“Will anything come of it?” is the first reaction that makes you sigh when you see how much is being discussed in various international bodies about sustainability, but no action is being taken. We have just completed COP29, where we did not get much further than statements such as: “Immediate action is needed in connection with the climate threat”, but in terms of concretisation we do not get any further than that the storage of sustainable energy must be accelerated and that compensation has been agreed for damage suffered in developing countries.
There are bright spots, however, both from the side of companies and the government. Companies that invest and governments that implement policy. Of course, it has to go faster, but steps are being taken: for us in the Netherlands, the European regulations, such as RED 3 with the enhanced sustainable energy obligation, and also the ETS1 and ETS2, are the most leading, with which companies in Europe are forced to reduce their direct emissions and the emissions of the fuels they supply. For the aviation sector, this will already come into play in 2025, when it will be mandatory to blend 2% Sustainable Aviation Fuels, increasing to 6% in 2030. These obligations will play an increasingly important role in the coming decades and must lead to zero emissions in 2050 and 2042 respectively. Companies will have to make major investments for this, as the Draghi report also shows.
Outside Europe, plans are also being made to accelerate the sustainability and application of renewable raw materials. At the recent joint meeting of the G20 countries, together with the Clean Energy Ministerial and Mission Innovation in Brazil, agreements were made on accelerating the development and application of bio-based raw materials. The Integrated Biorefineries Mission and the Biofuture Initiative/Campaign jointly organised workshops to explore the approach around biomass availability, Carbon Accounting and the application of green carbon in the chemical sector. The results were combined with other sustainable fuels such as hydrogen and e-fuels in a CEM statement on Future Fuels[1]. Nine countries, including the Netherlands, are participating and the precise agreements can be read in the appendix (see reference in the footnote). It concerns increasing both the consumption and production of sustainable fuels, as well as trade and proper carbon accounting.
An innovation mission to India in October on the theme of bioenergy, biofuels and biorefinery showed that in that country they also strive for an accelerated introduction of renewable energy. For example, they want a mandate of 20% biofuels; mainly bioethanol, but also production of biogas for cooking and electricity production[2]. Not only stimulating policies, but also an active industry shows that the scaling up and acceleration are being taken in hand worldwide; the company Praj is developing advanced conversion technology for both 1G and 2G bioethanol production in Pune, and a 2G plant is now being set up in Haryana[3] launched and three more will be added in India. In Brazil we see the same, where the company Raizen[4] the first 2G bioethanol plant and plans to build four more in the next five years. In addition to advanced bioethanol production, both countries are also active in bioplastics (e.g. Braskem in Brazil) and in various chemicals such as Godavari Biorefineries[5] in India. The missions to both India and Brazil have shown that there are opportunities for Dutch SMEs and startups to work with these companies and enter into their technological partnership.
There is a gigantic transition ahead of us, in which society and industry must go from a linear fossil structure to circular and renewable. We know it, but we still do too little.
Don't wait, but seize opportunities now, it is important to build a good starting position for the future. Various companies are taking the lead and by seeking the right international partners we can accelerate the development and applications. None of us can afford to have to say later, I didn't try.
If you would also like to collaborate internationally in the field of biorefinery, please contact: Kees.Kwant@RVO.nl
[1] Action Plan to Accelerate Future Fuels Launched at CEM15 | Clean Energy Ministerial
[2] National Bio Energy Program | MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY | India
[3] 2G Ethanol – Praj Industries
[4] E2G – Second Generation Ethanol – Raízen RI
About the author
Kees Kwant
Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO)
Kees Kwant is a Senior Expert on Bioenergy and Circular Biobased Economy at the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), a department of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate in the Netherlands. He primarily links researchers and industry to help develop the circular biobased economy and bioenergy in the Netherlands and abroad. He is Member CEM Biofuture Initiative and leads the Mission Innovation Mission Integrated Biorefineries as Mission Director.
