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Water Alliance magazine

#3, 2021

WETSUS WANTS TO CONTINUE PIONEERING REDSTACK’S PIETER HACK DUTCH BUSINESS CARD IN DUBAI

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con tents

colophon

DUBAI EXPO 2020 UNIQUE DUTCH PAVILION BY HOLLAND WATER

WaterProof is the magazine of the Water Alliance, a partnership between government, research institutions and industry in the field of innovative and sustainable water technology. From its base, the WaterCampus in Leeuwarden, the Water Alliance builds on the ‘water technology innovation chain’; a process whereby new ideas from universities, laboratories and test sites are converted into worldwide marketable products. WaterProof provides regional, national and global information on developments, results and background in the field of water technology.

INTERVIEW

WETSUS’ SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR CEES BUISMAN

BREAKTHROUGH IN WASTE WATER TREATMENT FERR-TECH’S JUDITH LE FÈVRE EXPLAINS

18 REPORT

REDSTACK’S PIETER HACK

WaterProof magazine 03_2021 Cover Photo Andreas Dress | unsplash.com

SERIES

Editor in Chief

WATERLAB CIRCULAR WATER PART I

Menno Bakker

and...

3 Column by Hein Molenkamp 4 Short Cuts 12 NormecKalsbeek’s Edwin Kool 14 Water Business in Italy 16 Water Alliance Innovation Chain 22 NWD delegation visits WaterCampus 26 Members of the Water Alliance

Journal Management Menno Bakker, Narvic Media | narvic.nl Text Contributors Casper Ferwerda, Menno Bakker, Ingrid van Damme Translation Presence Translate & Interact Graphic Design Jan Robert Mink | minkgraphics.nl Photography Nico Pakvis, Lucas Kemper and many others Printer Drukkerij Van der Eems

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column by Hein Molenkamp

The future of our water

Until recently, looking at our planet from space has been a luxury reserved for a select few. These days, anyone with sufficient net worth can book the experience. I heard a few lectures by the Dutch astronaut André Kuipers; he explained how amazing it is to see our blue Mother Earth floating in space—and how vulnerable it is. The noise and hassle of everyday life seem so far away. And yet, paying a few hundred thousand dollars to experience that is, in a way, escapism. There is no denying that the earth and all the organisms on it have a lot to deal with; there is a lot of ‘hassle’. Wars have been around since the dawn of man. The footprint humans have left behind over thousands of years is impressive, to say the least, and climate change has taught us that not all of it is positive. I’m an optimist by trade, so I like to hold on to all the innovations being worked on all over the world— innovations that make the world a better place. My work for the Water Alliance has put me in the fortunate position of being able to experience many of these wonderful innovations first-hand. This edition of WaterProof provides a hint of that innovation on numerous pages. Cees Buisman of Wetsus, for example, offers wonderful insight into his fascinating mind and how he thinks out of the box every day—possibly one of the most important conditions for innovation. This edition also features innovative companies, each of them entrepreneurs who are passionate about making the world a better place. I love that these people believe in innovation and know that their work can make the earth a little better. That takes hard work—every day. For the fortunate multimillionaire who will soon be looking down at Mother Earth from space, I would like to say: enjoy the tranquil and unique view, but be aware that others down here are working very hard to give this planet a future. Hein Molenkamp Managing Director, Water Alliance photo ©Marcel J. de Jong

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SHORT CUTS NEWSFROMTHEAROUNDTHE WORLDOFWATERTECHNOLOGY

HOLLAND INNOVATION PARK (HIP) ATTENDS AQUATECH AMSTERDAM AGAIN

BACK IN BUSINESS! Agnes Dirksen

photo ©Lucas Kemper

The global coronavirus pandemic is not over yet, but the pace at which large parts of the world are currently vaccinating their populations creates new optimism. For everyone in the water technology sector who has missed out on in-person networking, there is finally an event worth noting in your calendar: Aquatech Amsterdam will be held in the RAI from 2 to 5 November. And Aquatech would not be quite the same without the Holland Innovation Park (HIP)— the best place for Dutch technology companies to promote themselves. The concept is simple: an informal and attractive park-like environment within the Netherlands Pavilion. The informal atmosphere proved a resounding success in past years, as Agnes Dirksen, head of marketing and communications at the Water Alliance, confirms. “We introduced the concept in 2019, and it was a huge success.

We are very happy about that. It is not always easy to stand out at a large international trade fair. Some do it with a spectacular booth and a lot of space, and others do it by actively distributing flyers at the fair. Together with the NWP and ENVAQUA, we have opted to aim for an informal atmosphere with a strong focus on networking opportunities. That decision paid off. The participating companies indicated that they made many promising contacts at the HIP.” The HIP decor reflects the informal atmosphere with a central square with a cosy bar, bar tables, and seating areas. Around the central area, numerous top companies present themselves and their unique innovations. Participation is open to any Dutch water technology company, says Dirksen. There are a few rules, however. “We invite all water technology companies to consider participating”,

said Dirksen. “To keep the HIP innovative and unique, we have some criteria for participation. The technology you bring to Aquatech may not be older than five years at the start of the exhibition, it must be Dutch, and above all, it must be fully ready for the market. And finally, a technology may be listed for a maximum of three consecutive years.” The benefits for participants are substantial: a central location on the exhibition floor, competitive rates for participation, support through all the Water Alliance’s social media channels and the opportunity to pitch the innovation in the so-called ‘Aqualounge’ in the Netherlands Pavilion. Come visit the HIP@Aquatech! Registration:

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SHORT CUTS NEWSFROMTHEAROUNDTHE WORLDOFWATERTECHNOLOGY

fig. # 1: Legionella pneumophila

HOLLAND WATER ACQUIRES ATECA Holland Water, a specialist in legionella-controlling water technology [see elsewhere in this issue, ed.], acquires industry peer Ateca. The strategic acquisition follows Holland Water’s partnership with investment company OxGreenfield in November 2020. Over the past two decades, Holland Water and Ateca have played a pioneering role in developing and adopting copper and silver ionization technology in the Dutch water management sector and beyond. The aim is to prevent and treat legionella and other waterborne pathogens. Strengthened by Ateca’s international network, Holland Water’s ambition is to increase further the export of highquality water technology to Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

“Copper and silver ionization technology is the most effective way to deal with the harmful legionella bacteria in drinking and cooling water systems”, says Leo de Zeeuw, founder of Holland Water. “However, in Europe— unlike America, for example—the solution was initially undervalued. Ateca and Holland Water together paved the way for copper and silver ionization. The technique is now firmly on the map in the Netherlands and a handful of other countries as a result. Now is the time to join forces.” Mark Engelenburg, founder of Ateca, is leaving the company. “For twenty years, I have worked passionately on Ateca’s development and growth, and I am proud to say that it has a solid foundation today. I am very pleased that Ateca and Holland Water will continue as a single entity from now on.”

ABOUT HOLLAND WATER

photo ©Hilde Lenaerts

Holland Water develops, acquires and supplies sustainable technical systems and related services for keeping water systems clean and safe. The company is focused on more effective, sustainable and affordable water management in general and legionella management in particular.

brand w! WaterProof TV: ne Subscribe now! Scan this QR-code and get access to amazing content!

Pictured from left to right: Rogier van den Brink – CEO of Holland Water, Mark Engelenburg – Founder of Ateca, Pim de Joode – Partner at OxGreenfield, Leo de Zeeuw – Founder of Holland Water and Joris Post – Managing Director a.i. Ateca.

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Cees Buisman

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interview Wetsus’ scientific director Cees Buisman

Wetsus wants to continue pioneering

Can people send clouds to dry areas? It seems like a ridiculous idea. At the WaterCampus in Leeuwarden, water technology institute Wetsus is taking on the challenge. “If an innovation is not ridiculed first, it is not a real innovation”, says scientific director Cees Buisman. Irene Overduin, a journalist at the Leeuwarder Courant, spoke with him. This story was previously published in the Leeuwarder Courant on 27 March 2021. | Images by Lucas Kemper Photography ©2021.

Cees Buisman was out of action for months. In April 2020, he was hit by a motorcycle while riding his bike. He broke his wrist, fibula and ankle; those were things he could get over. But there was also something wrong in the professor of biological cycle technology’s head; he suffered from frequent migraines. “There was swelling. In June, they drilled a hole in my head and rinsed it out’’, says Buisman in his office in Harich, around forty kilometres south of Leeuwarden. Nevertheless, he continued to feel bad, and during a business meeting in August of that year, he suddenly struggled with speech. The swelling was back—25 millimetres this time. “That is huge. It completely crushes your brain. At the hospital, they suggested using the same hole.’’

‘It’s terrible to have something wrong inside your head’

Buisman reasoned that his body could also solve the problem itself. “Proteins had deposited, which suck up moisture. Your body can break down the proteins, and then that process stops.’’ With a 1 millimetre decrease per week, the swelling was expected to disappear by 1 March. The expectations proved correct; the headaches disappeared, and his strength returned. The neurologist

said he was cured. “I was nervous about the result of the scan. It’s terrible to have something wrong with your head.” Did the malfunction in his head affect his self-confidence? Balancing between bravado and shyness, Buisman responds. “One of my greatest talents is my power of persuasion—using the right argument at the right time; parking thoughts and using them at the right time in the conversation. I was very good at that, and I struggle with it more now.’’ Laughing: “Maybe I’ve become a little more normal.”

Pioneering spirit

In any case, he managed to leave his mark on Wetsus’ new business plan for the next twelve years. The plan testifies to great pioneering spirit, more imaginative than ever. Wetsus wants to operate far beyond the boundaries of what is. “We conduct high-risk, pioneering research—research that should lead to things that aren’t there yet; useful applications for a society that everyone would like to live in.” In the eyes of Wetsus, that world cannot be anything other than sustainable and fair.

Wetsus wants to make it rain One of the most imaginative intentions is to develop

technological concepts for restoring water cycles in deserts and degraded agricultural areas. In other words: Wetsus wants to make it rain over dry areas. Not with chemicals, as is already being done; Wetsus swears by natural, chemical-free technologies. At first glance, it sounds like catching clouds, but it’s not. “Clouds are made up of droplets. We want to work with water vapour harvested from the sea. We have an idea for a tube system filled with seawater. We put that system in a dry area. The sun heats up the water, causing it to evaporate.’’ The trick is making the process of evaporation and precipitation controllable. “To do that, we need new meteorological models that will allow us to predict at what point it makes sense to start evaporating”, says Buisman. Also needed, according to the Wetsus director, are new materials that release the water in the most favourable period, a solution for the sea salt left behind, and an alternative to energyguzzling pumps. In short, there are still many challenges ahead.

Blue energy instead of nuclear power plant

“Some think it can’t be done, but then again, that’s also what they thought about blue energy. >

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‘if you aren’t being ridiculed, you aren’t really innovating’ > The KNAW [Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, ed.] considered extracting energy from fresh and saltwater to be infeasible. Despite that, in 2016, the Blue Energy Power Plant on the Afsluitdijk became a National Icon. So yeah, if you aren’t being ridiculed, you aren’t really innovating.’’ It would not surprise him if the Afsluitdijk power station would one day become a serious alternative to nuclear power plants. “It only takes 50 million euros to scale it up to 1 megawatt. Once that has been achieved, it is simply a matter of stacking into the gigawatts. Compare that with the billions spent on a nuclear power station that we can’t even build ourselves but have to order from France.”

Cooling

Back to water vapour. In terms of the size of the pipe system, Buisman envisages a minimum of 10 km by 10 km or even 100 km by 100 km. “It has to be big to have an effect.” The intended effect is the growth of grass, plants and trees. Trees have a cooling effect, which is needed for clouds to release rain. That completes the circle. “You can see the effects of cutting down all the trees in all the countries around the Mediterranean. Without forests, the climate gets hotter and drier.

The heat pushes the water vapour up into the higher layers of the atmosphere.’’ Once there, the vapour easily travels to other continents— no more clouds, no more summer showers. “It is a self-reinforcing process; once it is warm and dry, it keeps getting warmer and dryer.’’

Sinai could become green again

A good example is the Sinai on the southwestern coast of the Mediterranean; thousands of years ago, it was a Garden of Eden. After years of devastating logging, the region is poor and lifeless; temperatures reach up to 60 degrees. Entrepreneur Ties van der Hoeven from Den Bosch, a former dredging contractor, wants to return the Sinai desert to its original state. His company, Weather Makers, is receiving help from Wetsus. “Ties wants to dredge the coastal sea. That sediment is full of organic material. If you spray that in the desert in strategic locations, things can grow there again. Once the forests return, the temperature can drop to around 30 to 35 degrees.’’ One of the problems Wetsus wants to solve is the desalination of the dredged sludge. “Plants are not particularly fond of salt.”

Decadent

Nobody wanted to fund his idea, says Buisman. “People would rather launch chalk particles into the air to block solar radiation. It’s completely decadent.’’ Wetsus sees potential in the idea, however. “We said, we can organize this. Let’s find a professor to

help.’’ That flexibility is ingrained in the Wetsus system, which is built on multidisciplinary cooperation between universities (now 23), companies (106) and researchers. Buisman is eager to see a combination of the Sinai project with the tube project.

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interview Wetsus’ scientific director Cees Buisman

‘We are creating a world that we all want’

The Wetsus building in Leeuwarden

with water. If you stir left, you get this; if you stir right, you get that. We can make bacteria do whatever we want. In agriculture, however, half say fermented manure is good for your land, and the other half claim the opposite. Is composting better than fermenting? We are studying that using water purification techniques. They are all biological processes.’’

Soil as a sponge

Better agricultural land

Another major theme in which Wetsus wants to excel is the improvement of agricultural land. It may be surprising at first glance, as Wetsus is a water institute, not a soil institute. “We are a technology institute”, Buisman specifies. “We

are always looking for others we can help with our technology.” Buisman uses the example of a farmer who wants to know which bacteria are good or bad for the soil; that farmer will also want to know how to control those processes. “We know exactly how to do that

While farmers are primarily interested in fertility, Buisman is particularly interested in the effects on the sponginess of the soil. “Holding water is smart. If you have organic matter and structure in the soil, the soil can store a lot of water. When it gets hot and dry, the water evaporates from the soil to create rain.” When Wetsus started in 2003, there was no competition. In the scientific world, no one was studying water technology systematically. “Thanks to us, there now are a lot of universities working on it. That is precisely why we must innovate, conduct risky research and pioneer. That is our greatest essence.’’ Another way of looking at it could be that Wetsus has made itself redundant. “No, no. The whole philosophy of our story is that without leadership, this field of science cannot exist. You need a

Wetsus to prevent the field from breaking down into a million tiny things that are of no use to anyone.”

Magic

In the latest business plan, the staff are more emphatic than ever in their support for sustainable technology. Where water treatment with chemicals used to be possible, it is now out of the question. Why the change of focus? Buisman clarifies: “Do you know Charles Mann’s book, The Wizard and the Prophet? It is about competing ideas for a livable future on our planet. Prophets say: we have enough, we have to reduce, behavioural change is the only way out of the environmental and climate problems. Wizards say we will solve all the problems with nuclear energy, genetic engineering, and artificial intelligence. They promise infinite wealth, which is theoretically impossible, as not everyone can become as rich as Bill Gates. My opinion is: it is clear that behavioural change is needed, but you cannot go back to the Stone Age. So basically, you have two kinds of wizards: wizards who innovate for the sake of humanity, and wizards whose innovations get us out of the frying pan and into the fire. At Wetsus, we want to be the first kind. We are creating a world that we all want.’’

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Biodegradable oxidant Ferrate(VI) has been used as a sustainable waste-water purification solution for decades. One major problem is its shelf life. For Ferrate(VI) to retain its strength, it must be added to wastewater within seconds. Meppelbased startup Ferr-Tech,

a Water Alliance member since this year, discovered a formula that allows Ferrate(VI) to be kept for at least two months. “The market is screaming for this”, says Judith le Fèvre, director of marketing & public affairs at Ferr-Tech.

photo ©Lucas Kemper

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report Ferr-Tech’s Judith le Fèvre

GLOSSARY

Coagulant: a chemical substance used in water purification processes. ‘Coagulation’ in water purification is the destabilization of colloidal particles by neutralizing their charge with an added chemical—the coagulant.

Breakthrough in wastewater treatment Industries are constantly looking for new circular, green solutions for wastewater purification. With a redox potential [see infobox] of 2.20, Ferrate(VI) is considerably more powerful than alternative purification solutions such as ozone (2.08) and hydrogen peroxide (1.78). However, its limited shelf life was an obstacle for many factories for a long time. Ferrate(VI) had to be produced on-site, close to the water treatment plant, to allow the chemicals to be administered quickly. “That made it very difficult to offer, economically speaking”, says Le Fèvre. “That’s why one of my partners spent years doing PhD research on the shelf life and stable production of Ferrate(VI). He eventually found the right formula.” A major advantage of Ferrate(VI) over regular chemicals is its versatility. “To purify wastewater with other chemicals, you need an oxidant, a disinfectant and a coagulant. Ferrate(VI) is all of those things in one.” In addition, Ferrate(VI) residue is not harmful to people or the environment. “That is what drives us at Ferr-Tech”, says Le Fèvre. “We are selling a product that is good and important for the world—it reduces CO2 emissions and energy consumption. The sludge reduction also reduces transport costs. We are now achieving 80 percent more

concentrated sludge than with other solutions.”

Ferrate (VI): inorganic anion with the chemical formula [FeO4]2−. It is photosensitive, contributes a pale violet colour to compounds and solutions containing it and is one of the strongest water-stable oxidizing species known. Redox potential: abbreviation for ‘reduction-oxidation potential’ It is a measure of the tendency of a solution to lose or gain electrons. In other words, it is the ratio of REDucing and OXidating substances. Redox potentials occur between ions of the same metal but with different charges, as well as between metals and solutions of their ions.

Ferr-Tech focuses on six sectors: oil and gas, steel, fish, water boards, agrifood and dairy. Le Fèvre: “The dairy industry is of interest to us; we expect good results with Ferrate(VI) in making wastewater circular in this industry. We are currently experimenting with it at a major player, with the support of SNN [subsidizing body that supports economic structure in the Northern Netherlands, ed.].”

‘The market is screaming for this’

The technique is widely applicable, according to Le Fèvre. “We always start by validating a potential customer’s wastewater samples in our lab. We test different doses of Ferrate(VI) on the samples. The dose that achieves the best result is tested on a large scale in practice.”

Judith le Fèvre | Ferr-Tech

After a flying start, the company’s ambitions go beyond the Netherlands. “We want to use the Netherlands as an introductory market and contribute to making wastewater treatment more sustainable. After that, we want to serve Europe. Given the product’s shelf life, we can do that from Meppel. We will have to build new production facilities to achieve our ambitions in the Middle East and the US. Our goal is to become the Tesla of wastewater treatment”, concludes Le Fèvre.

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Edwin Kool

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focus Normec Kalsbeek’s Edwin Kool

From financial expert to water treatment specialist In 1948, Normec Kalsbeek entered the market as a water treatment specialist, primarily for central heating systems. Based in Tynaarlo, a village about twenty kilometres south of Groningen, the company grew into a specialist in mechanical and chemical water treatment. The legionella outbreak in 1999 in Bovenkarspel, some fifty Edwin Kool started in the financial world. He has over 15 years of experience as a senior director in national and international organizations. “Once I was introduced to water technology, I quickly became fascinated by it, particularly the solutions it provides to pressing problems.” His work mainly focuses on designing, redesigning or improving business processes and information provision to support strategic business objectives. Kool: “We have started working differently in recent years; we are more focused on our customers’ needs and allinclusive solutions. We have also started to view our employees differently. Technical competencies are important, but human skills are essential, too. We give our staff the space they need to solve the customer’s problem and allow them to do what it takes to do so.”

Water safety

In the late 1990s, Normec Kalsbeek specialized in Legionella control and management. This remains an important item to this day. Kool: “Around twenty to twenty-five percent of Legionella samples test positive. People are still dying from Legionella. An outbreak that is under control offers no guarantees for the future. We are experiencing more frequent heat waves, and a change

kilometres north of Amsterdam, was the catalyst for a new growth spurt. Managing Director Edwin Kool: “Global warming, resulting in rising sea levels, a growing scarcity of water and salinization of groundwater poses new challenges. Solving the challenges ahead will require collaboration and knowledge sharing.”

in the water grid can have unexpected consequences.” Normec Kalsbeek offers all-inclusive solutions: “We perform the inspections, take samples, give advice and implement solutions.”

Digitalization of legionella management

Legionella management involves many repetitive actions. To simplify things, Normec Kalsbeek developed S@nsor, an innovative Legionella prevention sensor. That’s right, spelt with the “at” symbol. Kool: “Our sensor alleviates the need for manual measurements. S@nsor comes with the digital Legionella management tool T@pper. The smart, efficient, allinclusive solution can be used anywhere and is ideally suited to large buildings or sites and hard to reach or infrequently used taps.”

Water quality

In addition to water safety, Normec Kalbeek is intensively involved in water quality. Kool: “Water has to meet an increasing number of requirements, depending on its intended purpose. Water is used everywhere—in cooling towers, swimming pools and steam boilers. We analyze the water to determine its properties. We can then advise on the most appropriate treatment to make it fit for purpose. As the final step in our all-inclusive solution, we can also supply the necessary equipment and/or chemicals.”

Reuse of water

Given the increasing problems caused by global warming and other factors, water analysis will remain an important factor in the coming decade, Kool believes. “Reusing water is becoming increasingly important. Our industries are currently still using a lot of drinking water. On the other hand, you cannot substitute it with groundwater on a one-to-one basis. The challenge lies in creating the ‘right water’ affordably and circularly. I also see a future for working with biodegradable chemicals, perhaps as a way of ending up with clean wastewater at the end of a process.”

Knowledge sharing

In 2020, Normec, a specialist in testing, inspection, certification and compliance, acquired Kalsbeek, and the company was renamed Normec Kalsbeek. Kool: “The acquisition gives us easier access to investment capital and enables faster and easier collaboration with sister companies. That makes us stronger because, given the problems ahead of us, cooperation is becoming increasingly important. People should not be afraid to share knowledge— we aren’t.”

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report International Business

water business in italy

‘The Dutch want to move too quickly sometimes’ Readers of WaterProof magazine know that we regularly address the water technology challenges in Southern Europe. With good reason, water scarcity is a global problem, and the cries for freshwater are soon expected to become louder, especially from the dry south. Juliette, let’s start with a brief bird’s eye perspective on Southern Europe. Can you briefly outline the biggest challenges for each country there? There is water scarcity, but water is still not very expensive anywhere in Europe, and that tempers the sense of urgency. It creates tension between technological possibilities, supply and demand, and investments in solutions. I see a turnaround, though. The interest in solutions is growing in Southern Europe, too. Suppose your company has a water technology solution that you would like to market in Southern Europe. Where do you start? Try to gather as much relevant market info as possible. This can be done through the Netherlands Enterprise Agency [RVO, ed.] or the Water Alliance. I would also recommend joining webinars and attending networking events when they become possible again. Prepare those events well; think about what you want to achieve and who you could contact. What are the main pitfalls for companies? The Dutch want to move too quickly sometimes. What I like about the Southern European mentality is that it is primarily based on mutual trust and establishing a bond. That takes time and

juliette from portugal

With that in mind, doing business in Italy is high on many a Dutch water technology company’s wish list. The question is: where do you start? An interview with Juliette Douglas, Business Development Liaison at Water Alliance and Godelieve Cooymans of Proaxxes.

patience. Business is done with people, not products, and you should take the time for it. You have worked for the Water Alliance for years from the Netherlands and have now been based in Portugal for a year. What is it like to continue your work from Southern Europe? It took me some time to find my feet. Working mostly online slowed things down initially, but I can now say that coronavirus has actually made things easier because everyone suddenly started working from home and mostly online, just like me. I still visit the office in the Netherlands every two to three months, which is a nice balance when working from another country. One advantage of being in Southern Europe yourself is that it is easier to understand how things work. Let’s focus on Italy for a moment. In the past year, you have put a lot of effort into paving the way for Dutch water technology companies. Drawing up the balance now, what has been achieved so far? Our members have expanded their network in Italy and established contacts. Maintaining contacts and seizing opportunities is up to the companies themselves, obviously, but we will remain active in providing opportunities. At the end of October,

we will be attending the Ecomondo trade fair in Rimini, together with eight Dutch water technology companies. There are bound to be some great opportunities there. Can you briefly explain how your collaboration with Proaxxes came about? That also started at Ecomondo. I was there in 2019 and was able to see how Proaxxes works: professionally and energetically. That is why we partnered up for this edition of the event. I think we can offer Dutch companies a firm foothold on Italian soil. What kind of relationships are relevant in Southern Europe and how does such a relationship stand to benefit? I like building relationships with organizations or people who are open to collaboration and partnerships with the Netherlands. For example, in Portugal, we are in close contact with the Portuguese Water Partnership, the Embassy and the Dutch-Portuguese Chamber of Commerce. These are often parties with interesting networks who are also looking for new international partners. Connecting that network to ours provides added value for both parties.

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report International Business

water business in italy

‘EU support for Italy is an opportunity for Dutch companies’ Godelieve, to begin, who are you and what do you do, exactly? My name is Godelieve Cooymans, and I have been living in sunny Italy for 24 years. I run Proaxxes from Florence with an Italian partner. We have a closeknit team with six Italian employees. We mostly work in the technological sectors in Italy; here, we mainly deal with Business Development, primarily for Dutch companies. Our working method is quite far-reaching; when a company decides to open a local branch, we even go as far as to host and manage it for them. We become the integrated partner of the management. It is a rather unique solution. Is there a big difference in doing business between the Netherlands and Italy? As Juliette pointed out, the biggest difference is the rush that Dutch companies are in—they want to go to market right away. Italians are not like that, predominantly because it is a large industrialized country with many local providers. As an outsider, you have to prove yourself. One way to get a foothold is to recognize a problem with a party and then immediately provide a solution for the ‘case owner’. Water Alliance mostly works through that track.

godelieve from florence

Where do the opportunities lie for Dutch companies in Italy? There are plenty of opportunities. For example, the water distribution system is in poor condition. In a volcanic country like Italy, there is also a lot of land subsidence and erosion, and attention to water efficiency is increasing. One great opportunity is the EU’s generous funding to Italy through the Next Generation EU fund. Many plans are now emerging regarding circular economy. How do Water Alliance and Proaxxes work together? Proaxxes and Water Alliance have known each other for quite some time now. We assisted Water Alliance with a major matchmaking event in 2017 as part of a trade mission to Italy that included King Willem-Alexander, Maxima and Hein Molenkamp [Managing Director of Water Alliance, ed.]. Proaxxes sought out contacts for Water Alliance for that event, and we worked on several projects together in the following years.

which is also reflected in the responses from the Italian parties we have talked to so far. On 22 June 2021, there was an Italy-specific webinar; how does something like that work? The webinar was attended by Water Alliance members, NX Filtration, CE-line, Van Remmen, VDH, Staal Instruments and Hatenboer Water. During the webinar, companies had the opportunity to pitch themselves to the problem owner. In this case, it was Sfera Agricola, a major greenhouse grower operating in Tuscany. They grow tomatoes, leafy vegetables— mainly basil—and supply them to supermarkets. They use a lot of rainwater for irrigation, but they need wells in the summer. They were not completely happy with their setup; however, there were numerous questions about desalination and disinfection and how to reuse water. The Dutch companies submitted proposals, several of which will probably be followed up.

How do you experience the collaboration with Water Alliance? Extremely pleasant, very efficient, to the point and personal. Water Alliance members have real innovations to offer,

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water technology innovation chain

The Water Technology Innovation Chain

The WaterCampus brings together a complete chain of innovation for water technology, from first idea, research, specialized laboratories, various demo sites, launching customers to commercial international applications by commercial companies. Indeed from knowledge to business. It is driven by the idea that technological development and innovation is needed to develop new markets andcreate new business opportunities.

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innovation chain in practice

CirTec

Breakthrough in Cellulose Extraction

Water Alliance member CirTec is involved in just about everything with wastewater— purification, thickening, screening and reusing— sometimes using spectacular innovations. Their work has won them numerous awards.

As a Water Alliance member, the company has worked together with various other Water Alliance members. For example, CirTec and Recell Group founded the company Cellvation, and the CEW has researched another application for CirTec’s technology.

In June 2021, CirTec again announced extraordinary news: the CellCap machine; a fine sieve that purifies water and extracts cellulose from sewage in roughly two steps. Managing director Coos Wessels found a launching customer in Water Authority Hoogheemraadschap Hollands Noorderkwartier; like him, the water authority wants to make sewage circular.

CirTec’s ambition regularly leads to participation with the Water Alliance at trade fairs, symposiums and foreign trade missions.

In the next five years, CirTec hopes to sell a hundred units a year, nationally and internationally. To that end, a film was produced in cooperation with the Water Alliance on the ‘best practices’ with Hoogheemraadschap Hollands Noorderkwartier

Today, international interest is growing rapidly.

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How will we heat our homes in the future when the wind is not blowing and the sun is not shining? In other words: how can we store solar and wind energy in an affordable, sustainable and large-scale manner? Aqua Battery, REDstack and Pure Water Group are formulating an answer to this in the form of an innovative energy storage technology. Pieter Hack, founder of REDstack and Managing Director of Pure Water Group, hopes to have large-scale production operational within a few years.

The three parties each contribute their own expertise. Pure Water Group (PWG), based in Sprundel, in the south of the Netherlands, develops and builds industrial water treatment installations. Managing Director Pieter Hack: “We turn regular tap water into ultra pure water for the energy and pharmaceutical industries, among others, using EDI modules based on electrochemical purification technology. The module needs a plant to work; we design and manufacture the control unit with pipes and pumps in-house.”

PWG and REDstack

This is exactly the point where PWG and REDstack found each other. REDstack, based in Sneek, gained fame with the development of Blue Energy Technology. The company developed modules to extract energy by combining fresh and saltwater streams. If you drive along the Afsluitdijk in the Netherlands, you can see the pilot plant from the shores of the IJsselmeer. After some experimentation, the module also proved suitable for desalinating brackish water streams. REDstack develops the modules, not the processing unit. Founder Pieter Hack: “REDstack creates the process design and produces the stacks, and PWG builds the necessary process plant for that.”

photo ©Frank Ruiter

Pieter Hack

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report REDstack’s Pieter Hack

DUTCH COMPANIES JOIN FORCES IN DEVELOPMENT OF BREAKTHROUGH TECHNOLOGY

Large-scale energy production and storage Role of a battery

REDstack was created as a spin-off of water technology institute Wetsus. The young company Aqua Battery, located in Leiderdorp, has the same origins. Many employees, former employees and trainees know each other and have worked together, and there is a lot of interaction. Hack: “Aqua Battery’s product is based on similar technology. We use the RED module to generate a current by combining saltwater and freshwater. If we reverse the module, a current is released. The reversible module takes on the role of a battery that can charge and discharge.”

Scaling up

There is now a factory in Sneek that manufactures modules for all three companies on a small scale. Hack: “All three of us use the technology, so it makes no sense to build three plants.” Within a few years, Hack hopes to build a plant for large-scale energy generation and systems suitable for providing energy storage for largescale units such as residential areas and islands. Hack: “Preferably in the Netherlands. Especially in the early stages, it’s nice to be able to hop in the car to check out the progress.”

and sea locks. Hack: “A Blue Energy Power Station generates the electricity and can pump out river water during high tide. This would turn a sea wall into a net energy producer.” Hack: “It could be at the Afsluitdijk, at IJmuiden, where the North Sea Canal meets the sea, or at Rotterdam, where the Meuse and Waal reach the sea.” There are many international possibilities as well; New York, for example, is one of the dream locations: “Suppose New York decides to build a large dam around the city to protect it from rising waters. That would be the perfect place for a Blue Energy Power Station.” The energy storage systems are an excellent addition to systems that do not generate sustainable energy continuously, such as wind farms and solar parks. Together with Aqua Battery’s energy storage system, renewable energy could be continuously available.

Blue Energy Power Station

One interesting option is combining RED Blue Energy technology with dams

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INNOVATIVE SYSTEM PROVIDES SAFE WATER DURING WORLD FAIR

Dutch Business Card in Dubai Dubai Expo 2020 will kick off with an undoubtedly grand opening on 1 October 2021. You could add ‘finally’ to that, as it was previously postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Nevertheless, in October, it will be time. From that moment on, countries worldwide will try to show everything they have to offer during the global event, which will last for 182 days. The Netherlands will present itself with a unique Dutch Pavilion and an impressive Dutch Dubai programme. Holland Water, a member of the Water Alliance, installed 23 HW Bifipro® systems throughout the Expo grounds to provide safe water to attendees.

Holland Water’s mission is to keep water clean while minimizing water waste, reducing its carbon footprint and lowering operational costs for customers. With offices near Utrecht, the Netherlands, and in Antwerp, Belgium, the water technology company has sold and installed more than 800 systems in Europe and the United Arab Emirates. In the Gulf region, the company works in cooperation with distribution partner Culligan. Global Sales Director Peter van der

Lucas Ridderbos, Farah Qureshi & Jeroen Roosien – Holland Water

Linde is proud of what the company is doing and its participation in the Dubai Pavilion. “As the pavilion’s official sponsor, we are proud to use this platform to inform a global audience about Dutch water-tech solutions and share our vision on how to gain 100% control over water safety in buildings”, says van der Linde. “Our solution can make a difference for hospitals, healthcare facilities, hotels and other buildings that prioritize water quality.”

The company, whose website proudly states that it has been ‘cherishing water’ for 18 years, has not been idling. “Holland Water has spent those 18 years developing and optimizing its water treatment technology based on copper-silver ionization”, explains Head of Marketing Farah Qureshi. “The system with patented dosing technology carefully purifies every litre of water that enters a building with a low but precise amount of silver and copper. The ionized metals

international affairs Dubai Expo 2020

For those of you planning to visit the Expo: make sure to stop by the Holland Water Bar in the VIP area of the Dutch Pavilion. The bar serves as a central meeting point and can be recognized by the gigantic copper and silver bars in honour of the electrodes used in the HW Bifipro® system. photo ©Hilde Lenaerts

kill the bacteria and break down biofilm, resulting in clean and safe drinking water. This water has no residual taste or odour, unlike water treated with chlorine.” The circular Dutch Pavilion will be officially opened on 3 November 2021 and will be entirely devoted to innovation in the field of water, energy and food. Dutch companies, knowledge institutions and social organizations have specialist knowledge and expertise in these

hollandwater.com

areas. They can play a key role in finding solutions that contribute to a more sustainable planet. Dubai Expo 2020 offers great opportunities for attendees to connect and engage with leading global water experts in several themed weeks, during which Water Alliance members such as Holland Water, Hydraloop and LG Sonic will host inspirational sessions.

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On Thursday, 3 June, Dorette Corbey, the new chair of the Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP), visited the WaterCampus innovation ecosystem which has developed in Leeuwarden and elsewhere in the North in recent years. She was accompanied by Bianca Nijhof, general director of the NWP and Ignaz Worm, director of the ENVAQUA sector organisation. The trio was received by Johannes Boonstra, member of the Executive Board of Wetsus and NWP board member, Hein Molenkamp, managing director of the Water Alliance and Joost Paques, director strategy at Paques and NWP board member. After visiting various locations in Leeuwarden, the group moved to Paques Balk, home to the BioBizz Hub since 2020, also as part of the WaterCampus.

The working visit began in Leeuwarden, where an impressive collection of buildings and facilities has been built on both banks of the Potmarge river. “I visited Wetsus years ago, but what they have established here today is really impressive”, says Corbey. “It is inspiring to see how many pioneering innovations get off the ground here and find their way to the market.” Bianca Nijhof agrees. “It is also great to see that there is a whole new generation already working on the world of tomorrow. I see young people everywhere in the offices and labs—it’s inspiring.”

Collaboration

During lunch, ideas were exchanged about intensifying the cooperation. NWP, Water Alliance and ENVAQUA already work together in WaterCoalitionNL. “It’s really starting to take shape”, says Hein Molenkamp, who was involved in creating the WaterCoalitionNL cooperation at the time and today sees good synergy between the three organizations.

NWP DELEGATION VISITS WATERCAMPUS LEEUWARDEN

“But we’re not there yet. The more we work together, the more we can offer the globally growing Dutch water technology sector.” Johannes Boonstra expressed the hope that the synergy in the WaterCoalition NL cooperation will continue to grow because better use will be made of individual specialities, and organizations will refer customers to each other more often. “This leads to a ‘no wrong door’ approach; in a system of facilitating water organizations which can often be rather confusing to outsiders, the ‘no wrong door’

principle makes it much less important where interested parties anywhere in the world first ask their question.” The afternoon featured a visit to one of the demonstration sites at the Leeuwarden wastewater treatment plant where new technology pilots are being conducted by water technology companies Susphos and Brightwork, among others. This was followed by a visit to water technology company Acquaint, known for its smart inspection robot that can inspect pipes from the inside.

report NWP Delegation

the demo site at their wastewater treatment plant. It’s great that parties like this are assuming social responsibility.”

Ambitions

Corbey and Nijhof are clear about their ambitions. “I would like to see further cooperation to enable us to do more for the Dutch water technology sector”, said Corbey. “And even more attention for the global water challenge. We can already do a lot with our knowledge, but the great challenge lies in applying our knowledge to countries with inferior infrastructure. Smart water consumption and improved purification are some of the foundations of a liveable society everywhere. That is what I want to work towards.” Nijhof: “I like the fact that water is increasingly seen as a starting point for integrated solutions. Smart solutions save water or make it circular and reduce energy consumption and, therefore, CO2 emissions. That realization is now starting to sink in everywhere. The Netherlands needs to raise its profile in this area.”

From left to right: Hein Molenkamp, Johannes Boonstra, Cees Buisman, Dorette Corbey, Joost Paques and Bianca Nijhof posing in front of the Wetsus building in Leeuwarden

“The social importance of all this innovation is evident”, said Dorette Corbey. “Look at a country like the United States, for example, struggling with so many bad pipelines. That leads to backlogs, and there are areas where no investors can be found at all. Smart technology like Acquaint’s can give entire regions a future again.”

BioBizz Hub

The group also visited the BioBizz Hub in Balk, an experimental garden affiliated with water technology company Paques and the

WaterCampus, where companies develop water and bio-based technology innovations. “We are thrilled that Dorette has taken the time to get to know us so extensively”, said Joost Paques, director of Paques and a member of the NWP board. “To understand the WaterCampus ecosystem, you have to see it with your own eyes, and we were able to take the time for that.” Dorette Corbey, reflects on her visit: “It is impressive to see the involvement of a commercial company like Paques and a public party like the Wetterskip with

‘Smart water consumption and improved purification are some of the foundations of a liveable society everywhere’ Dorette Corbey looks back on a very successful day, not least because of the opportunity the live meeting provided to get to know each other in an informal setting. “It is not only fun, but also very important”, said the new NWP president. “A new cabinet is coming. It is crucial for the water technology sector to form a united front, and that is only possible when you know each other.”

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The Dutch combined with water often conjures up images of spectacular delta works such as dikes, sluices and aqueducts. Fortunately, it is becoming increasingly clear that the Dutch also have excellent knowledge of water purification. Knowledge of water has become an important Dutch export product. Nevertheless, there is still a lot to be gained in the Netherlands itself. Making the water chain fully circular is a key challenge. In Flevoland, governments, knowledge institutions and businesses have joined forces to make it happen. In WaterLab Circular Water, suppliers are encouraged to work with end users to develop more efficient and sustainable water use. Seven projects are already underway. One great example is Camp & Surf Markermeer, near Lelystad.

Camp & Surf Markermeer as a living laboratory WATERLAB CIRCULAR WATER: LEARNING ON THE ROAD TO A CLOSED WATER CHAIN, PART I

The Camp & Surf site near Lelystad.

circular is a key challenge. In Flevoland, governments, knowledge institutions and businesses have joined forces to make it happen. In WaterLab Circular Water, suppliers are encouraged to work with end users to develop more efficient and sustainable water use. Seven projects are already underway. One great example is Camp & Surf Markermeer, near Lelystad.

For eight years, recreational entrepreneur Mark Snel was looking for a sustainable solution for Camp & Surf Markermeer’s water supply. The location has no utilities, including no connection to the regular water supply. What was the best solution? “You can, of course, bring in water by tank and transport it out as wastewater after use, but that is very expensive and not sustainable”, he says. “We didn’t want that. We were looking for a solution that would allow us to use water in complete harmony with nature.” Through WaterLab Circular Water, he eventually got in touch with a consortium of three companies, who together came up with a fitting solution. “Each company in the consortium has come up with a solution to a part of the problem. They integrated all the solutions into a single, comprehensive application. Our guests will soon be drinking purified rainwater and using purified water from the Markermeer for showering and other sanitary activities. All these water streams are recycled onsite using electricity generated by solar panels.”

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Inspiring

Project leader Martijn Bijmans also looks back on an inspiring project. “It’s great to see how we have managed to get things moving in this project by working together. It is exactly what entrepreneur Mark Snel was looking for; the WaterLab Circular Water helped him find unexpected partners who could develop a comprehensive solution. We worked together with the Water Alliance in Leeuwarden. They have a large network, which ultimately helped bring the right parties to the table as well.”

series WaterLab Circular Water Part I

André Mepschen of the Water Alliance, specialized in matchmaking for water technology companies, agrees with the project leader’s sentiment. “It all went very practically. We did not spend years writing it all down from start to finish; we kept it simple: the Camp & Surf Markermeer case was mapped out, the budget was established, and it was put forward in the market. It’s nice to see that it isn’t just one party contracted to do everything, but that a consortium of specialists has come together to create an all-inclusive solution.”

The seven pilot projects: 1 Camp & Surf Markermeer (recreation) 2 Lelystad Airport Business Park (business parks) 3 Schaap Holland Biddinghuizen (food processing industry) 4 North Sea International and Urker Zalmhuys Urk (food processing industry) 5 ‘Gebiedsorganisatie Oosterwold’ (Two Projects) 6 Camping & Jachthaven Erkemederstrand (recreation) 7 The 7th project is actually one of the Oosterwold projects. Editor’s note: The first projects are expected to be officially launched in early 2022. In the next WaterProof, part 2 of this mini-series: ‘Creating circular water: the importance of collaboration and launching customers.’

the rather unusual design of the Lelystad Airport control tower.

Aerial view of the Markermeer

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