The innovative chemical company Relement is scaling up the production of biobased aromatics to a commercial level. Fueled by a recent capital injection of €5,4 million, the focus is shifting to the market introduction of Bio MPA, a sustainable alternative to fossil building blocks in coatings. The technology has now been technically validated in industrial paints, enabling its integration into mainstream…
Brussels is fully committed to a fossil-free future for European industry. The Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) announced in mid-January 2026 that €172 million will be allocated to 24 new innovation projects. This investment should pave the way for the large-scale production of sustainable materials, chemicals, and fuels on European soil.
The reliance on petroleum for aromatics production can be reduced by better utilizing lignin. Researcher Dian Santosa (University of Groningen) presented his research on the conversion of this complex wood polymer into chemical building blocks such as benzene, toluene, and xylene on January 13, 2026. Lignin gives strength to wood and plants, but its irregular…
The biomass supplied from Malaysia to energy company RWE for co-firing in Dutch power plants meets current legal sustainability requirements. This is the conclusion of the Netherlands Emissions Authority (NEa) in a research report published Thursday. According to the regulator, this provides no legal basis for terminating subsidies or taking enforcement action. The research was…
In a recently published report, IEA Bioenergy concludes that the integration of biomass and hydrogen plays a crucial role in achieving climate goals. The analysis, titled "Biomass and Hydrogen: Allies for Net Zero," argues that these two energy carriers should not be viewed as competitors, but as complementary technologies that enhance the efficiency of renewable energy.
Starting February 17, 2026, researchers and companies can apply for a total budget of nearly €7,7 million for innovation projects in the chemical sector. ChemistryNL has opened the 2026 PPP-I call for public-private partnerships focused on the transition to renewable raw materials and circular production processes. With this funding, ChemistryNL is encouraging research into solutions for the…
The chemical industry is exploring ways to replace fossil oil and gas with renewable sources. Last week, TNO presented new results from the Photons-to-Chemicals (P2C) project. This project uses sunlight directly to convert biogenic CO2 and green hydrogen into raw materials for the chemical industry. Biomass plays a key role in the transition to a…
The rules for supplying fuel to the Dutch transport sector have changed significantly. Effective January 1, 2026, the previous annual obligation has been replaced by the new "Fuel Transition Obligation." This is more than just a name change: for suppliers, it means a stricter focus on actual CO2 reduction and an extension of the rules to inland and maritime shipping. Companies…
