The Netherlands is facing two major and increasingly connected challenges: a severe housing shortage and an overloaded electricity grid. While the demand for new, sustainable homes remains high, grid congestion is making it difficult or even impossible to connect new housing projects to the electricity network. This means that urgently needed homes risk being delayed for years.
BrabantWonen manages around 20,000 homes in the Den Bosch and Oss region. Although each home has its own electricity connection, this capacity is not used fully at all times. Because energy use fluctuates throughout the day and year, there is an opportunity to use existing connections in a smarter and more efficient way.
In this challenge, students are asked to develop a concept for a partly self-sufficient energy system at block or neighbourhood level. The idea is to explore how existing and new homes can share grid capacity, use locally generated energy more directly, store and exchange energy or heat, and reduce pressure on the public electricity grid.
The central question is: how can we continue to build new homes and accelerate sustainability despite grid congestion, by making smarter use of existing connections, local energy generation, and neighbourhood-level energy sharing?
This challenge is important because it can generate fresh ideas and integrated solutions for a complex and urgent issue, helping BrabantWonen work towards future-proof housing development.
The desired outcome of this challenge is a clear, innovative and applicable concept that shows how housing development and sustainability ambitions can continue, even under conditions of grid congestion. The focus is not on delivering a fully detailed technical design, but on creating a well-substantiated concept that clearly explains how a smart neighbourhood energy system could function in practice.
Your concept should demonstrate how existing grid connections can be used more efficiently and shared between homes, while integrating local energy generation, storage and exchange of energy and/or heat. In addition, it should show how peak loads on the electricity grid can be reduced and why the block or neighbourhood level is the most logical scale for this approach.
It is essential that your solution clearly explains how this concept can accelerate housing development and help overcome the current deadlock between the housing shortage and grid congestion. The goal is to create a realistic and forward-thinking approach that contributes to future-proof housing solutions.
The final outcome should answer the following question:
How can smart, collective energy solutions help us overcome grid congestion and prevent urgently needed homes from being delayed for years?
Do you believe this can be done smarter? Show us your vision and join the challenge.
BrabantWonen rents out around 19,000 homes in ’s-Hertogenbosch, Oss, Meierijstad, and the surrounding areas. The organisation supports households who cannot access the owner-occupied or private rental market, as well as starters, students, and people who need care or extra support. BrabantWonen offers its residents a future in social and liveable neighbourhoods, where they can live for as long as they wish.
The organisation also feels a strong responsibility towards future generations. Under the motto Naturally Together, BrabantWonen focuses on sustainable new-build developments, renovation, and long-term cooperation within neighbourhoods. Together with residents and social partners, BrabantWonen works towards good housing and quality of life in a healthy living environment.
