During a press conference related to the publication of the 2003 annual report, Gasunie's CEO George Verberg presented the concept of the 'Virtual Power Plant'. This concept is based on a micro or mini combined heat and power system that was developed by Gasunie Research. It will soon be possible to use this system to generate power in households, which is expected to yield large savings in energy costs. The initial prototypes have been tested and several hundred units are expected to be installed in the Netherlands in 2005.
The installed units can be remotely controlled from a central location, in effect creating a 'virtual power plant'. The system will create high efficiency, lower CO2 emissions, improve the reliability and flexibility of the power supply, and will also provide incentives for the future introduction of a hydrogen-based economy. George Verberg said that he had great expectations of the 'virtual power plant' and estimated that widespread market penetration would take around 5 to 10 years.
During the presentation of the annual report, he indicated that the BBL project “ the 235 kilometre pipeline between the Netherlands and the United Kingdom“ was still awaiting a final decision from the European Commission. 'This is taking longer than we expected', he said.
Gasunie is currently setting up an NNO, or National Network Operator. This will be a separate company with its own Supervisory Board. The company will employ between 175 and 225 people and will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie.
George Verberg spoke at length on the plans of the Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs Brinkhorst to separate the networks from the power distribution companies. He was critical of this proposal because it will create an uneven playing field that will work to the detriment of the Dutch power distribution companies. He referred in that context to the credit ratings, the credit-worthiness of the companies that are currently in the A-bracket but which will probably be downgraded to the B-bracket if the plans are put into effect. That would mean higher interest percentages for the companies involved, which would cost each affiliated consumer between 5 and 10 euros a year.
Groningen, 6 April 2004
For more information: A. Warner, tel. + 31 (0)50 521 22 80.
