Rolf Heynen
Entrepreneur and author on energy transition
Rolf Heynen is not the most predictable storyteller of the sustainability narrative. School and books were not his interest in the past; he learned a trade and started working as an electrician in Eindhoven. Only afterwards did he pursue studies in electrical engineering and political science. In fifteen years he founded four sustainable enterprises, including Dutch New Energy Research and Sunergy. He serves as board member at Holland Solar, commissioner at Winst uit je Woning, and writes columns for national and international newspapers and trade publications. His presentations are not doom-and-gloom stories. Rolf puts the challenges into perspective and shows what is possible. His mission: to transform despair into hope, with practical steps toward a more sustainable future.
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Biography
From electrician to political scientist
Rolf Heynen (1979) had little interest in books at school but all the more passion for sports. This led him to learn a proper trade and work as an electrician in Eindhoven. After a few years, he missed his textbooks after all. He completed a degree in electrical engineering in Eindhoven and subsequently studied political science in Leiden. The technology and governance that have characterized his work ever since.
Four companies in fifteen years
Rolf founded the Noord-Holland Energy Cooperative (2008), Good! Events & Media (2012), Dutch New Energy Research (2013), and Sunergy (2024). All four focused on sustainability and accelerating the energy transition for both business and consumers. He doesn't write about entrepreneurship in this sector—he practices it.
Director and Commissioner
As a sustainability specialist, Rolf advises and inspires organisations in their business operations and guides them towards sustainable entrepreneurship. He is a board member at Holland Solar and a member of the Supervisory Board of Winst uit je Woning. These positions give him insight into what is really happening in the sector, including where there are friction points.
Author
In 2015 Shale Gas appeared in 1 hour and 43 minutes, in 2022 his hopeful book It Can Be Done and in 2026 Here Comes the Sun. He is currently working on GIF, together with toxicology professor Jacob de Boer, about the chemical substances we are exposed to daily.
Expertise
The energy transition as a historical phenomenon
Rolf places the current upheaval in a series: from the industrial revolution through coal, oil and gas to what is happening now. This line makes two things clear that disappear in everyday debate: that transitions always create disruption and always take longer than anticipated, and that this one is genuinely different in scale and necessity from the previous ones. It removes the panic from the conversation without diminishing the urgency.
Solar energy from within
As director at Holland Solar, founder of Sunergy and author of Hier komt de zon, Rolf knows the solar sector at the level of policy, market and technology simultaneously. He explains how solar energy became the cheapest source of electricity ever, what that means for the 2.5 million Dutch households with panels, and which issues, grid congestion foremost, are now decisive.
The raw materials transition
Where the energy transition has a clear direction, the raw materials side is considerably more complex: petrochemistry is embedded in more than ninety percent of what we use daily, while simultaneously we're mining the earth for metals that the energy transition itself requires. Rolf maps out the backgrounds and challenges, and sketches a roadmap towards biobased, non-toxic, and circular solutions.
Chemical Exposure and Health
Together with toxicology professor Jacob de Boer, Rolf works on POISON, exploring the tens to hundreds of harmful substances we are exposed to daily. Some of these have been banned for years yet are still found in our bodies. Where they come from, what they do, and how to limit your exposure. A topic that directly affects both organizations and individuals.
Themes
The energy transition in perspective
From the Industrial Revolution to 2050. This transition is unprecedented in scale, impact and necessity, but not the first that humanity has undergone.
Solar energy
The cheapest electricity source in human history and according to the IPCC the number one solution. How a panel of 1.6 m² gained such unprecedented impact.
The four major crises and their solutions
Climate, ecology, raw materials and population: how they largely emerged in one generation and how they can be solved in one generation.
The raw materials transition
More complex than the energy transition. On petrochemistry in over ninety percent of our daily products, and the roadmap towards a biobased, non-toxic and circular economy.
Toxic Substances and Health
Pesticides, heavy metals, phthalates, PFAS. Where they come from, what they do and how we stop exposure. The subject of his book with Jacob de Boer.
Transitions as a Recurring Phenomenon
Major changes cause unrest, but transitions have always been part of history. With historical examples, a framework and the path to the future.
Why Rolf
Entrepreneur, not a commentator
Four companies in fifteen years, plus board and supervisory board roles. What he speaks about, he has built himself, financed, or seen hit a wall.
Technology and Politics
Electrotechnics and political science, electrician and administrator. Rolf understands how a system works technically and why decision-making around it stalls. That makes his analysis complete where others' analysis falls short.
No doom and gloom story
He puts challenges into perspective and shows what is possible. The audience leaves with energy and concrete tools instead of a sense of guilt.
For lay people and specialists alike
Rolf scales his story to the room. He doesn't lose the professionals through oversimplification and doesn't leave the general audience behind in jargon.
Research as a foundation
With Dutch New Energy Research, he has access to the sector's data. His statements are based on data he has collected himself, not on yesterday's news.
Current topic in the pipeline
With GIF, his book with toxicology professor Jacob de Boer, he opens a theme that is hardly addressed on stage yet but touches everyone directly.
Talks
"Het kan dus wél"
30 to 90 minutesFour Crises, One Generation
Climate change, the ecological crisis, the raw materials crisis and population growth have largely spiralled out of control within a single generation. Rolf explains how they arose and why they are interconnected.
And the solutions that exist
Not a doomsday narrative but a journey from challenge to solution. Rolf shows what is already technically, economically and politically possible, and where it really gets stuck.
Going home with handles
The audience leaves with new energy, insight and concrete steps to get started themselves. Accessible to laypeople and sharp enough for specialists.
Here comes the sun
30 to 90 minutesThe cheapest electricity ever
Solar energy is the cheapest source of electricity in human history and according to the IPCC the most important solution. Rolf explains how it came to this.
What a panel of 1.6 m² starts
In the Netherlands, 2.5 million households and thousands of businesses have panels on their roofs, mostly without realizing their historical significance. Rolf makes that impact visible.
From Here to 2050
What the next phase of the energy transition demands, which technologies will break through, and which issues such as grid congestion, storage and policy determine the pace.
Poisoned
30 to 90 minutesHundreds of substances per day
We are exposed daily to dozens, if not hundreds of harmful chemicals. Pesticides, heavy metals, phthalates, PFAS and more.
Where do they come from and what do they do
Rolf explains how these substances end up in our environment and bodies, and why some that have been banned for a long time are still being detected.
How do we get rid of it
The roadmap towards a non-toxic economy, and what organizations and individuals can do themselves to limit exposure. Based on his book with toxicology professor Jacob de Boer.
Reviews
“Rolf is a pleasant and clear speaker. He tells his story/message in a way that both laypeople and specialists understand. A story with a clear message that we all must not and cannot miss! With Rolf, we took time to reflect on what we are currently doing in the world, the decisions we make or the things we have been doing on automatic pilot for decades. Change must come, focusing on sustainable solutions and above all cherishing our world. Thank you Rolf for this educational presentation!”
“After reading Rolf's book "Het kan dus wel" I was curious to learn more. Rolf has expertise in many different sustainability topics and discusses them in an engaging way. The knowledge I gained was valuable and I applied it to a sustainability project as part of the Advanced Management Program at Nyenrode. Both the book and a presentation by Rolf are truly highly recommended!”
“Rolf was a pleasant speaker. We were very satisfied both in the preparation phase and on location. Rolf arrived on time, was very professional in his communication, and delivered a compelling story that makes you think. The personal touch especially made it a successful presentation. Thank you again for your contribution to our event!”
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