Barend Dronkers oversees product development and strategy for E Source Customer Energy Solutions research and advisory services and data tools. He helps utility members exceed their goals related to energy programs, emerging technologies, and decarbonization. He previously worked as a lead researcher, covering topics such as energy efficiency, demand response, distributed energy resource technologies, and EVs. His expertise includes energy efficiency portfolio and program design, potential studies, technical reference manuals, cost-effectiveness testing, and benchmarking and financing programs. Barend has nearly 10 years of professional experience in engineering, policy, and energy transitioning planning from his positions at Energy Efficiency Alberta, the Pembina Institute, and Shell. He is also a fellow of the Energy Futures Lab. Barend earned a master of sustainable energy technology from the Delft University of Technology and is a Waterloo engineering graduate.
Barend Dronkers
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3 standout technologies from the Summer 2023 tech roundup
Twice a year, we host a webinar to share the latest developments in efficiency, load management, and decarbonization technologies. We chose three technologies or concepts from the Summer 2023 tech roundup to highlight here, along with three to keep an eye on.
Virtual power plants: How the E Source DER Insights Center gives utilities valuable insights into affordable solutions
Virtual power plants (VPPs) are making a comeback, but utilities often need complex software to coordinate and deploy these technologies. In this blog post, we explore how the E Source DER Insights Center can help utilities build VPPs and design effective distributed energy resource (DER) programs.
Customers always come first: Why it’s important for utilities to fund and deliver DSM programs
Demand-side management (DSM) programs are one of the best things utility customers get from their utility. We sat down with Tom Lienhard, E Source executive consultant, for an exclusive interview about DSM programs and what utilities should be doing to keep them moving forward to benefit customers.
3 innovative technologies that can benefit utilities and their customers
We recently discussed 10 up-and-coming technologies and concepts as part of our Fall 2022 tech roundup webinar. Here’s a look at three of our favorites from the list: EV telematics, low-voltage heat pumps, and residential HVAC fault detection and diagnostics.
Highlights of the top utility technologies and trends of 2021
Each year, our Customer Energy Solutions team highlights the top 20 utility technologies and trends. In this blog post, we share a few of those techs and trends, including advancements in windows, distributed energy resource management systems, building electrification, and cost-effectiveness tests.