Seeing is understanding: making energy hubs and plans clear at a glance

Explaining an energy hub in a single image? With a clear visualisation, complex technology becomes understandable — for everyone. At GreenTrust, we work with municipalities, energy co-operatives, energy companies and local businesses on sustainable energy. It often starts with a good conversation — and the easiest way to start that conversation is with a clear drawing.

Energy hub visualisations — and other energy projects too

We use these visualisations not only for energy hubs, but also for other energy projects — from wind and solar to storage and grid connections. We apply them to energy hubs in particular because this is a very current issue for many regions and stakeholders.

Our visualisations make complex systems such as energy hubs easy to grasp at a glance. That helps people make choices sooner, bring others along, and work together with confidence.

“An energy hub is like a seesaw on a playground,” says Bojan Antonijević, visualisation specialist at GreenTrust. “On one side you have producers, on the other side users. The energy hub keeps the whole thing in balance.”

Why visualisations are useful for an energy hub

An energy hub is a smart connection between generation, storage and energy use. But explaining how those parts work together to different stakeholders — from policymakers to local residents, and from co-operatives to businesses — can be challenging. That’s why we draw it out. Energy hubs also often play a role in questions around grid congestion and smarter control of generation, storage and consumption.

Our visualisations:

make ideas tangible;
provide a clear overview for everyone involved;
speed up conversations between parties.

“With a drawing, you quickly see what’s possible, without having to dive straight into technical detail,” says Bojan. “You can see at a glance how generation, storage and consumption fit together.”

Example: visualising WindPark A2 Lage Rooijen

A concrete example is the drawing Bojan made for the expansion of Burgerwindpark A2 Lage Rooijen. In one overview, we show the plan, including:

the existing three wind turbines;
the planned expansion with two additional turbines;
battery storage and charging stations;
and surrounding business areas with potential for collaboration.

The visualisation is used in conversations with local businesses, energy co-operatives and energy partners. The benefit? You can immediately see what exists today and what could be possible next — without technical debates upfront. It also helps people work together towards good solutions. Step by step, you can see what’s already there, what may be added, and which choices are still open.

First clarity, then detail

Our visualisations are directional: not technical end products, but clear sketches that put key information in view at a glance and help get the conversation moving. They are useful at every stage of a project. Whether you are only just exploring the options for an energy hub, or you are already further along, they help communicate the idea quickly and clearly.

The drawing is topographically accurate, but it is not yet a final technical design. For example, cable routes and exact positions are worked out later. Bojan: “It’s not about technical details, but about the bigger picture. I see these visualisations as a starting point — they provide just enough insight to open up the conversation and think things through together. If you’re curious how this could work for your project, feel free to get in touch.”

From input to image

Good input is essential. Bojan works with up-to-date topographic data, GIS maps and spatial information. Together with colleagues from different disciplines — from development to construction and operations — he creates visualisations that match both the reality on the ground and the ambition of each project.

He starts with the basics: existing connections and the surrounding area. Then he looks at local constraints, such as available space and possible routes.

Sharpening what’s possible

For the electrical connections, he always works with colleagues to find the best solution. That way, the story is technically sound and still easy to follow.

It helps parties spot opportunities and bottlenecks sooner. That can lead to less waste and smarter local use of energy. The next step is to link the drawing to figures, such as generation and consumption per party. That creates an even clearer overview — not only visually, but also in substance.

Want to know more?

Would you like to map your energy hub or energy project visually too? Or are you curious how a drawing could help move your idea or plan forward? Get in touch with Bojan.