Collaborating on a sustainable energy transition

The energy transition is in full swing, with a growing need for capacity, labor market shortages, and a nitrogen crisis. Nevertheless, TenneT has the ambition to accelerate the energy transition, build emission-free, and strives for around 700 new employees annually.

Maarten Abbenhuis:

“It is crucial to organize processes in such a way that the company excels in what it does. In its services, but also in the product it offers. And all this in a safe environment.”

As a member of TenneT’s Board of Directors, Maarten Abbenhuis, COO (Chief Operating Officer), has extensive experience in various management positions. He has been with TenneT for 14 years. In his current role, he wants to make a difference with Operational Excellence. This approach focuses on improving the efficiency, effectiveness, and overall performance of an organization’s operations. “We are constantly seeking and implementing the best practices, streamlining processes, eliminating waste, and optimizing resources to achieve good results and realize strategic objectives. Certainly in relation to our contractors, such as A.Hak. The new contract forms are an example of this.”

Looking at the labor market, TenneT strives for an annual growth of 700 employees. “TenneT is an attractive employer due to its positioning in the energy transition and international innovative projects. “We actively recruit internationally, as the Dutch labor market is not large enough.” He also points out the importance of a dynamic working environment in which employees can continue to learn and develop. Safety is central to this.

Growing together
The EU302 tender is one of the new contract forms. Eight parties were selected for this, and A.Hak has become one of four preferred parties. In this contract, the work is allocated as much as possible to the top four partners. “This ensures that we can grow together, we do the work together. It is an enormous amount of work in various fields. By working together for the long term, we can better predict this, work better on innovation together, but also better standardize. There are benefits for both parties in this.”

Integral view
TenneT plays an important role in the energy transition. “With an integral view, we can ensure that the network changes into a multifunctional connector of a dynamic electricity supply, with a controllable demand for energy. If we want to make the energy transition a success, we must work together: universities, technical training programs, the market, industry, government, and grid operators,” says Abbenhuis. “The task for the next twenty years is huge. We must therefore continue to cherish this collaboration.”