Looking Back at the 4TU.Energy PhD course - November 2025

Last week, on Thursday 13 and Friday 14 November 2025, more than 40 PhD candidates - most of them from the 4TU universities - gathered at Bar Beton, Utrecht Central, for the annual flagship 4TU.Energy PhD Course focusing on “System, Sustainability and Societal Aspects in the Energy Transition.”

Designed to broaden perspectives, strengthen interdisciplinary knowledge, and foster meaningful connections for PhD candidates, the two-day programme brought together researchers, industry experts, and policy thinkers for a rich blend of lectures, pitches, discussions, and social moments.

Day 1 – Systems & Technology in Transition

The course opened with a welcome by prof. David Smeulders (TU/e), Scientific Director of 4TU.Energy. He introduced the 4C goals: Connect, Coordinate, Collaborate, and Create, and explained how the 4TU.Energy mission is translated into practice. Prof. Smeulders then introduced prof. Angele Reinders (TU/e), chair of Day 1, who guided participants through the program and learning objectives.

The opening was followed by a dynamic round of 1-minute research pitches  by all participants. These pitches gave participants a taste of the breadth of ongoing energy research across the 4TU and offered an opportunity to practice their pitch skills, supported by pre-course training provided by external professionals from ElroyCom Training.

The morning keynote was delivered by Anne van der Molen (senior advisor at Stedin and vice chair E.DSO Technology and Knowledge Sharing), who explored seven dilemmas facing distribution system operators, highlighting the real-world tensions in managing an evolving grid towards a climate neutral energy system in the Netherlands.

In the early afternoon, prof. Angele Reinders (full professor Design of Sustainable Energy Systems at TU/e) introduced design-driven approaches to accelerating the sustainable energy transition.

Main Session of Day-1

- Dr. Pilar Ruiz Ramiro (associate professor Chemical Recycling at UTwente & Maastricht University) – Challenges and opportunities of chemical recycling of plastic waste

- Prof. Fokko Mulder (full professor Materials for integrated energy systems at TU Delft) – The necessity of energy storage in a renewables-based energy and feedstock system

This session highlighted the role of advanced recycling and large‑scale energy storage - batteries, hydrogen, and hybrid systems - as essential components for balancing a renewable‑based energy system.

The last presentation of Day-1 was from dr. Niek Mouter (associate professor evaluation of government projects at TU Delft | Scientific Director at Populytics) who presented insights on participatory value in the Dutch energy transition, emphasizing the importance of societal preferences and citizen engagement in shaping future energy policies.

The day closed with lively discussions and an optional group dinner.

Day 2 – Society, Space & Global Context

Day 2 opened with chair dr. Akbar Asadi Tashvigh, who is also one of the Young Board members of 4TU.Energy, setting the learning objectives. This was followed by dr. Louise van Schaik (Clingendael Institute), who provided a geopolitical perspective on global shifts in the energy transition.

Main Session 1 of Day-2

Prof. Eveline van Leeuwen (scientific director at AMS & Professor Urban Economics at WUR) and dr. Bas van Vliet (associate professor Environmental Policy at WUR, lecturer and PI at AMS-Institute) delivered a joint session on spatial justice and participation in the energy transition. This session emphasized fairness, participation, and spatial justice as key conditions for a socially supported energy transition, and ended with sub-groups discussion on “Apply and assess the key conditions for your own energy research”.

In the early afternoon, dr. Oscar Kraan (Future of Energy Leader Deloitte NL) offered a business-driven perspective in “The Future of Energy: What’s Next?” Dr. Kraan showed how technological, economic, and societal factors together shape the pace and direction of the energy transition. Oscar also gave his personal advice to PhD candidates 1) choosing mentors based on people rather than topics, 2) stepping outside one’s comfort zone (“crawl out of the bathtub”), and 3) actively shaping one’s professional position.

Main Session 2 of Day-2

- Prof. Mark van der Meijde (full professor Earth and Planetary Sciences at UTwente) – Geothermal for all: exploring non-conventional geothermal options

- Dr. Francesco Lombardi (assistant professor Multi-Scale Integrated Energy System Design at TU Delft) – Beyond cost-effectiveness: designing socially viable and technically resilient energy systems

This session highlighted emerging geothermal opportunities and the importance of integrating resilience and social acceptance into energy system design.

The course concluded with a networking borrel, where participants reflected on the two days, received their certificates, and celebrated the best pitch award.

Advancing Knowledge, Broadening Horizons, Strengthening Community

The 2025 PhD Course demonstrated once again the value of the 4TU.Energy collaboration in equipping young researchers with a broader, system-wide understanding of the energy transition. Across the two days, PhD candidates engaged with interdisciplinary knowledge, gained exposure to technological, societal, and geopolitical dimensions, and expanded their peer network across the 4TU community.

The course was organized by 4TU.Energy, with the programme committee consisting of David Smeulders, Mina Shahi, Pedro P. Vergara, Maja Rücker, Akbar Asadi Tashvigh, and Amir Mahmoudi, under the coordination by Sha Lou.

We look forward to continuing this tradition in 2026: bringing together early-career researchers committed to shaping a sustainable and equitable energy future.