Glimpses of green energy

It was not immediately noticeable, but in Amsterdam North, the future has already begun. The Buiksloterham district was internationally leading the way in the energy transition. Buildings were already gas-free, and received almost all their energy in an alternative way. As a passer-by or resident, you could see very little of this at the time. Glimpses of green energy project changed that. Through art installations on the street, we provided virtual glimpses into the devices and systems behind walls and in basements. On the sidewalk, a 3D painting showed where the district heating network ran. A viewing tube revealed how full the neighborhood battery beneath the ground was. Those who passed by often enough could notice patterns: it had been a very sunny day, so the battery was fully charged!

The concept of Glimpses originated from an artistic call by Waag Futurelab and an extensive neighborhood study (including visits, interviews, and workshops with local residents), together with the selected designer Tessa Steenkamp and her design studio, Bits of Space. 

Waag was part of ATELIER, a major European innovation project on energy transition. In Buiksloterham, two buildings were developed, Republica and Poppies, which, together with existing homes, became “energy-positive.” This meant that the buildings produced more energy than they consumed. ATELIER worked on technologies and social changes that made this possible. A smart grid was implemented in the buildings, allowing residents and businesses to exchange energy locally, and wastewater was also used to generate energy.

All information about the project, the locations of the Glimpses, and related content is available on project website ("Inkijkjes" in Dutch). Walking along the different Glimpses allowed people to learn more about the various aspects of the energy transition.

On Thursday, June 13, the Glimpses of green energy were officially opened. The installations were presented to all stakeholders: from experts to residents and neighbors.

The Glimpses of green energy were supported by the Stimuleringsfonds creatieve industrie, the project ATELIER and the municipality of Amsterdam. The project demonstrates how technology and design can be used to experiment together with residents, contributing to a sustainable, just, and inclusive society, in line with the mission of Waag Futurelab.