More than 550 scientists have signed a letter to the European Commission warning of the deteriorating state of Europe's forests and calling for climate-smart forestry – including timber harvesting for bioenergy – to strengthen their resilience to global warming . Forests play an essential role in our…
Demand for biomass is only expected to grow in the coming years, whether for biomaterials or bioenergy, while there is only a limited amount of biomass that can be produced sustainably, says John Bell, pointing to a looming 'availability gap '. John Bell is director of 'Healthy Planet' at DG Research & Innovation of...
German paper manufacturer WEPA is introducing two new raw material innovations as part of the fiber concept within its sustainability strategy. Firstly, fibers extracted from recycled cardboard, which can be made into particularly soft and durable hygiene paper products through an innovative production process. Secondly, a raw material innovation based on Miscanthus, one of the most sustainable primary fibers in the world, which so far…
The German government is laying the foundation for sustainable use of biomass from forestry, agriculture and waste management. To this end, on October 6, the Ministry of Economy and Climate Protection, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of the Environment presented key points to ensure sustainable production and use of biomass in Germany that is consistent…
An old coal-fired power station in Nijmegen blew up in early October. Is there no other option for discarded coal-fired power stations, such as converting them into biomass power stations? The announced closure of sometimes brand new coal-fired power stations comes across as enormous capital destruction. Isn't there any other way? Can we repurpose coal-fired power stations? For example, by not letting them use coal, but biomass...
In addition to the geothermal heat branch, ECW also sells biomass to Ennatuurlijk. Heat company Ennatuurlijk also takes over the biomass activities of energy company ECW, owned by horticulturists in Middenmeer. Last month it was announced that Ennatuurlijk wants to take over the geothermal energy company from horticulturists in Middenmeer, ECW Geoholding. An explanation shows that ECW's biomass activities are also shifting to Ennatuurlijk as…
The Twence manure valorization plant was officially opened on Friday, October 7. Part of the regional pig manure surplus is processed here into new raw materials and energy. So 100% circular agriculture. In this way, Twence makes an important contribution to future-proof agriculture, solving the nitrogen problem and reducing CO2. This is how Twence helps the circular economy and energy transition…
In rural areas, green gas is the cheapest alternative to natural gas. This is the conclusion of CE Delft in a new research report. A related study by Ecorys also shows that many residents are positive about green gas. There is one problem: there is currently a shortage of sustainable gas. The Netherlands is moving away from natural gas. So much…
On Thursday, November 3, the Province of Zeeland and Rijkswaterstaat are organizing a webinar about the opportunities and possibilities of biobased applications in infrastructure. Biobased products are being discussed in more and more places and in projects. Rijkswaterstaat and the Province of Zeeland will also focus more on this in the coming years. In a number of projects, biobased products…
IEA Bioenergy: Task 42 Biorefinery in a circular economy The Global Biorefinery Status Report of IEA Bioenergy Task 42 (biorefinery) provides an overview of recent developments in the field of biorefinery. The report describes the current situation of biorefineries in a representative selection of countries: how many biorefineries are there, which types, which…
“The province of Groningen could be CO2035 negative by 2.” Marinus Tabak said this on Friday during a presentation at a meeting of the Commercial Club Groningen (CCG). The director of central asset management of the German energy giant RWE talked about the plans to make the Eemshaven location completely sustainable and turn it into an energy hub.…
The government and industry members of the Biofuture Platform Initiative and Campaign announced the publication of their Biofuture Statement affirming the essential role of bio-based fuels, chemicals and materials. The government and industry members of the Biofuture Platform Initiative and Campaign announced the publication of their Biofuture Statement, which…
Renewable energy has been a spearhead in Dutch energy policy for years. Based on this spearhead, CBS has published an annual report on renewable energy in the Netherlands. The report describes the developments in renewable energy in 2021. The methods and sources used are also explained. The share of renewable energy in total energy consumption in 2021 was between…
In an age of fossil fuel dependence and rampant deforestation, bamboo is something of a miracle crop. It is used as an alternative to plastic and cotton. In fact, it is a superior building material, from furniture to houses. But bamboo is also an excellent natural source for energy production. It may not be as clean as solar or geothermal…
The new HORIZON Europe research project BIORECER, which started in September 2022, aims to ensure the best possible environmental performance and traceability of biological raw materials used by bio-based industries. BIORECER will also assess the impact of current and updated certification schemes on consumers and biobased industry stakeholders, together with their…
Enviva, the world's largest producer of sustainably produced woody biomass, has published a White Paper discussing how the future of biomass beyond fossil fuels can be unlocked for other industrial applications such as steel, cement, lime, chemicals and sustainable aviation fuel. Enviva's sustainably produced biomass is mainly used to generate energy and heat…
With skyrocketing prices for gas, oil and electricity, the EU is facing a major energy crisis this winter, and many citizens are at risk of not being able to heat their homes. Today's debate on the EU's heat supply looks at affordability, sustainability and renewability, but now more than ever, energy security is at the heart of...
