‘Seven years ago, when I graduated in Science, Business & Innovation, sustainability and renewable energy projects were not yet top of mind in many organisations. But they certainly were at Deloitte. In fact, being a subsidy advisor, I was in the position to combine my passion for technology and sustainability with applicability, even back then’, Michiel (29) says excitedly. ‘Our government promotes sustainability and innovation, and reserves funds for this goal. We advise our clients based on their business, assess whether they can apply for a subsidy, help them with their application, and support the entire process. That means we are at the front of new developments in the market – whether it’s new technologies or new laws and regulations. That’s awesome.’

On the roof of the data centre
For instance, Michiel was involved in the NortH2-project. ‘Hydrogen will be key if we want to achieve the global climate goals. The NortH2 Consortium, consisting of Equinor, Gasunie, Groningen Seaports, RWE and Shell Netherlands, is developing the biggest green hydrogen project in Europe. Deloitte is also involved, doing an extensive viability study’, Michiel explains. ‘Also, we recently supervised a subsidy application for a new plastic recycling plant that converts plastic into circular pyrolysis oil (aka bio-oil). These are building blocks for the chemical industry. The type of projects that we work on, and the time-span, varies. For instance, it takes two months from identification to receiving a subsidy for industrial heat pumps, but other huge European processes might take much more time. That means that I could be working for as many as fifteen different clients a week, which is very energizing. One moment I’m putting on my boots at a sludge processing company, and the next moment I’m on the roof of a data centre with the granthing authority.'

Working with other teams
'After all this time I’m still amazed at the amount of sustainability expertise within Deloitte, which ranges from strategy to finance and from technology to subsidy advice. When people think of Deloitte Tax & Legal, they usually picture tax lawyers. But if you’re passionate about sustainability and innovation, you’ve come to the right address, too! Our team consists of people with all kinds of backgrounds, from life science and mechanical engineering to business administration. That makes for a great mix and various angles. As a team, we’re very accessible people and open to new opinions. Our team members get all the trust and independence they need. For instance, in my first week at Deloitte I already joined an acquisition meeting’, Michiel smiles. ‘Also, we often work with other teams within Deloitte, which I enjoy very much. In order to encourage collaboration, a structure was recently set up to combine all types of sustainability expertises. We complement each other and as such, we add even more value for the client.’

Turning down the heater
‘For me, sustainability is a no-brainer’, Michiel say. ‘My parents already had solar panels installed ten years ago, so they were pioneers in that sense. We already sorted our waste before it became mandatory. And my partner and I recently bought a property from the 1930s, which we are turning into an energy-efficient home. In everything I do I’m aware of my impact on the environment. However, I really like traveling and wandering around the globe. That’s a paradox and a struggle. It’s hard to make up for your carbon footprint when you’re travelling to Ecuador. But in daily life you can make small changes. You can turn down the heater, eat vegan, and remove plugs from the sockets when you’re not using them. In itself, that won’t solve climate change though. What WILL save our planet, are innovation and technology. In the next few years we will be seeing huge developments. For instance, New York’s 5th Avenue went from horse carts to cars within 13 years, and the Netherlands went from cokes to gas within 10 years’ time. Currently we’re in the transition to a more sustainable world. In the next 20 years that will remain a hot topic. It’s very special to work in this field in this time of history.’