Use Case: Platform Ondernemend Meierijstad
Trusted partner: Platform Ondernemend Meierijstad, Netherlands, Meierijstad
Use Case Operator: CCS Energie-advies, Deventer, Netherlands
The trusted partner for the Dutch use case is POM, Platform Ondernemend Meierijstad (POM). POM is a foundation that represents 900 SMEs within the boundaries of the municipality of Meierijstad. The foundation consists of a collaboration of multiple business associations, ONS (Schijndel), BtB Sint-Oedenrode and EBK (Erp). There are 9 businessparks within the municipality.
Platform Ondernemend Meijereistad (POM) is also the Trusted partner. Currently they are supporting the SMEs by perfoming the collective purchase of energy on the fixed and variable energy market. In addition they also provide administrative services and track the developments in the energy market to keep the SME updated of any changes. POM also provides collective waste management in which the SME pay per kg of waste. By monitoring the waste and tonnage, they give insights into unnecessary wasting of resources.
All kinds of sectors are presented within the 900 SMEs but especially the logistics and food sectors are most prominent.
The GEAR@SME partner CCS is supporting POM in reaching SMEs to inform and motivating them to improve their energy efficiency by sharing knowledge and experience with POM so it can perform energy scans and give SMEs the tools to create energy efficiency reports. Furthermore by helping POM to find out the needs of the SMEs, giving trainings on how to motivate SMEs, support in creating a collective.
CCS is also offering free energy scans and aims to have helped 50 SMEs with an energy scan. POM is creating a website with success stories and references of entrepreneurs who have had an energy scan.
DOE (Duurzaam Ondernemend Energiek) was already initiated with POM, the municipality and the Rabobank to collectively work on reducing CO2 emissions by 49% in 2030 at businesses. Supporting SMEs to save energy and generate renewable energy is part of this proposition.
POM has also big plans for sustainability. Apart from energy efficiency, they also initiated projects on hydrogen and an energy-trading platform. They already have an energy service supplier for solar energy and in the past, they have worked with a foundation to stimulate the use of LED-lighting. POM is able to reach a big part of the 900 SME though newsletters, promotional emails and personal contact. They want to inspire other SMEs with success stories through interviews and video is for which they call on Het Communicatie Loket to carry out.