The European energy transition will become significantly more difficult and expensive if biomass is not given a full role. This is evident from a recent study by Chalmers University of Technology, published on 22 April 2025. Researchers show that excluding biomass from the energy mix could lead to an annual cost increase of 169 billion euros. The consequences are…
The European agricultural sector is highly dependent on imported, non-renewable fertilizers. This dependency makes food production vulnerable to supply chain disruptions and leads to rising costs. At the same time, the excessive use of fertilizers contributes to environmental problems such as water pollution, soil degradation and greenhouse gas emissions. The European project ReLEAF aims to develop…
Stricter sustainability criteria and new calculation methods force sector to review The European Union has taken an important step towards a more sustainable energy system with the introduction of RED III in 2023. The revised directive sets stricter requirements and introduces new methods for calculating renewable energy, according to a recent publication by the Central Bureau for…
While the majority of the world’s population is deeply concerned about climate change, many remain silent. Why? Because they think they are the only ones. This is according to a large-scale, global study by Oxford University and the United Nations, published in The Guardian. The study – the largest ever of its kind – surveyed more than…
Burning biomass for energy – it is the classic ‘low-value’ application. Anyone who is somewhat familiar with the world of bio-resources knows the mantra: use biomass as high-value as possible, for example as a raw material for chemicals, materials or biobased products. Energy production is considered a closing item; an inefficient way to utilise a versatile, often difficult to obtain raw material.…
On April 22, we celebrate Earth Day – a global event that brings together millions of people to reflect on our planet. Since 1970, this day has been a call for awareness and action. Whether it’s climate change, biodiversity, air pollution or water quality: Earth Day is the time to look at what we can do better…
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The fashion industry is known for its significant ecological footprint. To reduce this impact, an interdisciplinary team from the University of Groningen is focusing on an innovative alternative: clothing made from mycelium, the root network of fungi. Thanks to a jubilee grant of €100.000 from the Gratama Foundation, they can continue this promising research. A collaboration between science and…
The sustainability of the shipping sector is slowly gaining momentum. Although the maritime sector accounts for around three percent of global CO₂ emissions, the transition to sustainable fuels is lagging far behind other sectors. However, there are opportunities, especially in the use of biofuels. A new report from IEA Bioenergy shows that these fuels…
ChemistryNL is making €5 million available for public-private partnerships that contribute to a sustainable chemical sector. Project proposals can be submitted until 16 September 2025. The new funding round focuses on three themes: water quality and monitoring, carbon capture & utilisation (CCU), and bio-based feedstocks for circular materials. Each theme will be allocated one third of the total budget, with a…
On 11 April 2025, the government presented its vision to make the Netherlands a global leader in biotechnological innovation and application by 2040. With targeted investments, low-regulation testbeds and a focus on social applications, the government wants to use biotechnology as a key technology for health, sustainability and economic growth. Biotechnology offers solutions for urgent social…
A look at new research examining biohubs – and why they’re essential for a sustainable future. The energy transition is driving the need for sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels. Biomass plays an important role in this, but to efficiently collect, process and distribute these resources, a smart logistics approach is needed.…
Materiom, an organization that uses data and AI to support scientists, manufacturers and designers in the development of bio-based materials, has announced the launch of Materiom AI: an innovative chatbot that helps users discover biopolymers, ingredients and additives for sustainable materials development. The chatbot, powered by Google’s Gemini technology, is designed to simplify the…
New scientific research shows how plant residues can contribute to sustainable energy and raw materials On April 3, 2025, a groundbreaking study on agricultural waste, conducted by researchers Mihai Brebu, Daniela Ioniță, and Elena Stoleru, was published in the scientific journal Scientific Reports. The article, titled “Thermal behavior and conversion of agriculture biomass residues by torrefaction and…
The Dutch Sustainable Energy Association (NVDE) sees manure fermentation as a promising solution to the nitrogen problem that the Netherlands is currently facing. According to recent research by Common Futures, manure fermentation can reduce the nitrogen in agriculture by ten million kilos by 2030, which amounts to a quarter of the required nitrogen reduction. This development can help…
In 2024, the Dutch transport sector achieved an impressive increase in the use of renewable energy. According to the Dutch Emissions Authority (NEa), the share of renewable energy increased by no less than 50% compared to 2023. This development contributes significantly to the reduction of CO₂ emissions from transport fuels and marks an important step towards a more sustainable…
Until recently, data centers were largely background infrastructure—quietly plugging away enabling us to send emails, work online and stream our favorite shows. That all changed in November 2022, when OpenAI released the first iteration of ChatGPT. Since then, so-called 'hyperscalers', those investing in large-scale data centers such as Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet, have been…
As of today, 1 April 2025, the new EKOO-Biobased Circular (EKOO-BBC) subsidy scheme has been opened. This scheme, part of the Biobased Circular Growth Fund Programme, makes €2,5 million available for consortia that want to investigate the industrial and economic feasibility of innovative production and recycling processes and applications of biopolyesters. The subsidy is aimed at partnerships between companies and research organisations that…
