The construction sector is one of the largest sources of CO2 emissions, but fortunately there are more and more sustainable alternatives available. Did you know that the use of concrete and steel in the construction of a house emits as much CO2 as twenty return flights between Amsterdam and New York? An important step towards sustainable construction is biobased insulation. This…
When carrying out work in nature reserves, these must be carried out within the framework of the Nature Conservation Act. To make this practically possible, a code of conduct has been drawn up. When working within the guidelines of this code of conduct, one remains within the framework. In December 2024, the administrative court ruled on a…
Aromatics are the backbone of many products we use every day, from adhesives and coatings to cleaning agents and agrochemicals. Traditionally, these substances are derived from petroleum, but renewable alternatives are gaining ground. Cashew Shell Biorefinery (CSBR), located at the Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Geleen, the Netherlands, is leading the way. The company has developed a technology to…
From residual flows to wind farms From 28 January 2025, entrepreneurs can once again submit applications for the Energy and Climate Innovation Demonstration (DEI+) subsidies. This year, the total budget has increased to €370 million, a significant increase compared to the €305 million in 2024. All ten themes within the scheme will be opened simultaneously, which immediately offers entrepreneurs the opportunity…
The Flemish bioeconomy is growing at a rapid pace, according to the most recent figures from the Flemish Bioeconomy Monitor, presented by Flemish Minister-President Matthias Diependaele. “The Flemish biobased economy contributes to more than one third of the total added value of our industry. With this, we even surpass neighbouring countries such as the Netherlands and Germany,” says Diependaele…
The CBE JU Info Day 2025 is scheduled for 3 April in Brussels. The event will showcase the recently announced €165 million funding opportunities, aimed at advancing a sustainable circular bioeconomy in Europe. This hybrid event will offer participants the opportunity to engage in in-depth sessions on 13 different funding topics.…
In a controversial move, US President Donald Trump has announced that the United States will once again withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement. At a rally at the Capital One Arena, Trump signed the official executive orders ratifying the departure. The move is seen as a powerful symbolic act in Trump’s bid to overhaul climate policy…
We hear and read daily that the Cabinet is not always on the same page. It is becoming increasingly clear that this division also hinders policy choices. Stimulation of green gas, produced from biogenic residual flows, is one of the first dossiers to fail as a result. Blending obligation For years, work has been done on a legally required percentage in…
Bioenergy Europe releases 2024 Landscape Report Bioenergy Europe has released its 2024 Landscape Report, a comprehensive analysis of the role of bioenergy in Europe’s transition to a net-zero economy by 2050. The report provides key insights for policymakers and market players, highlighting the contributions of bioenergy to decarbonisation, energy independence and economic competitiveness. “The 2024 Landscape Report…
IEA Bioenergy has published a report on the implementation of bioenergy in the Netherlands. This report is based on data from the World Energy Balances and Renewables Information 2024 of the International Energy Agency (IEA) and includes additional information from the IEA Bioenergy Executive Committee, national experts and sources such as FAOstat and Eurostat. The report provides a…
The new year has begun, and with the end of the holidays the question arises: what happens to the Christmas trees? Municipalities throughout the Netherlands are calling on their residents to help collect them and rewarding them in creative ways. Cleaning up Christmas trees together After the holidays, many municipalities collect Christmas trees. This…
Building materials can play a crucial role in the fight against climate change. A study published on Science.org found that completely replacing traditional building materials with carbon-storing materials could sequester up to 16,6 billion tons of CO2 annually. This is equivalent to about half of global CO2 emissions in 2021. This approach offers an opportunity to…
In 2024, for the first time, more than half of all electricity generated in the Netherlands came from renewable sources such as wind, sun and biomass. Despite this milestone, a significant portion of green energy was lost due to a lack of storage and network capacity. According to annual figures from Energieopwek.nl, 54% of the electricity in the Netherlands was…
In this first full week of the new year, I would like to wish everyone all the best for 2025! I hope you had a nice, warm holiday season, ended 2024 in a beautiful way, and started this new year full of fresh energy.
The government is taking an important step towards a circular economy by making plastics more sustainable. In a recent letter to the House of Representatives, Minister Hermans of Climate and Green Growth and State Secretary Jansen of Infrastructure and Water Management announced a bill for a circular plastic standard. This standard will oblige companies to use sustainable bio-based raw materials from 2027 onwards.
Statistics Netherlands (CBS), in collaboration with the Royal Association of the Dutch Chemical Industry (VNCI) and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), has conducted a pilot study into the use of biomass as a raw material. This study, based on data from the 2023 reporting year, marks an important step in monitoring the…
Good news for homeowners and companies who want to make their homes or buildings more sustainable: as of today, subsidies can once again be applied for via the Investment Subsidy for Sustainable Energy and Energy Conservation (ISDE). With an increased budget of 600 million euros, an increase of 40 million euros compared to last year, the scheme has been further expanded and made more accessible.…
