Heleen Groenenberg

Addressing the urgent challenge of climate change requires a fundamental shift in how we generate, store, and distribute energy. To mitigate dangerous environmental impacts, greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced to net zero within the coming decades. A crucial part of this transformation is the energy transition, where decentralized energy systems play a pivotal role in reducing carbon footprints, alleviating the strain on national grids, and ensuring the efficient use of renewable resources.

With a long-standing career in the energy sector, Heleen Groenenberg is at the forefront of this movement. Through her company, Sustain Brain (www.sustainbrain.nl), she is dedicated to advancing local energy systems that drive sustainability. These decentralized networks create more resilient energy infrastructures by enabling communities to generate, store, and distribute power efficiently.

One of the key innovations in this field is the development of energy hubs at business parks. These hubs act as integrated energy ecosystems, where businesses collaborate to manage energy demand, optimize storage, and share locally generated power. By incorporating smart technologies, storage solutions, and demand-response mechanisms, energy hubs dynamically balance supply and demand on a local scale. This not only enhances efficiency but also strengthens energy security by reducing dependence on centralized grids.

In the European Union, energy communities have the unique opportunity to directly share and consume their locally produced renewable energy, rather than relying solely on electricity markets. This shift contributes to a more stable, affordable, and sustainable energy supply that benefits both businesses and citizens.

However, the widespread adoption of local energy systems requires collaborative efforts between businesses, grid operators, and policymakers. Regulatory support and digital innovation are essential in driving this transformation forward. By integrating energy hubs and direct energy-sharing models, the world can move toward a decentralized, resilient, and carbon-neutral future—one that empowers local communities and accelerates the transition to sustainable energy solutions.

Through her leadership at Sustain Brain, Heleen Groenenberg is not only shaping this transformation but also paving the way for a cleaner and more efficient energy landscape. Her work stands as a testament to the power of innovation and collaboration in tackling one of the most pressing global challenges of our time.