How do we build an electricity grid that can transport renewable energy across Europe?
During FTI Mechelen, Etch invites visitors to explore some of the technologies and choices shaping the electricity grid of the future. Meet Etch Director Dirk Van Hertem during Expeditie NEXT and discover our interactive HVDC demo at the expo.
Meet Etch at Expeditie NEXT
Saturday 24 October | 17:00–17:45
How much energy does your AI assistant use in one hour?
How much electricity does it take to use an AI assistant for an hour? And how can we make sure our electricity grid can keep up with growing demand?
During this session at Expeditie NEXT, Etch Director Dirk Van Hertem will explain how AI assistants and data centres use electricity, how this affects our energy system, and what it takes to keep the electricity grid reliable as electricity demand continues to grow.
Expeditie NEXT is a science and technology festival for curious minds of all ages, with workshops, experiments, demonstrations and talks about science, technology and the world of tomorrow.
Become Europe's Grid Planner
20 October - 7 November | FTI Mechelen expo
Step into the role of a grid planner and help design Europe's future electricity grid.
Renewable electricity increasingly needs to travel over longer distances. That means making choices about how electricity is transported and which technologies are best suited to different situations.
In Etch's interactive HVDC demo, you will face different scenarios and decide how to connect the grid.
Choose between:
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AC or DC
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Overhead line or underground cable
Your choices affect several factors:
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Cost
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Efficiency
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Environmental impact
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Grid resilience
Can you find the right solution for each scenario and help build a future-proof European electricity grid?
What is HVDC?
High-voltage direct current (HVDC) is a technology used to transport large amounts of electricity over long distances. It can play an important role in connecting renewable energy sources and strengthening Europe's electricity grid.
At the Etch demo, you can explore some of the choices involved in planning these connections and see how different technologies perform under different conditions.
Visit Etch at FTI Mechelen
📅 24–25 October 2026
📍 Nekkerhal, Mechelen
Come and discover how research, technology and infrastructure come together to shape the electricity grid of tomorrow.