The reason for connecting the business park to the regular grid was twofold. Technology Base no longer wanted and could not be operator of all utilities. In some places, the outdated (mains) network was of insufficient capacity to serve a business park and network management required too much time and attention from the project organisation, which was not equipped for this. Various utilities and sewers were adapted and partly reconstructed and have since been transferred to the regular network operators. 

More capacity available

For electricity, a new main distribution station was installed on the site, which means that sufficient capacity is now available for newly established companies. This facility also enabled the immediate facilitation of the installation of 3,000 solar panels on the roofs of three hangars. Even if all new buildings are covered with solar panels, this future power supply can be well accommodated.

Gas network suitable for testing new developments

The gas network is unique in that it was constructed in the past as a closed area-specific network without branches to other locations. This also makes it interesting for other network operators such as Coteq (part of Cogas) to experiment within a lockable part of the network with, for example, the addition of hydrogen. In 2021, in anticipation of this connection, an agreement was signed with Twente Safety Campus, Cogas and Technology Base to realise this pilot network for testing with hydrogen. Technology Base is a controlled environment, with sufficient space to safely gain initial experience with hydrogen. An energy carrier that can also be used in the future for aviation at Twente Airport (part of Technology Base).