow-up session, hosted by one of the companies in this growing network.
The Energy Table, initiated by the municipality, will continue as the coordination platform for ongoing dialogue and investment planning.
About the Initiative
The Business Lunch series, organised by Amsterdam Airport City in collaboration with Amsterdam Trade & Invest, aims to accelerate key transitions that are vital for a future-proof region.
We believe it is essential to build ecosystems where partners facing similar challenges join forces to tackle them collaboratively.
Together, public and private actors are laying the foundations for cleaner, smarter and more resilient regional ecosystems, securing quality of life for generations to come.
This week, Amsterdam Airport City (Municipality of Haarlemmermeer, in cooperation with Amsterdam Trade & Invest and the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency) hosted the Airport City Innovation Network Lunch on Energy Transition.
