Dutch Science, Technology and Business on BIOMASS is strong.
Since long time a number of renowned institutes in the Netherlands work in the forefront of feed and food research whereas a large number of farmers and cultivators produce food and feed products that are exported to all places all over the world. This biobased feed and food economy is now extended with activities related to biomass for energy and non-food products. Biomass for heat and power and biomass for the production of chemicals. Many new partners are involved.
Energy Transition.
A couple of years ago it became clear that the energy system in the Netherlands should be drastically changed. The system was, and still is, most based on fossil feedstocks whereas it should be based on sustainable and renewable sources. So the Dutch government, supported by many stakeholders from the society, initiated the Energy Transition as a cooperation from all involved ministries and many participants from industry, knowledge infrastructure, agencies and NGO’s. A Taskforce and Platforms were installed and a number of transitions paths were developed. The transitions paths from the Platforms Biobased Raw Materials and New Gas are strong related to biomass whereas the transitions paths Sustainable Mobility (biofuels), Sustainable Electricity Supply (combustion, gasification, fermentation, digestion) and the ‘Green House as Energy Source’ have strong interactions with biomass. The Energy Transition will not be fully realized in due time. Time schedule is more directed some decades.
Biobased Raw Materials
The Platform for Biobased Raw Materials aims to replace 30% of the raw materials in the total energy supply of the Netherlands with biobased raw materials by the year 2030. During this process, the Platform assumes that the energy use in 2030 will be equal to that in 2000: 3000 PJ. In other words, energy savings are crucial to our vision. In addition, the Platform for Biobased Raw Materials assumes that most (60% to 80%) of the required biomass will have to be imported because not enough will be available in the Netherlands from waste and domestic production to meet the demand of 1000 PJ. Concepts of Biobased Raw Materials are documented in a number of publications.
New Gas Platform
Natural gas plays a major role in the Dutch economy, and the Netherlands holds a key position in the European gas market. This is because of its gas fields in Groningen and the vast branching infrastructure network that serves as a hub for northwestern Europe. Discussions within the society about sustainability, emissions of greenhouse gasses, supply-security and dependence on imports of raw materials have shown the necessity of a sustainable gas supply. The New Gas Platform focuses on the realization of this sustainable gas supply. Through cooperation between the market players, knowledge institutes, social organizations and the governments, the platform is taking the lead in creating new opportunities for the Netherlands as ‘gas land’. The platform focuses on the entire gas infrastructure: production, transport, processing and consumption. The goal is a clean, affordable, reliable and socially acceptable source of energy. The mission of the New Gas Platform is to create a framework based on trust and involvement so that parties on the Netherlands gas market participate in the transition to a sustainable future. This framework must invite and stimulate market participants to bring new products and services to the market and, thereby, transform the Netherlands into the most sustainable ‘gasland’ in Europe. Concepts of Biobased Raw Materials are documented in a number of publications.
Downloads:
Research & Development
The transition process is facilitated with substantial R&D programs. The programs are based on extensive market consultation and are approved by parliament. The R&D programs are coordinated by SenterNovem. The R&D programs address all aspects of technology development, from fundamental research via industrial research to market introduction.