Isabelle Vlasman's story
Isabelle Vlasman (29, Amsterdam) is a sustainable electrical energy engineer at Witteveen+Bos. Her motivation and goal: contribute to the energy transition. ‘It would be fantastic if Witteveen+Bos became the number-one agency for connecting wind and solar energy to the grid.’
Sustainable living
‘I have such wide-ranging interests that it was quite by chance that I ended up in electrical engineering. I considered studying Spanish and also visited the mechanical engineering open day at TU Delft. When I decided to take a quick look at electrical engineering, too, I was blown away. I love maths and physics and really enjoy working on technical challenges. I feel totally at home here. Contributing to the energy transition – that’s why I do this job. I want to be someone who pushes the world in the right direction. That’s also why I’m vegan, why I watch my energy consumption, and why I buy second-hand whenever I can.’
Future-proof electricity system
‘The electricity grid is an essential link in the energy transition, but it’s outdated and needs to be strengthened and made smarter. TenneT, the electricity grid operator in the Netherlands, is facing a huge challenge. I’m working on a requirements database for TenneT to accelerate the design and implementation of future changes to the grid. And for the Port of Rotterdam Authority, I’m working with colleagues to develop a cable and pipeline corridor for a new hydrogen conversion park. The park’s electrolysers, which convert green energy to hydrogen, will be an important link in our future energy supply.’
Positive impact
‘The more positive impact, the better. It would be fantastic if Witteveen+Bos became the number-one agency for connecting wind and solar energy to the grid. We already have the right culture of collaboration to achieve this: everyone is motivated and strives for quality. That fits in perfectly with who I am. At the same time, I’m critical about the society we live in. Money is king, and investments that are necessary for our planet’s future aren’t always made. I note, however, that better agreements are increasingly being made: laws are being drafted or amended, and the government is starting to take action. So, we’re heading in the right direction, but there’s still a lot to be done.’
'The electricity grid is an essential link in the energy transition'
- Isabelle Vlasman -