The world is heading towards a CO 2 -neutral energy system in 2050. This transformation requires a review of electricity, hydrogen and methane transport infrastructure. At present, it is unclear what the main development direction of energy systems will be. In other words, it is deeply uncertain how the energy transport capacity requirements for the energy infrastructure will evolve. For grid operators, this uncertainty of energy transition pathways poses a major strategic challenge: which future-proof investments should be made to facilitate potential different decarbonization pathways of the energy system, while minimizing the risk of stranded assets? Current practices fall short and a new investment planning method that can properly deal with deep uncertainty in a multi-stakeholder decision-making context and is capable to align investment plans for multiple energy infrastructures is needed. To this end, a consortium consisting of TenneT, Gasunie, Stedin, the Port of Rotterdam Authority, the Province of South-Holland, the Municipality of Rotterdam, SmartPort, the Delft University of Technology, Siemens, TNO and Quintel started an initiative - called “Gridmaster” - to develop a methodology and associated digital tools to support decisionmakers in developing investment plans for integrated energy infrastructure. In the development of the new “Gridmaster method”, the energy infrastructure planning of the Harbor Industrial Cluster of Rotterdam serves as a case study. In this case study the capability of the Gridmaster method to develop a future-proof investment plan for electricity, hydrogen and methane infrastructure for this industrial cluster is tested.

Presented by Mel Valies and Jan van Dinther from Siemens