The weather cannot be controlled and can only be partially predicted, at least not accurately to the minute. The supply of solar energy and wind energy depends on the unpredictability of the weather. Since an increasing proportion of our electricity comes from sun and wind, this is a problem for grid management. On the other hand, there are new forms of electricity consumption that can be controlled to a certain extent, such as chargers for electric cars and heat pumps for domestic heating. What applies to residential areas also applies to work locations, where there are many other opportunities for smarter use of electricity.

The word "smart" has been used. The 'De Investering pays' project is a project that focuses on smart electricity grids at the local level. In order to be smart, physical adjustments are needed to be able to store electricity/energy, to supply each other and facilities to really influence demand. The next step is to manage the system smartly. For smart control, historical consumption data, weather forecasts, customer wishes and other data are combined. Ultimately, everything has to be translated into smart contracts that participants can rely on.

Nieuwe Energie Overijssel, NEO, wishes to involve higher education and research in the issue of smart grids in Overijssel. Various studies have been conducted into the functioning of smart grids via the Sustainable Energy Transition Programme, in which the research groups Sustainable Energy Supply and Business Models are involved. Research has been conducted into the 200 smart grid pilot projects that have been carried out in the past ten years in the context of TKI urban energy, a government-funded project to conduct research in all kinds of places and from all kinds of angles in the Netherlands. smarter use of electricity. A number of ongoing projects in Overijssel will be evaluated on the basis of social effects and we are working with the municipality of Deventer to think about how to breathe new life into the smart grid initiatives at Business Park A1. Before the summer of 2021, a project will be completed on the determining factors in demand management of residents.