The 22nd CFP Innovation Day: From compost heating system to water battery (Room 1)
The 22nd CFP Innovation Day was once again a showcase of inspiration, enthusiasm, and surprises. Pitchers stepped into the spotlight to be tested by the audience. And the attendees? Around 100 visitors thoroughly enjoyed the event, impressed by the high-quality pitches, offering critical insights, and discovering new market opportunities. In Room 1, ‘t Wiel,’ the innovations pitched ranged from a compost heating system to a water battery, and even a special gift from the DGBC. Curious about what you missed or did you attend the other room and want to know more? Here’s a recap.
Read here about what happened in Room 2, ‘The Fishbowl’.
Turning waste into value
1. The Biomeiler 2.0 – Lasse Lamet and Jouke Nabuurs
One of the youngest pitchers, Lasse Lamet, presented the Biomeiler 2.0. This compost heating system tackles three challenges: desired CO2 reduction, the underused waste streams and their processing, and the manure crisis.
When organic waste is placed in the Biomeiler along with wood chips, microbial activity generates heat up to 60°C. The Biomeiler 2.0 cleverly stores this heat thanks to active rather than passive aeration. This system provides two years of heat as a supplement to a central heating boiler or heat pump, which has become particularly appealing due to high gas prices. An additional benefit is that the compost develops into high-quality manure over those two years, which is in high demand.
The audience questioned whether installing such a Biomeiler would disrupt the surrounding ground or require substantial maintenance. It turned out to be as promising as it sounds: the Biomeiler 2.0 can be installed on sandy soil and operates autonomously. It doesn’t get much easier than that.
2. Renewi EcoSmart – Patrick van der Sanden
Renewi EcoSmart knows how much value can be extracted from waste streams. They help companies and institutions prevent (residual) waste. Residual waste is the most expensive and least sustainable waste stream, so reducing it offers dual benefits. Patrick highlighted the CSRD, showing that this also supports two ESRS data points: reducing residual waste leads to less CO2 emissions (scope 3) and results in a higher circularity score, as incinerating residual waste scores the lowest.
Renewi EcoSmart has developed a practical waste system with an app to make residual waste more visible and manageable. This is especially useful for shared buildings with multiple tenants. When waste is centrally collected, the app records the weight, which is displayed on a reporting dashboard. This gives tenants a clearer view of their environmental impact due to waste, and landlords can differentiate themselves from other shared properties where standard allocation methods are used.
Getting started with CRREM
3. CFP Green Buildings – Marnix Balke
CFP Green Buildings also took to the stage with an innovation that simplifies regulatory compliance. Project Manager Marnix Balke introduced the CRREM tool, which easily shows how commercial real estate aligns with the Paris Agreement. The agreed path to a 55% CO2 reduction by 2030 and 100% by 2050 is mapped over time.
The software then provides clear insights into the trajectory of your buildings, based on future measures. This way, you can see if you’re on track and optimise investment distribution. The data on financial investment, revenue, payback period, and timing of the measures are combined in a clear overview. Bonus: this can be done for individual buildings or entire portfolios, making the CRREM tool ideal for property managers.
Smart energy use in buildings
Maintaining building climates is crucial but can have a significant environmental impact. Solyx and Dutch Climate Systems presented their smart innovations for cooling and heating, featuring water as the main component.
4. Dutch Climate Systems | Icecube – Arthur van der Lee
Air conditioning accounts for 10% of global energy consumption. Dutch Climate Systems developed a smarter air conditioning unit that is 80% more energy-efficient than traditional systems: the Icecube Exchanger. This sustainable cooling solution operates on water and cools through water evaporation. The Icecube Exchanger also ventilates, making it an attractive option for buildings that need ventilation management, such as schools. In addition to summer cooling, the system can also provide heated ventilation in winter. Unlike standard ventilation systems, the Icecube Exchanger doesn’t use additional energy. The heating or cooling in the space comes at no extra cost.
The system itself is made from recycled plastic and is modular, making it easy to install. The use of water also ensures no harmful substances are released during cooling or heating. Biobased and sustainable!
5. Solyx Energy | Water Battery – Emma Snaak
Solar panels are now a staple in the built environment. However, both energy generation and household energy consumption show significant peaks and troughs. Emma presented Solyx Energy’s solution to this issue: the Water Battery.
Currently, 69% of generated solar energy is returned to the grid, which is becoming less profitable. The Water Battery stores excess energy as heated water, a cheap and straightforward solution.
By connecting Solyx’s Nymo to an electric boiler, it transforms the boiler into a Water Battery. Emma explained that regular boilers turn on or off like all electric devices, while the Water Battery adapts to available excess solar energy. By using this energy smartly, the Water Battery covers 70% of the hot water demand, allowing you to rely more on sustainable hot water instead of gas-heated water. This practical innovation excited the audience, as it’s easy to implement and has a payback period of just 4 to 5 years.
Easily mapping climate risks for real estate
6. Dutch Green Building Council – Roosmarijn van de Velde
What is the surrounding environment of a building, what climate risks exist there, and how resilient is the building to these risks? A climate risk score quantifies this. The Dutch Green Building Council has developed a model that simplifies this process: the Framework for Climate Adaptive Buildings. Created in collaboration with government agencies, banks, insurers, educational institutions, and property managers, this framework helps these parties—and you—to consistently map climate risks for buildings and portfolios. It’s also useful for reporting requirements, allowing you to easily discover the climate risks of your properties.
Examples of features that make buildings future-proof include:
- Elevated thresholds and entrances for flooding
- Limited glass surfaces, preferably with sun protection for heat
- Solid foundations for earthquakes and floods
Creating CO2 market value
7. Anthesis Nederland – Jos Cozijnsen
Sustainable materials, renewable energy, and eco-friendly heating and cooling all contribute to climate neutrality. Anthesis helps achieve the Paris goals through carbon removal. Storing CO2 in buildings achieves negative emissions and supports reaching net zero. CO2 can be stored in biochar in the soil, in trees next to buildings, and in materials like cement, bamboo, hemp, and agricultural waste. Anthesis uses its expertise to create market value through validation, pre-audits, and marketing. They offer advice on green financing, CO2 credits, and trading, linked to various EU regulations.
Young talent
8. Students4Sustainability – Wieger Lamers, Thiska Blijker en Vera van Logtestijn
A notable aspect of this Innovation Day was the role of the younger generation in making the built environment more sustainable. While the Biomeiler 2.0 came from a bachelor project at Utrecht University, Students4Sustainability from TU Delft demonstrated their commitment to sustainability. With monthly donations, they can initiate local sustainability projects worldwide. For instance, an upcycle station in Tanzania turns plastic waste into new products like lamps. These projects are not only socially and ecologically sustainable but also inclusive, as they’re developed with local communities to continue after the students depart, creating lasting value.
Innovation that connects and inspires
The pitches were a success, sparking new ideas and valuable connections. The session was followed by a networking reception where visitors could discuss the innovations and potential collaborations further. The CFP Innovation Day marked not an end but the beginning of new connections, upcoming pilots, and a wave of inspiration for attendees to take back to their own projects and companies.
Want to know more about the pitches in Room 2? Read the recap of the ‘Fishbowl’ or check out the aftermovie on our website for a full impression of the 22nd CFP Innovation Day.
