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Globally, energy use in buildings is a significant contributor to CO₂ emissions. To help reduce climate impact, Deltares is launching a pilot project with AquaBattery on its Delft campus. This innovation, based on table salt and water, enables renewable energy to be stored efficiently and sustainably over longer periods. From November 2024, Deltares will test this sustainable battery, aiming to make its campus Paris Proof by 2040.

How do we best make use of our existing water infrastructure? And how do we help water managers balance the various interests they face in their daily work? Optimisation techniques for operational water management have now been assembled by Deltares for the first time in the overview paper 'Optimisation methods in water system operation'. The authors have compiled optimization techniques that they have been using in practice and the paper is intended for (prospective) water managers. At the same time, the authors invite fellow scientists to further develop optimisation techniques specifically for water management.

Water is essential for the port of Rotterdam. It is used as a raw material, for cooling industry and as a means of transport for logistics. However, the quality and availability of water are changing, affecting the port, industry and logistics.

Storm surge barriers are vital to safeguarding the Netherlands from rising sea levels and extreme weather events. These imposing structures, such as the Maeslant Barrier and the Eastern Scheldt Barrier, protect our country from storm surges that could otherwise threaten its low-lying delta. However, as sea levels rise and climate change accelerates, questions arise about how long these barriers will remain effective, and how they should be maintained or adapted over time.

How can we enhance our knowledge and action perspectives to make the built environment more resilient to water shortages, now and in the future? This is the central question in the research project ‘Thirsty Cities’, which is being funded by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO). The project is part of the National Science Agenda for The Netherlands.

Deltares has published the final Activity Plan SITO Institute Grant 2025. The Activity Plan outlines the main features of the Strategic Research that Deltares will carry out in 2025.

In a pioneering study, scientists from several European universities have developed innovative techniques to detect floating plastic debris in the ocean using advanced remote sensing technologies. A scientific article about this has appeared in Nature Scientific Reports.

Deltares and the Dutch Water Authority Rivierenland jointly conducted a field experiment in the Dutch town of Ochten this week, to test the strength of a dyke. The aim was to find out what happens when water hits the dyke at high tide.

The emergence of new technologies such as machine learning, special sensors and auto-analysers makes it possible to monitor water quality in near real-time. We refer to this as ‘high-frequency’ monitoring. The measurements provide more insight into the dynamics of water quality, and can therefore help water managers to identify causes of, for example, exceedances of standards. That opens up possible ways of achieving the objectives of the Water Framework Directive.

Deltares invites Dutch start-ups and SMEs to the Deltares SME Challenge - Autumn 2024. The opportunity to further develop innovative design concepts by getting free access to our unique test facilities and Deltares' expertise.

Last weekend, two serious collisions took place on our Dutch waterways within 24 hours. On Friday, a cargo ship loaded with gravel collided with the opened railway bridge over the Gouwe in Alphen aan den Rijn. A few hours later, a second incident took place: a ship full of sand rammed the weir at Borgharen, leading to the sinking of the 67-metre-long vessel. Although both incidents fortunately passed without personal injury, the consequences for infrastructure are significant.

Deltares and Suriname's Ministry of Public Works will work together in the coming years to exchange knowledge and work on relevant projects. The cooperation was made official in a Memorandum of Understanding, signed by Deltares director Annemieke Nijhof and Suriname's Minister of Public Works, Dr Riad Nurmohamed.