This year marks the 30th anniversary of our UV portfolio. We’re looking back at exciting developments, proud highlights, and—yes—even a few less successful initiatives, like the Naïade.
From supplying the world’s largest UV drinking water treatment plant to designing a self-sustaining, solar-powered purification system—at Nedap, we foster entrepreneurship and initiative. We’re passionate and driven to make a sustainable impact.
This mindset helped position Nedap as a leading supplier in UV lamp driver technology. Not every project turned out to be a commercial success, but each one brought valuable lessons.
Tonnie Telgenhof Oude Koehorst, who has been with Nedap for over forty years, looks back.
Nedap has always had a strong position as specialist in the development of electronics.
In 1992 UV technology gained momentum in water treatment. Historically, chlorination was the most used technology to treat water. Following several outbreaks of waterborne diseases caused by highly chlorine-resistant microbes in the USA in 1993, UV technology obtained global recognition. UV technology proved effective against Legionella and even highly chlorine-resistant microbes such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium.
“I’ve always been able to do my own thing. To me, that feels like entrepreneurship within Nedap—and I’m proud of that.”
About Tonnie Telgenhof Oude Koehorst
- Has been working at Nedap since 1983; started as a 24-year-old Engineering graduate.
- Feels at home operating at the intersection of technology and commerce.
- Co-initiator and driving force behind Naïade.
- Plays bass in big bands and soul bands.
- Still drives the same Renault 17 Gordini he drove when he started at Nedap in 1983.
In 1995, Nedap produced its first lamp driver for 3kW medium pressure UV lamps –. The electronic driver replaced the electromagnetic ballast technology, that was the most used technology at its time. To this day, we continue to supply this driver in its third generation.
From the start of the millennium Nedap gradually changed its strategy and decided to stop designing and producing customer-specific products. Instead, it started developing its own product portfolio. This made the UV solutions scalable and created opportunities for further growth.
A big achievement was the supply of our UV lamp drivers to world’s largest UV drink water treatment plant near New York, producing 8.3 billion liter of water per day.
“After visiting the Catskill-Delaware Water Ultraviolet Disinfection Facility, where a technical room was filled with Nedap drivers, I couldn’t stop smiling the entire flight back to the Netherlands.”
At the time, Nedap already had in-house expertise in UV light, solar energy, electronics, and power supplies. The team began thinking: how else could this technology be used to create meaningful impact?
That question sparked the initial idea for Naïade. “We were at a reception,” Tonnie recalls with a grin, “with a glass of wine, a glass of beer, and a glass of technology. And someone said: what if you could use solar power to make drinking water? For remote villages in Africa or India.” That conversation led to the development of a robust, portable water purification system, simple, autonomous, and reliable. Dirty water went in at the top; safe, bacteria-free drinking water came out at the bottom. “ We had an idea, we believed in it and we started building – even before we had a business plan.”
Naïade was technically well thought-out. Water passed through a pre-filter and UV unit, powered by a solar panel and standard car battery. “One unit can provide clean drinking water to around 400 children a day. If you do the math over ten years, that comes out to about one to one-and-a-half euros per child per year. That’s nothing.”
Reactions at trade shows and among customers were enthusiastic. More than a thousand systems were built and delivered, including to China, India, and Rwanda. In Rwanda, the system led to a 40% increase in school attendance. “Those children used to suffer from chronic diarrhea. Not anymore.”
Implementation was not always smooth. Cables were chewed through by monkeys, components disappeared, and solar panels turned up as roof covers. “We quickly learned that you always need someone on site—someone who knows the people, understands the system, maintains it, and genuinely takes ownership.”
A local partner organization in Rwanda made all the difference. “There are still about twenty units running there, supported by a local couple. And it works.”
Despite its potential, Naïade never evolved into a sustainable business model. “In many countries, water is free, or people simply collect it from rivers. The idea of paying for water isn’t part of daily life.” That made it challenging to introduce a product that required upfront investment, no matter how low the long-term costs. Introducing new technology into existing ecosystems also proved complex. Many non-profit organizations already had their own solutions and well-established networks.
“It’s important to understand that every region and organization works differently,” says Tonnie. “To make a real difference, you need strong local partnerships and people who truly believe in the solution.” In some regions, practical challenges such as logistics, regulations, and administrative processes slowed implementation. “You need someone on the ground who understands the local dynamics and can build lasting trust. That’s essential for long-term success.”
Naïade also provided valuable lessons within Nedap. The project showed that high quality technology alone is not enough. Local partnerships, education, and distribution are just as important.
Above all, Naïade taught Tonnie that idealism and realism must go hand in hand. “We didn’t achieve financial success, but we did create impact, gained valuable experience and built a strong reputation; something that still benefits our UV solutions today.”
This insight also reflects one of Nedap’s key success factors: strong, long-term partnerships with customers—some of whom we’ve been working with for decades. We’re genuinely grateful for that trust. It makes all the difference.
Nedap will be exhibiting at the 2025 IOA World Conference, organised by the International Ozone Association. The conference will showcase leading edge technologies for Municipal water, Municipal wastewater and Industrial process applications with special attention to both Ozone and AOP Technologies.
From 11 to 14 March 2025, the international trade fair Aquatech Amsterdam took place at the RAI. With 20,483 visitors from 136 countries and 889 exhibitors, Aquatech is one of the world’s largest water technology events. For Nedap, it was the perfect opportunity to meet international partners and present new innovations.
Olga Kruidhof
One of the product highlights on the exhibition floor was the introduction of Nedap’s new Smart Ozone driver technology. Ozone is increasingly being used worldwide to effectively tackle micro-pollutants in water. With the Ozone driver, Nedap applies its proven smart driver technology to power ozone generators. The event provided a valuable moment to connect with potential customers and explore their specific needs.
Another key moment during Aquatech was the official launch of the UV Alliance on Wednesday, 12 March. On the Industrial Stage, the founding members presented the mission and vision of this new collaboration.
In this video, the members share why the alliance was founded and the impact they aim to create in advancing sustainable UV water treatment technologies.
Curious about our Ozone driver technology or the goals of the UV Alliance? Get in touch with us for more information.
Official launch of UV Alliance
On February 1, 2025, the UV Alliance was officially established. Nedap is one of the initiators of this center of expertise for UV technology. With this alliance, we aim to increase awareness of UV technology and contribute to a sustainable, future-proof water cycle.
Olga Kruidhof
The need for collaboration
All participating companies have been active in the UV market for decades. What led to the founding of the UV Alliance? Ton van Remmen, owner of Van Remmen UV Technology, explains:
“I am truly passionate about UV technology and the positive impact it can have. But I find it frustrating that so many myths exist in the market. There is a huge gap between what the market knows and what this technology is actually capable of. We need to close that gap. That’s why I took the initiative to establish the UV Alliance. I stepped out of my comfort zone and reached out to my competitor. At first, it felt a bit uncomfortable, but we quickly realized that we were facing the same challenges. From there, we joined forces. With the launch of the UV Alliance, we have reached a real milestone. Together, we can showcase the true impact of UV technology.”
Activities of the UV Center of expertise
For the Alliance, honest knowledge sharing about UV technology is a key foundation, but the collaboration goes beyond that. By sharing real-world examples, members aim to further professionalize the UV market. Currently, decisions about solutions often focus on UV technology itself, while that is not the right starting point. At its core, it’s about building strong business cases. By demonstrating potential savings in water usage, energy, and waste reduction, UV technology becomes relevant. It helps organizations build a sustainable water cycle.
Roadshow
The UV market is a highly specialized, knowledge-intensive niche. With the UV Alliance, members aim to make the UV story more accessible, even for water professionals who do not work with UV technology daily. To achieve this, the UV Alliance will take the stage at several international water events in the coming months. One such event is Aquatech Amsterdam, where the UV Alliance will present on Wednesday, March 12, from 1:45 PM to 2:30 PM on the “Industrial Stage” in Hall 12.
Growth plans
The UV Alliance was founded with four core members but aims to expand by welcoming more UV-related companies. To facilitate this, a foundation has been established, which manages the UV Community. Foundation members organize events, develop in-depth knowledge articles, and maintain the digital platform: uv-alliance.com.
The four founding members of the UV Alliance are:
- Van Remmen UV Technology
- Nedap
- VGE B.V.
- Dissol GmbH
Nedap will participate in the 2025 RadTech UV&EB Conference, taking place on May 18-21, 2025 at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center in Detroit, Michigan, USA.
Nedap is committed to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). But what does this mean in practice? And what benefits does it offer our customers? In this article, we explain how our UV lamp driver technology contributes to the development of sustainable solutions.
Achieving sustainability goals is a key priority for water sector professionals, especially in the context of Scope 3 emissions and the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). For those specializing in UV treatment technologies, aligning with these targets may seem daunting. Reduce your ecological footprint with Nedap’s UV driver technology. Achieve sustainability goals without compromising on performance.
The SBTi methodology is designed to help businesses align their emissions reduction targets with climate science. It encourages companies to reduce their CO2 emissions in line with global efforts to limit warming to well below 2 degrees. Scope 3 emissions result from the value chain, including sold products. These emissions are often the most challenging to reduce. This is especially true for high-power electronics like UV technology used on an industrial scale.
Nedap’s commitment to reducing its Scope 3 emissions aligns with this framework. We commit to the SBTi economic intensity target by cutting emissions from the use of our products year-over-year per unit of economic value.
On an industrial scale, the operational phase of UV systems has the largest CO₂ impact over their lifecycle, driven by the energy required for continuous performance. It is crucial to optimize the duty cycle, the time a product is active. Energy consumption can be reduced through strategic portfolio choices and energy efficient components. Using smart functionality is another key factor. Managing these aspects helps improve efficiency, cut costs, and support sustainability goals.
Optimization 1: Strategic portfolio choices
Nedap makes strategic choices in selecting components for its drivers, aligning with its SBTi targets. These efficient components help lower energy use during the product’s lifecycle. Nedap’s solution is designed to optimize energy efficiency without compromising on performance. By integrating these drivers into your UV systems, you minimize environmental impact and reduce total cost of ownership.
Sustainability leaders are tasked with ensuring that products comply with strict environmental and electrical regulations. An important consideration is how electrical systems interact with the power grid. We often see systems that use electricity in a way that is not always best compatible with conventional power grids. This leads to additional energy losses in infrastructure such as transformers and power lines. By complying with standards for harmonic distortion and ensuring minimal energy loss, businesses can enhance both operational efficiency and sustainability. Nedap’s drivers not only help meet regulatory requirements but also align with industry best practices, providing a reliable and energy-efficient solution for the future.
Infographic: By using high-quality lamp drivers with high Power Factor (0,99) and low Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) of 5%, you can achieve up to 9% electrical energy savings.
Looking ahead, the integration of AI technology in the water sector will play a critical role in making UV systems even more efficient. In the future, Nedap’s smart driver platforms could for example be enhanced with AI systems that automatically respond to changing water quality or consumption patterns. These intelligent UV systems would be able to dim or adjust lamp output in real-time, optimizing energy use during periods of lower demand. This would allow businesses to reduce operational costs and further decrease their carbon footprint. While this technology is still evolving, it holds the potential to help companies not only meet their Scope 3 goals but also remain adaptive and competitive in a rapidly changing market.
“Reducing emissions doesn’t just benefit the environment; it also makes sound economic sense. By lowering the energy consumption of your UV systems, you can significantly reduce lifecycle costs. This presents an opportunity to balance performance with sustainability while enhancing a competitive edge in the market.”
Nedap’s UV driver technology is more than just an upgrade to your water treatment systems; it’s a vital tool in achieving Scope 3 emissions reductions. This technology aligns with the SBTi methodology and helps your company achieve sustainability goals. Improve energy efficiency, meet future regulations, and enjoy economic and environmental benefits. Start integrating these solutions today for a cleaner, greener future for your business and the planet.
Nedap will participate in the International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA) World Congress taking place September 7-10, 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal.
Join Nedap UV at the WEFTEC 2025 Exhibit! The 98th Annual Technical Exhibition & Conference will take place at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois USA.
Conference: September 27 – October 1, 2025
Exhibition: September 29 – October 1, 2025
Nedap will participate in the RadTech Europe Conference 2025, taking place from 27-29 October in Warsaw, Poland.
Meet Olga, marketing expert at Nedap for the past two years, and a member of the Sustainability Excellence team. Specializing in our UV lamp driver portfolio, Olga takes charge of both our internal and external communications. Let’s amplify the message on UV technology’s sustainable impact together.
For over 30 years, UV technology has proven to be very effective in water treatment. Resources like water and energy are becoming increasingly scarce. This makes Nedap’s UV driver portfolio very relevant. It facilitates integrators in designing energy-efficient UV systems. Together with our partners we explore how people and planet can profit from the power of UV technology. With existing disinfection and curing solutions, and in future applications. Together, we’re writing this story of sustainable impact. Through strategic alliances, we energize the UV industry.
“I like to work for a company that aims for a genuine and positive impact on planet, people and profit. By giving people autonomy in their work, shaping it yourself, Nedap has proven to be a very sustainable and good employer.”
Over the past two years, we have reshaped our marketing strategy. Our promise, “We power UV”, reflects our dedication to collaboration. Not just as a principle but as a practice. We see our customers as strategic partners, and work closely with lamp manufacturers to tackle technical challenges together.
By promoting the use of UV technology, we empower businesses to grow and innovate. Our series, “How Our Team Powers You,” showcases the diverse ways we contribute to our customers’ success across various disciplines.
We want to give a strong, powerful voice to UV technology. We believe that by aligning the story of UV, we can have more impact. Therefore, we are looking at ways to share best practises. If you are open for collaboration on marketing, please reach out and contact us.
