Noe van Hulst, secretary general of the Riyadh-based International Energy Forum (IEF), has been appointed the director of the prestigious Energy Academy Europe (EAE).
In his new capacity, Van Hulst, 55, will be responsible for setting up this top European institute, which will be the first of its kind dedicated for energy, education, research and innovation.
The EAE will be located in the Dutch city of Groningen.
Van Hulst will join the EAE on Jan. 5, said a press statement from the IEF.
The statement said the EAE's aim was to create a prominent international position for the Netherlands in energy-related issues and the transition toward a fully sustainable energy economy.
Van Hulst will be "mandated to intensify the cooperation between companies and research institutions together with general public and other interested parties."
The appointment has been made by the academy's steering committee.
The members are: Gertjan Lankhorst (CEO, GasTerra), Gerrit van Werven (director, Energy Valley Foundation), Henk Pijlman (chairman, University of Applied Sciences, Groningen) and Sibrand Poppema (chairman, University of Groningen and chairman of the steering committee).
Van Hulst was the director for long-term cooperation and policy at the Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA) before joining the IEF.
Referring to the activities of the EAE, Van Hulst said the academy's work will start on Sept. 1.
"New training courses and research projects to be undertaken by the academy will be developed over the next few years, in cooperation with SMEs and large companies," said Hulst, adding that educational institutions, think-tanks, industry and the government will invest a total amount of 100 million euros in the development of the academy over the next 10 years.
He pointed out that Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation Maxime Verhagen has already allocated 6 million euros to the EAE within the framework of the national Green Deal Program.
The academy is unique because it combines all levels of education, from vocational training to scientific education.
The approach is demand-driven and brings together all expertise in the field of humanities, science and social sciences.
With these “ingredients” the EAE will make a significant contribution toward the development and modernization of the international energy supply.
