Chemistry and Energy must work together more
(especially in the field of bio-based raw materials) There are a lot of conferences happening in the Netherlands these days. Open LinkedIn and you'll see one…
Read more
Biomass between ambition and reality: an exciting election for the climate
The upcoming elections promise to be exciting, not only politically, but especially for climate policy in the Netherlands. Where the…
International cooperation gives bio-based raw materials a boost
In early September, the annual Clean Energy Ministerial and Mission Innovation was held in Busan[1] in South Korea,…
US Department of Agriculture sees near-term recovery in EU residential and industrial wood pellet demand
Every year, the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service publishes Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) reports offering fact-based, data-rich updates on agricultural…
Circular economy ambitions are in danger of declining
And that's bad news for bio-based resources. Bio-based resources are an important part of the circular economy. The biological cycle is based...
Moving forward together in these turbulent times
As tensions rise globally and new priorities are set, the sustainability of our energy and material supply remains more…
Strong market, solid foundations and a platform that connects
This morning I was sitting with a cup of coffee in one hand and my phone in the other, writing an article…
Interpreting 'Value' in REDIII: Where BECCS Fits in the Biomass Cascade
As EU Member States press ahead with implementing the Renewable Energy Directive III (REDIII), they are required to apply the…
Towards a net zero and circular chemical industry – the pivotal role of biomethanol as a global sustainable commodity
The last year the European petrochemical industry has entered into a downward spiral with almost weekly announcements of closures of…
Biomass and imaging: time for nuance
Since the start of Biomassafeiten.nl in 2020, I have been involved with the platform, first in the development of the website,…
High quality, low quality?
Burning biomass for energy – it is the classic ‘low-value’ application. Anyone who is somewhat familiar with the world of bio-resources…
Bio-based Bytes: How Biomass can help Power the AI Revolution
Until recently, data centers were largely background infrastructure—quietly plugging away enabling us to send emails, work online and stream our…
The future of bio-based raw materials
This morning I was sitting with a cup of coffee in one hand and my phone in the other, writing an article…
Carrots, sticks and Sustainable Aviation Fuel
The aviation sector may account for a relatively small proportion of global carbon emissions (2.5%), but it remains one of…
Forest is more than just nature, but that has been forgotten
When carrying out work in nature reserves, this must be done within the framework of the Nature Conservation Act. To achieve this…
The Hague impasse puts Green Gas in trouble
We hear and read daily that the Cabinet is not always on the same page. It is becoming increasingly clear that this…
A passionate start to 2025: the anniversary year of Biomass Facts
In this first full week of the new year I would like to wish everyone the very best for 2025! I hope…
Sustainability internationally
“Will anything come of it?” is the first reaction that makes you sigh when you see how much there is in various…
Save the production forest!
Staatsbosbeheer is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. In this context, Staatsbosbeheer's forests are featured in a number of autumn debates this year...
Europe's sustainable future without the US
The recent re-election of Donald Trump as President of the United States has caused quite a stir, especially in the…
Let the children come to Me: Open wide the gate of the emissions trading system
Suffer the little children to come unto me, all, all the little children… Almost everyone who has ever been in…
Bioenergy and CCS: Two minuses equals a plus?
Recently, Minister Hermans (KGG) responded to questions from the PvdD by saying that negative emissions 'form an important part of the policy mix…
Wood pellets continue to play a crucial role in keeping US Southern forests healthy, thriving, and growing
Bioenergy plays a pivotal role in the Dutch energy system, accounting for half of all renewable energy generation and nearly…
The government's climate plans: a step in the right direction for a green future
Yesterday, on Budget Day, the new government program was presented, and I cannot help but be enthusiastic about the direction that…
If it ain't broke, don't fix it – authorities should tread lightly when intervening in well-functioning markets
The third iteration of the Renewable Energy Directive (REDIII) found its way onto the statute book last year, but the…
A day in the woods
How wonderful it is to feel like a student again at the age of fifty. I had that experience this spring at…
cucumber time
Summer has finally arrived, which means the well-deserved holiday period and therefore a slightly different blog from me. We…
Climate Council report sheds new light on biogenic CO₂
On July 10, the Scientific Climate Council (WKR) published its advice 'Clearing the air?'. The core of the report is that the Netherlands…
What's in the next EU Commission's (bio) in-tray?
The European elections have now concluded and with the mood of Europe's voters now gauged attention turns to the new…
Bio raw materials internationally anchored
As a small country, the Netherlands is dependent on the import of scarce (bio) raw materials, but is also looking for systems with which we…
Don't throw away your old shoes until the new ones fit you well
Those damn PBL people. The most recent exploration towards a climate-neutral society in 2050, from our very own Planning Bureau for the…
Wood chips for a more beautiful Netherlands
At the end of May we had our annual audit for BetterBiomass (NTA8080). Although our organization is certified for various systems and has relevant…
Bio-based technologies can make a big contribution to an affordable and competitive Green Deal
This week, voters in the EU will be heading to the polls and electing a new European Parliament. As the…
Discouragement of importing woody bio-raw materials: Y/N
Writing a blog is a bit like a battle against a steadily ticking clock. As the deadline approaches, a…
Also treat green gas as a sustainable alternative for tax purposes
The tax on natural gas is going up. The outgoing government is imposing a heavy energy tax on large-scale consumers in particular. In the Spring Memorandum…
US Department of Energy Estimates 1 Billion Tons of Sustainable Biomass Available – the EU may need to update their own conclusions
Last month, the US Department of Energy (DOE) updated its cornerstone study on the availability of sustainable biomass concluding “More…
How many demands do you want to make on the lifeboat when the ship starts to sink?
How many demands do you want to make on the lifeboat when the ship starts to sink? In the recent political debate about…
Columbus' egg
After the Easter weekend it is very appropriate to tell a story about an egg and I thought about…
How much biomass is there?
At the end of last year I took part in a working visit to a few interesting bio boilers in Amersfoort. Then the question came...
Teunissen's amendment deserves nuance
On Tuesday, March 5, the amendment by Member Teunissen (2-36197: ban on biomass from forests) was passed in the House of Representatives.
Why the EU considers biomass a zero-emissions energy source and why it makes sense
The climate policy of the European Union (EU) is among some of the most well-developed in the world. However, with…
What can the bio-based industries expect from the next EU Commission?
In June, EU citizens will head to the polls in elections for the European Parliament. These elections mark the end…
Cutting down a tree hurts
Europe, with the Netherlands as an example, has been a leader for 50 years when it comes to raw materials and new or better applications...
New cabinet must get started with biomass
Not every politician embraces the bioenergy phenomenon. He or she avoids the subject or is outright against it. One fears...
EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) for Biocommodities: The fight against deforestation
In the ongoing fight against climate change, the European Union recently introduced the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which will be effective on 30…
Biomass as a high-quality raw material for sustainable industrial applications
At the beginning of December I had the opportunity to spend two days at the European Biocarbon Summit in Amsterdam with the theme “Helping heavy industry…
A new cabinet cannot ignore biomass
Europe, with the Netherlands as an example, has been a leader for 50 years when it comes to raw materials and new or better applications...
The clock is ticking: COP28 should be an opportunity to champion Bioenergy Carbon Capture and Storage
Last week, ministers from the 27 EU member states approved the updated Renewable Energy Directive (REDIII). Four weeks before, the…
Forest: nature or woodland?
Europe, with the Netherlands as an example, has been a leader for 50 years when it comes to raw materials and new or better applications...
Happy with organic?
Europe, with the Netherlands as an example, has been a leader for 50 years when it comes to raw materials and new or better applications...
The biggest risk to climate targets isn't using too much biomass, it's using too little
Last week, ministers from the 27 EU member states approved the updated Renewable Energy Directive (REDIII). Four weeks before, the…
The Promise and Challenges of Biomass in the Netherlands
The Netherlands faces an important challenge: the transition to sustainable applications and energy sources to combat climate change and the dependence...
Biomass: media can do a better job
On Saturday, March 4, investigative journalists Karlijn Kuijpers and Hanneke Chin-A-Fo published an article in the investigative series…
An orange-green energy sector to be proud of
Sustainable energy from our own soil appears to be not only cleaner, but also more reliable and affordable than foreign sources, says Marc Londo.…
Focus on sustainability hinders climate action
Author: Sible Schöne The focus on a sustainable energy supply hinders the effective approach to the climate problem, believes Sible Schöne. "We…
Opinion: Activism against biomass could lead to more climate change
Bending scientific insights or selectively shopping in scientific findings is harmful to society. That is the reaction of five…
'CLIMATE-CONSCIOUS LIVING IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE A VALUE'
There are signals that a social tipping point for climate policy is approaching, according to Reint Jan Renes, lecturer in psychology. Sustainable living…
The judge vs. Shell? Let the community decide on climate
Climate goals must be imposed on all companies and consumers, not in isolation, writes Jan Paul van Soest. The climate lawsuit against…
More than enough wood in the European forest
by Gert-Jan Nabuurs, Bas Lerink and Mart-Jan Schelhaas “Lockdown also calls for cooldown” Since the mid-2020, timber prices have risen…
“Alone you can sometimes go faster, but together you go much further”
“Alone you can sometimes go faster, but together you can go much further. That's an old saying from Africa where I…
“In primary school I once walked with my neighbor, who worked for Staatsbosbeheer”
“In primary school I once walked with my neighbor, who worked for Staatsbosbeheer. I can now be one of…
“Why would you grow hemp? Because a crust made from hemp chips helps against weeds!”
“Why would you grow hemp? Because a crust made from hemp chips helps against weeds! Why should you grow nettles? Because the…
“We all know that we have to change and that starts with yourself”
“We all know we have to change. But that starts with yourself, otherwise nothing will happen. In my previous…
“I am curious, I want to know how things work”
“I'm curious, I want to know how things work. Very complicated projects with many factors, ecology and…
“The sugar beet is really a super crop. We don't just extract sugar, we use absolutely everything.”
“The sugar beet is really a super crop. We don't just extract sugar, we use absolutely everything. From the foliage…
What role can biomass play in the energy transition?
By 'biomass' we mean all residual flows of biological origin - largely from agriculture, forestry, and park maintenance...
Gas-free or (green) gas? The positive properties of biogas
Within three decades, the aim is for almost the entire energy supply in the Netherlands to be sustainable. No fossil fuels. No…
Reuse of residual flows... let's show courage more often!
You read about it almost every day in the various media. The Netherlands and Europe are committed to a climate-neutral, circular society...
“If you let green waste rot, methane gas and CO2 are released. You want to prevent that, so you find a useful use for it.”
“If you let green waste rot, methane gas and CO2 are released. You want to prevent that, so you look…
“My brother has green fingers, I do the office side of our company.”
“My brother has green fingers, I do the office side of our company. The nice thing about it is that I…
“Manure is a problem, but it also offers opportunities”
“Manure is a problem, but it also offers opportunities. That is my motivation. Nowadays I help with the search for new…
“How are we going to reuse 500.000 tons of green residual flows from landscape management in a sustainable way?”
“How are we going to reuse 500.000 tons of green residual flows from landscape management in a sustainable way? That's a question I…
Without biomass, an energy agreement is unfeasible
What will the energy supply in the Netherlands look like in 2050? Is there still room for biomass, especially as a heat source,...
Idea from Noord4Bio taken up again: Research into bioplastic from sugars
Making plastic from sugars, through anaerobic fermentation and cheap carbohydrates. That will be the focus of a new three-year…
VNCI Podcast about bio raw materials
It took us 100 years to build the current chemical industry. For the next transition…
Biomass, that gives me energy
Europe, with the Netherlands as an example, has been a leader for 50 years when it comes to raw materials and new or better applications...
Now the companies
Innovation is also communication. We want to inspire entrepreneurs and share successes from the top sectors.
Conditions for a circular economy
Due to the lockdown and the associated decline in production, pollution and greenhouse gas emissions have…
Circular together only works if you speak the same language
You can only create a circular agro-food system through collaboration. A common language and methodology is a prerequisite for this.
The woody ladder for sustainable use of biomass
To organize my own thinking around hydrogen, I published the Hydrogen Ladder at the beginning of 2019. Where the sentiment around hydrogen is going…
Towards a Circular Biobased Europe
As the Horizon 2020 program comes to an end, we look ahead to Circular Biobased Europe: a new, more ambitious and comprehensive partnership for…
Stop rooting around in the earth's crust
It cannot be denied that our prosperity is largely due to fossil raw materials. Because without coal...
You can reuse residual products, just like nature does
Imagine a future in which colonies of bacteria produce chemicals sustainably and in which residual products from chemical processes...
Continue with biobased plastics!
Did you know that Henry Ford, the great inventor, was fascinated by the soybean? During the Great Depression he spent many…
Polyester yarns from rPET: high quality and durability go very well together
More than 10 years after Diolen's yarn spinning machines were stopped, new polyester yarns are rolling out of the 'spinning street' in Emmen.
Energy from biomass is very sustainable, as a nest egg
Wood, manure, whale oil and other biomass were once the primary energy sources for heat, light and food preparation. If we effectively…
