MERIN
SMART BUILDING PORTFOLIO
In September 2018, Spectral commenced work on implementing their Smart Building Platform (SBP) across Merin’s real estate portfolio. As one of the largest commercial real estate owners in the Netherlands, Merin’s portfolio consists of more than 100 large office buildings and light-industrial facilities located around the country. The first phase of the project involved connecting the smart meter data from Merin’s entire portfolio to the platform in order to take advantage of the SBP’s data analytics tools which allow users to benchmark building energy performance and gain greater insights into cost saving opportunities. Next, one of Merin’s multi-tenant office buildings at Flight Forum, a business park in Eindhoven, was selected as a pilot site for the SBP’s active building control package, including submeters and environmental sensors to measure comfort and energy parameters in real-time.

After completing the on-site installation of relevant hardware, the active control feature was launched in March 2018, and in the first six months of the implementation, gas usage was cut by more than 40% and the overall savings on energy costs are estimated at €30.000, averaging more than €1.000 per week for just one single building. Besides significantly improving the building’s energy efficiency, the comfort levels within the building were also optimized and tenant climate complaints have been drastically reduced. Based on the immense success of the Flight Forum pilot, Merin is currently in negotiation with Spectral regarding scaling up the SBP’s active control package for an additional 66 of their multi-tenant office buildings.
SCHOONSCHIP
COMMUNITY SMART-GRID
Schoonschip, a floating residential neighborhood of 47 households located in Amsterdam North, hopes to become the most sustainable urban development in Europe. The project aims to re-envision the way we approach sustainable development, setting a new standard for resource management, sustainable building design, community governance, and closing nutrient cycles.
Spectral is leading the implementation of an advanced smart-grid at Schoonschip. The Schoonschip community was recently awarded the “Experimenteerregeling,” which allows them to develop their own private microgrid (behind the meter) with only one central grid connection. Each house will be equipped with local PV production, battery storage, solar collectors, thermal storage, a smart heat pump, and other smart-grid ready appliances.

Spectral is responsible for the complete project development of the smart-grid, including detailed engineering, subcontracting installations, securing permits, acquiring pre-financing, and other necessary activities. Spectral is also a core member of the “Grid-Friends” project team, together with CWI and Fraunhofer ITWM, two leading European research institutes. The “Grid-Friends” project is focused on implementing and further developing an advanced smart-grid control platform at Schoonschip, aiming to set a new (global) standard in smart-grid technology.

AMSTEL III
GRID CAPACITY OPTIMIZATION
Amstel 3 is a district in Amsterdam ZuidOost that is experiencing a major transition towards a mixed residential-commercial area. Large scale urban redevelopment in combination with new residential area developments and the construction of several huge data centers, are expected to cause grid capacity problems. The city has already greenlighted most of these developments, although the local grid operator has stated that the grid may run into capacity issues.
Spectral was asked to use its holistic approach to energy system design to come up with solutions that will alleviate the load on the grid. This was done by creating a detailed picture of the current scenario. Where will problems occur? How will we manage these problems?

By looking at a wide range of solutions, from battery storage, to using data center waste heat, to installing hydrogen fuel cells, Spectral is able to advise the local government and utility companies on their energy system strategy. In doing so, Spectral makes sure that the energy transition is moving forward at its maximum pace.
YMERE
SUSTAINABLE BUILDING PORTFOLIO
In January 2018, the SGE consortium (consisting of Greenchoice, INNAX, Spectral, and Zon) was awarded a 5-year contract by the Ymere housing corporation in order to supply them with 100% renewable energy and to develop a sustainability strategy for their building portfolio. Ymere’s portfolio consists of 70.000 homes in the Amsterdam metropolitan region. By applying cutting-edge technology and data-driven solutions, the SGE consortium aims to set a new standard which will enable housing and real estate companies to reduce their environmental footprint and to accelerate the transition to gas-less neighborhoods.
GREENCHOICE
SMART METER DATA PLATFORM
In July of 2017, Spectral launched a new data analytics platform which enables energy utilities to extract unique business intelligence from the vast amounts of smart-meter data streaming into their servers every day. This Big Data solution enables users to quickly visualize customer-specific energy data in order to gain greater insight into consumption patterns and trends. Advanced algorithms and simulation tools seamlessly identify cost saving opportunities for the customer, while also assessing the potential for new products and services based on renewables and smart energy solutions. The platform was recently rolled-out to complement the business strategy and operations of Greenchoice, the Netherland’s number one green energy supplier.

ALLIANDER
LOCAL BLOCKCHAIN ENERGY MARKETS
In summer of 2017, Spectral launched a new platform for setting up local energy markets based on blockchain technology. The first phase of the project is taking place at De Ceuvel, an Amsterdam community which has become a globally visible showcase for sustainable urban development. De Ceuvel features its own private microgrid, in which Spectral, together with Dutch DSO Alliander, are piloting new approaches for enabling local (peer-to-peer) energy trading via a local alternative token called the “Jouliette.” Beyond just tracking energy flows, the Jouliette can be used to enable other intra-community services, such as a car sharing program. As a system integration specialist, Spectral is responsible for the development of the (blockchain) software package, as well as delivery of customized hardware solutions for smart-metering and data collection. Read more about the project here!

TNO
HIGH PERFORMANCE MICRO-GRID
As a system integrator, Spectral specializes in developing integrated hardware and software solutions tailored to the specific needs of any application. Spectral was recently commissioned by Dutch research institute TNO to design and build customized energy storage solutions for their new, high-tech Hybrid Energy System Integration (HESI) Lab in Groningen. The energy storage modules which were delivered by Spectral were specifically designed for use in smart-grid research projects, modularity, and easy mobility around the lab. The systems were presented at the HESI lab opening event happened on January 31st, 2017.

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