The European Commission's Joint Research Centre has published a new Science for Policy brief with up-to-date figures on the European bioeconomy. The publication shows the extent of its economic significance and the sources of growth. In 2023, biomass production and processing sectors together generated €863 billion in added value. That is…
(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 lineup after another. Because I'm in that bubble, meetings about energy and chemistry dominate my timeline. I attend some of them, like this week's annual Energy Day of the online magazine Energeia.
The upcoming elections promise to be exciting, not only politically, but especially for climate policy in the Netherlands. While the formation will undoubtedly revolve around purchasing power, migration, and security, an equally important issue lies beneath the surface: how do we proceed with our energy transition, and with biomass as a component of it?
And that's bad news for bioresources. Bioresources are a key component of the circular economy. The biological cycle is based on the principle that organic materials are reabsorbed into nature after use, so they can once again find their way as raw materials into building materials, plastics, fuel, and countless other products. It's no coincidence that...
Bio-based raw materials and sustainability are hot topics in the industry, but behind every innovative product lies a story of people with passion and dedication. Henri van Hemert and Rob van der Bruggen, working at Oerlemans Plastics, share their perspective on working with bio-based raw materials, the history of their company and their personal motivation. In this article, we bring their stories to life, so that not only the company activities and philosophy, but especially the people behind them become visible.
In the world of sustainable technologies, it is not only the innovations that make an impression, but especially the people behind them. Two of those people are Cees van Loon and Hans van Klink, the founders of Dutch Sustainable Development (DSD) and later also involved in Innovative Sustainable Technologies. In a sector that is often dominated by young start-ups, these 'pensionados' prove that experience, perseverance and idealism are at least as important as innovation.
While tensions are increasing worldwide and new priorities are being set, the sustainability of our energy and material supply remains more than necessary. For the reader of Biomass Facts this is a known fact, but how can we achieve this together. From the international cooperation within the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) and Mission Innovation I see from…
The last year the European petrochemical industry has entered into a downward spiral with almost weekly announcements of closures of production facilities. For me as a chemist working in the industry for more than 25 years, it is really fascinating to observe an industrial transformation in real time! The war in Ukraine and more recently…
Since the start of Biomassafeiten.nl in 2020, I have been involved with the platform, first in the development of the website, later also in creating and sharing content. During that period, I have increasingly delved into the world of biomass and bio-based raw materials. What I quickly noticed: in the regular media…
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.…
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…
“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 not being acted upon. We have just finished COP29 where we did not get much further than statements such as: “In connection with the climate threat, immediate…
Roger Blokland, co-founder of Relement, shares a fascinating insight into the development of his company and the growing role of biomass in the chemical industry in an interview with Biomassafeiten.nl. This interview shows the passion and dedication of these people, and shows how companies like Relement contribute to a more sustainable future, with biomass as an important raw material. Rogers' personal story is a good example of this.
Recently, Minister Hermans (KGG) responded to questions from the PvdD that negative emissions 'form an important part of the policy mix to be climate neutral in 2050'. The principles of the 'Roadmap Carbon Removal' that is being developed for this purpose, will be presented in the Climate Plan on 24 October. It seems that this Cabinet is working on the advice of the Scientific Climate Council to implement an active policy for the removal of carbon dioxide.
Bioenergy plays a pivotal role in the Dutch energy system, accounting for half of all renewable energy generation and nearly 10% of the country's total energy supply. Among the various feedstocks used, sustainable wood pellets are a crucial component, with a significant portion sourced from the US Southeast. Looking ahead, it's clear that this figure…
Many sectors see a role for bio-based materials in the energy and raw materials transition. However, there are still many uncertainties: about the extent to which the available amount of bio-raw materials will be sufficient for the growing demand in various sectors, what the role of bio-raw materials is in the transition, and about the environmental effects of the cultivation of non-food crops. Of…
More and more entrepreneurs are applying for subsidies for projects that contribute to a circular economy. The number of circular projects has never been as large as in 2021. The number increased by more than 30% compared to 2020. The projects mainly concern plastics, chemicals and building materials. This is evident from the annual RVO Circular Economy monitoring report.…
What about cutting down trees for woody biomass? There is regular discussion about this, especially on social media. Using facts, we explain that no trees are cut down specifically for woody biomass, but that woody biomass is a by-product of forest management and not a goal in itself. Woody biomass…
Bioenergy currently accounts for two-thirds of all global renewable energy consumption, including renewable electricity and renewable energy sources for heating, cooling and transport. Half of this consumption is in the form of traditional cooking and heating, mainly in developing countries. Although this practice is often inefficient or unsustainable, 2,4 billion people worldwide do not…
Recent monitoring by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) shows that more and more government subsidies are going to circular projects. The flow of money increased from €236 million in 2018 to €295 million in 2020. In the study, they looked at projects from 23 Dutch and European subsidy schemes, ranging from MIT and DEI to…
The Bioenergy Europe and European Pellet Council (EPC) report anticipates key statistics from the full 2022 report to be published in October, providing insight into the latest data on pellet production and consumption in Europe and beyond. It not only presents recent developments in pellet equipment and prices,…
It will be difficult to limit global warming. The latest UN climate report contains various scenarios in which CO2 is removed from the air to limit warming to 1,5 degrees. That can be done in different ways. Nu.nl explains it in this video.
Biomass is our oldest source of energy (after the sun) but has largely been replaced by fossil fuels. In recent decades there has been a revival of the use of biomass, with the aim of replacing fossil fuels with sources with lower net CO2 emissions. A bio boiler emits CO2 and yet a bio boiler is considered…
The climate goals require a rapid energy transition. Many people consider replacing their natural gas boiler with an alternative, such as a heat pump or a bio boiler. The government wants the transition to be feasible and affordable for everyone and strives for a climate policy that is cost-effective. But how do we keep the energy transition affordable? In which…
The use of biofuels is an important pillar of a sustainable economy and bioenergy is essential to achieve the climate objective of the Paris Treaty. There are a number of questions about how these sustainable sources can best be used that touch on the relationship between the fuel and the emissions to…
Climate goals must be imposed on all companies and consumers, not in isolation, writes Jan Paul van Soest. The climate lawsuit against Shell set tongues wagging. The court ruled that Shell must accelerate its global emissions reduction by 2030. Images of the cheering claimants went around the world. There are many similar cases going on worldwide, and they…
It's a question that causes a lot of confusion: why are carbon emissions from biomass electricity counted as zero in the electricity sector? Some people think this equals a 'black hole' in the carbon accounting of biomass, but that isn't true. The emissions are always counted, but in a slightly different way to most electricity…
Download the information letter about REDII and SDE in Dutch here Download the information letter about REDII and SDE in English here
On Friday, April 9, a letter was sent to the Informateur and the Group Chairs of VVD, D66, CDA, CU, PvdA, GL and SP with the call to anchor a number of points regarding biomass in the Coalition Agreement. The letter was signed by a broad coalition that is working on sensible and high-quality application of bio-raw materials (biomass). Of…
On this page you will find the public advisory reports of the advisory committee (ADBE).
The EU28 produced almost 2019 million tonnes of wood pellets in 18, representing a growth of 5 percent compared to 2018. Across the EU, the main source of raw materials is wood processing residues, making pellets a “true example of resource efficiency and circularity” according to one new report from Bioenergy Europe.
This campaign is now really starting with the online launch of the website www.biomassafeiten.nl. Here you can find information about the various bio-raw materials, the companies that work in them, the knowledge institutes that are busy on a daily basis with the development of new applications and all the great things about the use of bio-raw materials in industry.
Download the original document 'CBS Netherlands European Metric 2019' here
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Sorry, we are still gathering new facts on this topic and will post something under this category soon. If you have information that you think we should post, please send it to: info@biomassafeiten.nl
Climate policy By 2030, CO2 emissions in Europe must be reduced by 55 percent, instead of the previously agreed 40 percent. The European Commission wants to show that the crisis does not stand in the way of climate ambitions.
Download the 'PBE Annual Report 2019' here
Download the study 'Influence of tightening emission requirements on the investment and operating costs of biomass boilers' here
Download the report 'A green criterion for economic stimulus measures' here
Download the policy study 'Availability and application options of sustainable biomass' here
Download the report 'Heat from natural gas or from biomass?'
In this position paper, the NVDE outlines the adverse effects of the PAS ruling for the energy transition and offers concrete suggestions for how the sustainable energy sector can contribute to solving the nitrogen problem.
Download the roadmap 'Biomass Cascading & Maximum reuse of carbon from biomass' here
Biomass Cascading Roadmap & Maximum reuse of carbon from biomass
Download the document 'CE Delft RHDHV Bio-Scope – Availability and applications of sustainable biomass' hereDownload
Download the report 'Heat from natural gas or from biomass?'
Download the report 'Potential of local biomass and green gas input locations' here
Download the report 'Renewable energy in the Netherlands 2018' here
Use of Woody Biomass for Energy Generation
Download the report 'CO2 balances green gas chains' here
Annual report 2019 and mid-term evaluation
Download the report 'Costs and effects of options for national air policy' here
Download the 'particulate matter' report here
A large-scale switch from natural gas as an energy source in the built environment to sustainable heat sources is indispensable to achieve the Dutch climate objectives.
Everything you wanted to know about biomass but never dared to ask.
Download the report 'White Paper Biomass 2018' here
Download the report 'Potential small-scale sustainable heating techniques for existing rental properties' here
Download the report 'Possibilities for reuse of wood ash as fertilizer: application options' here
Download the report 'Biomass in the energy transition' here
Download the report 'Reuse possibilities of Wood Ash: application methods' here
Download the report 'Effects of private wood burning on local air quality' here
Download the report here: 'From central heating boiler to sustainable heat'
Download the report here: 'Making the industry more sustainable – customization or ready-made?'
Biomass is one of the main ingredients of the future circular economy, which is fueled by renewable energy and biobased raw materials. Biobased gas plays an important role in this, because it is both a biobased raw material for chemistry and a renewable fuel.
Download the report 'Renewable energy in the Netherlands 2016' here
Download the final report here: 'Sustainability of heat supply'
Download the report 'Opportunities for emission reduction with wood-burning stoves' here
Download the report 'Inventory of market applications of biomass boilers and bio-CHP' here
Download the report 'National Energy Outlook 2016' here
Download the report 'Renewable energy in the Netherlands 2015' here
Main points from four years of advice by the council for the living environment and infrastructure
Download the report 'Heat supply chain emissions' here
Since 2015, more than 400.000 hectares of tropical forest have been FSC certified in Suriname. To bring supply and demand together, a European FSC trade mission was organized at the end of 2015 with 17 timber importers.
Download the progress report 'Energy from renewable sources in the Netherlands 2013 – 2014' here
Strategic vision for the use of biomass towards 2030.
Download the report 'National Energy Outlook 2015' here
Key data about sustainable energy generation in companies by burning biomass.
Download the report 'Method description NEV 2015: economic indicators energy supply' here
Download the report 'Renewable energy in the Netherlands 2014' here
In this annual report Renewable Energy in the Netherlands 2014, CBS presents developments in the field of renewable energy for heat, electricity and transport.
Download the report of the round table 'Sustainable energy and cultural landscape' here
Download the survey 'Motivations of SDE+ subsidy applicants' here
Download the report 'Market Penetration and Emissions from Biomass Combustion' here
Download the report 'Key Data Forest and Wood in the Netherlands' here
In 2010, the area around the Loenderveensche Plas experienced nuisance with aquatic plants. Large quantities of washed-up plants were stinking on the shore and no one knew a solution for this. That required a plan: how do we get that large amount of aquatic plants out of the water and, above all, how do we transport and process them cost-efficiently and...
Download the study 'Heating in biomass: Drawing up guidelines and criteria to control heating in biomass' here
Download the report 'Biomass as raw material or as fuel' here
Download the report 'Biomass potential NBLH sector in 2020 and 2050' here
Download the analysis 'Economic radar of the biobased economy in the Netherlands'
Download the report 'Quality assurance of woody biomass for energy applications' here
Download the report 'The residual wood and used wood market in 2020' here
CO2 effects and technical developments.
Download the report here 'On the way to 32 PJ from forests, nature and landscape and the wood chain in 2020'
Download the report 'Emissions from wood burning by households' here
Download the report 'Sustainable energy supply in 2050, with today's knowledge' here
Download the study 'Perception of Alternative Raw Materials for the paper and cardboard industry' here
Download the report 'Wood consumption in households' here
Download the report 'Bioenergy, better naturally? Sustainable use of green raw materials'
