RCN becomes ECN

The year was 1975 and energy had become a hot topic in social debates. Two years earlier, the Arabs had cut off their oil supply to the Netherlands. Everyone was suddenly aware of the immense vulnerability of the energy system. At the same time, the problem of radioactive waste was brought up for discussion emphatically. The construction of nuclear power plants, including the fast breeder reactor in Kalkar, right across the German border, was met with fierce resistance.
It became clear that an energy system for the future would require more than nuclear power alone. This gave rise to a strong call for energy research into alternative forms of power: solar and wind energy, tidal power, biomass, geothermic heat… and energy saving. RCN was subsequently designated as the institute responsible for running a large part of this research project. The name was changed from Reactor Centrum Nederland to Energieonderzoek Centrum Nederland (Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands) or simply ECN. Some of the researchers were retrained and new staff members were recruited. ECN’s first programmes were geared towards wind energy and coal. The first new department to be set up was the Energy Study Centre (the current Policy Studies Unit).

A clear indication of the dramatic changes in store for Petten was the construction of the HAT-25, an experimental wind turbine, prominently positioned near the entrance of the ECN site. A few years later, a test field for wind turbines was established along Westerduinweg. Wind research would remain a priority of the ECN programme to this very day, with the test field (which has since been transferred to Wieringermeer) continuing to play a key role.

The Ministries of Economic Affairs and Education set up national research programmes in various fields, including wind energy, thermal solar power, coal and energy saving. ECN was involved in these programmes, partly as programme coordinator and partly as operator. A number of years later, the department responsible for programme management was incorporated into Novem.