The overviews from the Dutch Sustainable Energy Association (NVDE) and BNNVARA show that biomass and biofuels are present in election manifestos in a new way. The focus is clearly shifting from low-grade bulk combustion for power and heat to higher-value applications such as green gas, sustainable aviation fuels, and the use of biofuels in industry and the chemical industry.
In early October 2025, the European Bioeconomy Alliance and the German nova Institute published a joint expert paper. Their message is clear: using arable crops like grains, sugar, and oilseeds for energy and materials offers Europe benefits in terms of food security, biodiversity, agriculture, and climate. The European Commission is working on a new strategy for…
A new study shows that paper mills in the United States can significantly reduce their emissions through three interrelated pathways: electrification of steam and process heat, more efficient dewatering before drying, and replacing natural gas with biogenic waste streams. According to the authors, net zero becomes a reality once the power mix becomes cleaner and mills…
Fortress Island Pampus has released a short film that shows in ten minutes how the island generates its own energy. The production was created by Strawberry Fields on behalf of GasTerra and is available online. The core is self-energy, living off what's available, with sun, wind, biomass, and hydrogen used in conjunction...
The European Commission published a review article with five key points on the role of biogas in the energy mix. The article aims to dispel misconceptions and demonstrates how biogas and biomethane can contribute to energy security and climate goals. According to the Commission, in 2023, biogas replaced six percent of natural gas consumption in the EU, representing approximately sixteen million...
Dimethyl ether, or DME for short, is increasingly appearing as a clean fuel for cooking, freight transport, and industry. It's a gas that liquefies at low pressure, making it similar in use to LPG. A new study in Chemical Engineering Science by Yang and colleagues examines the life cycle of water use and other environmental impacts of DME from…
ChemistryNL presented its investment agenda to the cabinet on October 1st. With the agenda in place, the parties are exploring which projects are ready for scaling up to 2030. This way, the requested two billion will serve as a concrete test for policy and the market. The agenda was presented in The Hague to the Directors General of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy and…
European Biomethane Week opened today in Brussels. The third edition runs from Monday, October 13th, to Friday, October 17th, and brings together policy, trade, and technology. The week's core event is the European Biogas Conference on Tuesday, October 14th, and Wednesday, October 15th, at Autoworld. There will also be a masterclass on Monday…
In early September, the annual Clean Energy Ministerial and Mission Innovation was held in Busan[1], South Korea. I was fortunate enough to attend as part of the Dutch delegation and a representative of the Integrated Biorefineries Mission. Given the societal uncertainty, I was curious to see how things are currently being handled globally…
On October 7th, a webinar was held on strategy and communication regarding bioresources. The focus was on chemistry and materials, but the meeting covered much more than just technical innovations. The central question was: how do you convey a complex message about a sensitive topic convincingly, factually, and credibly? Facts as a foundation in a…
On October 6, 2025, the Yale School of the Environment published an analysis that puts hydrogen from biomass back on the map. The core is simple: biohydrogen can reduce emissions in industry and transport more quickly in the years before electrolysis is fully scaled up. This makes the route relevant as an accelerator, in addition to…
Breda is experimenting with a new building method, using biobased materials like elephant grass for student housing. The project, a collaboration between Urban Living Lab Breda, ROOTZ, and the municipality, aims to demonstrate how plant-based building materials perform in practice. Pilot project with biobased student housing. The construction of the student housing is part of...
The energy transition requires collaboration and tangible solutions. In March, various parties discussed the opportunities and challenges surrounding biomethanol and e-methanol. Topics covered then were timing, skills, logistics, energy, price and affordability, legislation and regulations, and production. A follow-up meeting will be held in November, with more focus and room for decision-making.
It sounds almost like magic: turning agricultural and forestry waste streams into new raw materials that can both provide energy and fuel the chemical industry. Yet, that's exactly what a group of researchers recently worked on. In a study published in the Journal of Cleaner Production, they present an innovative technique, oxidative pyrolysis…
The State, the province of North Holland, Tata Steel Nederland, and Tata Steel Limited have signed a joint declaration of intent for the transition in IJmuiden. The document is an interim step towards a binding, customized agreement and sets targets for emissions, health, and finances. According to the documents, the total investment is between four and six and…
Fluxys Belgium presented its half-year results on September 24, which show that the system operator is increasingly positioning itself as a crucial hub for the transition to renewable energy and materials in Northwest Europe. Besides the growth in gas transport and the development of hydrogen and CO2 infrastructure, the rapid developments in biomethane and BioLNG are particularly noteworthy, which…
In early September, the European Commission once again explained why the bioeconomy is central to Europe's green and competitive future. In a short news item, the Directorate-General for Environment (DG-ENV) outlined the core in five points, emphasizing economic size, job potential, the innovation agenda, and its contribution to strategic autonomy. This news fits in…
The chemical industry is facing a major transformation. The use of oil and gas as raw materials and energy sources accounts for a large portion of global CO2 emissions. In a new white paper, TNO presents how electrification and so-called Power-to-X technologies can play a key role in making this sector climate-neutral. From fossil to green raw materials In the…
The 2026 National Budget for Climate and Green Growth outlines how the government and funds intend to use bio-based raw materials and biomass. Biobased construction will be subject to standards and incentives, carbon removal will be included in an official certification framework, and a route for cleaner agricultural machinery with electrification or biogas will be established. All of this is linked to the broader deployment of…
Germany is allowed to support its bioenergy and biogas sector with €7,9 billion. The European Commission has approved the plans under state aid rules. This allows Berlin to implement measures to utilize bioenergy for electricity and heat, primarily through modified tenders and increased incentives for flexibility. The core of the package is scaling up support…
The urgency to increase housing construction while simultaneously reducing the environmental footprint demands concrete action. In this context, Rabobank and area developer BPD are announcing a strategic partnership. By covering the additional costs of biobased and water-saving technologies in thousands of new-build homes, with an investment of over one hundred million euros over the next four years,…
Biomass will remain the most important source of renewable energy in the Netherlands in 2024. According to the long-term statistics published by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) on September 8, biomass accounts for 34 percent of total renewable energy consumption. This is higher than wind and solar energy separately. These are preliminary figures included in the annual report Renewable...
The transition to a sustainable economy is well underway. We see this in the rise of biobased plastics, the growing demand for circular building materials, and the development of green chemicals that replace fossil fuels. But while technology is advancing rapidly, there's one crucial element that's often overlooked: communication…
A comprehensive report from IEA Bioenergy Task 37 paints a global picture of manure digestion. The publication, available online since September, concludes that manure can play an important role in the energy transition and the circular economy, but that its full utilization is hampered by financial and operational barriers. The report examines the approach in…
The De Rusthoeve experimental farm in Colijnsplaat will receive €180.000 from the Province of Zeeland. The funds will be used to continue the Biobased Innovation Gardens Rusthoeve. This will allow research into crops that can replace fossil fuels. The province announced the contribution during the Biobased Acceleration Day at De Rusthoeve on September 2nd. Provincial Executive members Jo…
The Netherlands is taking the next step in its climate ambitions by fully committing to activated carbon removal. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO.nl) has launched a call for proposals for entrepreneurs and knowledge institutions to develop a new subsidy program. This program should support innovations that remove CO2 from the atmosphere, water, or biomass, with the aim of achieving long-term...
The road to a sustainable future is strewn with challenges, but solutions sometimes lie hidden in the most everyday objects around us. At MNEXT, the Center of Expertise at Avans University of Applied Sciences, students have taken on the challenge of rethinking precisely these products. In a unique project, in collaboration with the Living…
Scientists have made a remarkable discovery in the genetics of the poplar tree. These findings, resulting from research conducted by the University of Missouri in collaboration with Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Georgia, could fundamentally change the way we use biomass for fuels and sustainable materials. The study, published in the prestigious…
The sustainability of Dutch industry is a process of trial and error. One moment, projects are booming, the next, billions in subsidies remain unused. This pattern is evident in the latest figures for the Sustainable Energy Production and Climate Transition Incentive Scheme, or SDE++ for short. A significant portion of the budget, earmarked for…
The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO.nl) is looking for entrepreneurs who can produce high-quality building materials from Dutch bio-based raw materials. The new Innovation Impact Challenge "Biobased Building Materials from Dutch Soil" has been open since August 27th. Anyone wishing to participate must submit a short Expression of Interest by 23:13.00 PM on Tuesday, September 1,8rd. The total budget is €XNUMX million.
Biogas does more than just generate electricity and gas. A new report from IEA Bioenergy Task 37 shows that anaerobic digestion simultaneously contributes to climate change, nutrient cycling, clean water, and economic resilience. IEA Bioenergy identifies 53 sustainability impacts. The authors map fifty-three impacts. They organize them along five perspectives that together…
Imagine an aquarium with fine air bubbles constantly rising. In a photobioreactor, those bubbles do more than create an atmosphere; they introduce carbon dioxide into the water and remove oxygen. An Indonesian research team shows that smarter bubbling can significantly accelerate the growth of microalgae. The study was published on September 1, 2025, in…
In an interview with ICIS, three experts from the Danish gas and electricity grid operator Energinet confirmed that the country has been completely reliant on biomethane for several days this summer and last. These are demonstrable peaks, not a full year, but a system that can now do this. The combination of production, grid connections, and demand appears...
Every year, the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service publishes Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) reports offering fact-based, data-rich updates on agricultural commodity markets, including for wood pellets. Although produced by a US government agency, they provide a broad overview of global market trends, making them essential reading for anyone involved in the wood pellet trade. Their…
UPM is setting up a factory in Leuna that transforms wood into chemical building blocks for everyday products. Think bottles, fibers for clothing, rubber in tires, and coolants. The first shipment of beechwood has arrived, certification is in order, and start-up is getting closer. This will allow the factory to move into plastics and rubber...
North Brabant topped the list of biogas consumption regions in 2023. The province used 1,8 petajoules, accounting for approximately 22 percent of the Dutch total. Nationally, approximately 2023 petajoules of biogas were used for energy purposes in 8,3. These figures are provisional and come from the most recent regional publication from Statistics Netherlands (CBS). The map follows…
Researchers in the United States are presenting a textile finish based on cottonseed oil. The goal is to make cotton water-repellent and wrinkle-resistant without formaldehyde and PFAS. The initial results will be shared this week at ACS Fall 2025 in Washington. According to the researchers, a simple chemical step can deliver similar functionality to traditional finishes, with a safer…
Companies looking to scale up gasification can still apply for the DEI Plus program. The application window for the Gasification of Waste Streams theme closes on Thursday, August 28th at 17.00:109 PM. The available budget is €30 million, with a maximum of €18 million per project. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) also reported on August XNUMXth that no applications have yet been received...
The European Commission opened a public consultation on August 4th for a European Biotech Act. Until November 10th, everyone can contribute their thoughts on what's needed to accelerate biotechnology from lab to factory. The questions concern access to capital, permits, skills, and the role of data and artificial intelligence. The…
ReFuels has acquired Bio Energie Holwerd. The acquisition aligns with its strategy of integrating production, certification, and supply into a single supply chain. The acquisition is being handled through Renewable Transport Fuel Services, a subsidiary of CNG Fuels in which ReFuels holds a 2014% stake. The Holwerd site has been operating since XNUMX. The plant produces thirteen…
A new open-access publication in Scientific Reports demonstrates a structured way to classify agricultural residues for biochar. The researchers combined measurements of the material with a decision model so that a fair comparison can be made. This is also relevant in the Netherlands, because the choice of the residue stream determines the yield...
The NMD Foundation is extending the Biobased program within the NMD until the end of 2026. The goal is to make more and better environmental data on biobased building materials available within the National Environmental Database. The extension is part of the National Approach to Biobased Construction, which runs until 2030. What will change in practice? The "White Spots" compensation scheme for biobased products...
Without targeted policy, biobased materials and recycling will lag behind fossil-based alternatives. Both recyclates and bioplastics are currently insufficiently rewarded by legislation and market systems. This is evident from recent signals from the recycling and biotechnology sectors. According to the trade association HollandBIO, biobased materials are barely gaining traction. Biodegradable plastics such as PLA or…
The Horticultural Residual Flows Platform has entered a new phase. Following the development of seven circular value chains based on residual flows, the collaboration continues. Dozens of new value chains are now ready for rollout. In this phase, the focus shifts from supply-driven to demand-driven. The platform was established by the grower associations Fossa Eugenia, ZON, SunFresh, and the…
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...
The green gas market is under pressure. Rising demand and lagging production are creating opportunities for new suppliers. This presents opportunities for livestock farmers. Manure digestion, long considered a technical afterthought, is suddenly becoming a serious option. According to DLV Advies, the time is ripe to enter. Green gas producers currently receive between…
On July 9, 2025, the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) published its welcome to the new European Chemicals Industry Action Plan. Their announcement emphasized that bio-based chemicals are now recognized as a strategic route to making sectors more sustainable, decarbonizing industry, and promoting circularity. The core of the plan, bio-based as…
The IEA Bioenergy Task 43 report provides a clear framework for organizing and interpreting biomass supply data. Results were compared in eight countries—Australia, Canada, Croatia, Finland, Germany, New Zealand, Sweden, and the United States—to understand the quantities of biomass available for bioenergy, biofuels, and bioproducts. This approach is important because data…
Construction began in June on a facility on the waterfront near Värtan in Stockholm that will remove 800.000 tons of biogenic CO₂ from the atmosphere annually. This makes the Swedish capital the first city in the world to permanently capture and store biogenic carbon on a large scale. The facility is being built at the biomass plant of…
Seventeen organizations, including Bioenergy Europe, are urging the European Commission to simplify the EU Deforestation Prevention Regulation (EUDR). They warn that the current rules undermine sustainable supply chains through unnecessary administrative burdens and legal uncertainties. The EUDR came into force in June 2023 and focuses on seven commodities, such as timber, soy, and oil palms, to…
In 2024, the use of renewable energy in the Dutch transport sector increased significantly. The latest report from the Emissions Authority shows that companies collectively supplied 107 million gigajoules of sustainable energy, representing a CO₂ reduction of 4,5 megatons. That's almost XNUMX percent more than the previous year. Nevertheless, the total increase remained slightly…
A study from the University of Zagreb was recently published in the scientific journal Drvna Industrija, in which researchers investigated new methods for making wood pellets suitable as a coal substitute. The reason is clear: many power plants and industrial facilities still use coal, while climate goals demand rapid alternatives. Conventional wood pellets can help, but…
When Ingrid Goumans starts talking about her work at Avantium, where she's Director of Public Affairs, something shifts in her demeanor. Her eyes light up, her voice quickens, and it's immediately clear: this is someone who believes in what she does. Not because she has to, but because it feels like a meaningful choice. "The idea that your work contributes to a cleaner world—that's what makes the difference for me," she says.
Biogas and biomethane are playing an increasingly important role in making the energy system more sustainable. They are extracted from organic waste and used as a renewable energy source. Methane, the main component, has a high energy content and can be efficiently converted into heat or electricity. At the same time, it requires careful handling, because if it is accidentally released, it has a…
For the first time, the Netherlands has a tool that systematically maps the use of biobased materials in construction. The National Biobased Construction Monitor provides policymakers, construction companies, and manufacturers with insight into the practical application of biobased raw materials. The monitor was commissioned by the Ministry of Housing and Spatial Planning (VRO) and…
The biobased bottle from chemical company Avantium has recently been officially recognized as recyclable within the existing PET recycling system. The certification was issued by RecyClass, a European organization that assesses the recyclability of plastic packaging based on industry standards. A full-fledged replacement, Avantium's bottle is made from a combination of PEF and PET. PEF stands for polyethylene furanoate,…
The energy transition isn't just about technology or policy, but also about making choices that will endure if the future turns out differently than expected. Researchers from ETH Zurich and RWTH Aachen, among others, recently published a study that maps out exactly this. How do you use biomass in a way that not only...
Europe wants to move away from fossil fuels. The bioeconomy plays a key role in this transition: an economic model that runs on renewable biological resources such as crop residues, algae, wood and organic waste. But according to a new analysis by the European Environment Agency (EEA), the countries of the European Union together use almost twice as much biomass as…
Biotech Booster, the valorisation programme supported by the National Growth Fund, is receiving a boost of €196,4 million to accelerate groundbreaking biotechnologies from lab to market. Within this fund, the transition to sustainable bio-based raw materials and biomass plays a recognisable role, in addition to applications in the areas of health, nutrition and the environment. Biotech Booster stimulates starting biotech entrepreneurs…
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.
What starts as a technical change in German climate policy threatens to become a problem for farmers across Europe. According to the agricultural association UFOP, the planned reduction of the biofuel ceiling will lead to less biodiesel and therefore less rapeseed meal, an indispensable source of protein in animal feed. UFOP emphasizes that the production of biodiesel and the supply of…
The recently published IEA Bioenergy factsheet (June 2025) looks at how bioenergy relates to the natural carbon cycle and what role it can play in climate mitigation. The gist: although burning bioenergy also releases CO₂, this is mostly biogenic. The plant absorbs that same CO₂ during growth, reducing net emissions to…
Entrepreneurs who invest in sustainable energy will also have the opportunity to apply for a subsidy in 2026 via the SDE++ scheme. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) has announced that the round will be reopened, with a budget of approximately eight billion euros. The goal remains the same: reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the energy transition…
Modern bioenergy plays a key role in the global energy transition. This is evident from the 2024 annual report of IEA Bioenergy, an international partnership under the umbrella of the International Energy Agency (IEA). The report emphasizes that the available biomass is limited and should therefore be focused on applications that yield the greatest climate benefits. However, the scaling up remains…
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.
The call to the European Commission to actively stimulate demand for sustainable products now has a hundred signatories. On 13 June, the Norwegian company Yara joined the so-called Call for Demand Creation to Drive Industry Investments, which was launched at the end of 2023 by, among others, VNO-NCW, VNCI and NVDE. Broad…
The Bundesnetzagentur, Germany's Federal Grid Operator, has awarded 187,3 MW of capacity to biomass plants in the latest tender round. A total of 244 projects were awarded a subsidy spot. With this, Germany is once again showing how seriously it is working on renewable energy from biomass. The allocation is done via the EEG, the German legislative framework for renewable energy. Within this system, annual allocations are made to…
On Saturday 21 June, the construction sector will once again open its doors to the general public. During Construction Day, construction sites throughout the Netherlands that are normally closed can be visited. This year, the emphasis is on sustainability and innovation, with special attention to biobased projects in which wood and other renewable materials are central.…
The Biogas Systems in Industry report by IEA Bioenergy Task 37 discusses how biogas can play a role in making industrial chains more sustainable. The research shows that fermentation of organic waste streams not only provides a renewable energy source, but also reduces dependence on fossil fuels. Especially sectors with a lot of organic waste, such as…
The chemical industry is concerned about the lack of important decisions now that the cabinet has fallen. According to the industry organization VNCI, necessary sustainability plans are in danger of being delayed due to political uncertainty. “The industry needs clarity in order to be able to invest,” says VNCI chair Nienke Homan. Sustainability under pressure Many chemical companies are busy switching to sustainable business operations.…
What was discarded as worthless grass cuttings for years is given a second life in South Holland. Every year, around ten thousand tons of grass are mowed along provincial roads in the province. Until recently, most of it ended up on the compost heap. That is now changing thanks to a broad partnership under the name Greenhub Zuid-Holland. Greenhub Zuid-Holland consists of more than thirty…
The aviation industry is under pressure to operate faster, more efficiently and, above all, more sustainably. Aircraft are increasingly made of lightweight composite materials, which contribute to lower fuel consumption. But these same materials are vulnerable to damage, for example from hail, collisions on the ground or rough baggage handling. Repairs are often time-consuming, expensive and lead to unnecessary waste of parts.…
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 Netherlands is getting closer to its climate goals. In 2024, almost one fifth of all energy used came from renewable sources. This is thanks to strong growth in offshore wind energy and a doubling of the use of biodiesel in road transport. New figures from the Central Bureau for the…
On 28 May 2025, the European Commission launched a new strategy to support start-ups and scale-ups in the EU. This strategy, called 'Choose Europe to Start and Scale', aims to make Europe more attractive for technology-driven companies. For the bio-based sector, in which many innovative SMEs are active, this strategy offers opportunities to…
This morning, with a cup of coffee in one hand and my phone in the other, I was reading an article about a possible US-Ukraine raw materials deal. According to the reports, the Americans would gain strategic access to Ukrainian raw materials such as lithium and cobalt – materials that are essential for batteries, electric cars and the energy transition. My first thought? What does this mean for Europe? And what does this mean for the Netherlands?
The European Union is taking a new step towards a circular bioeconomy. Under the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU), 30 projects have been selected to receive €197,5 million in grants. These projects, spread across 33 countries and involving 416 organisations, focus on developing innovative bio-based solutions to reduce the dependency on…
With the growth of solar and wind, the need for flexibility in the energy system is also growing. Bioenergy proves to be surprisingly versatile in that role, but is still far from being used everywhere. What is possible and what is needed to achieve this? Solar and wind provide clean energy, but not always when we need it.…
Danish energy company GreenGo Energy has announced a fundamental change of course in the so-called Megaton concept. Where the original plan was aimed at the production of e-methanol via Power to X technologies based on renewable electricity and large-scale hydrogen production, the focus is now on biomethanol. This alternative can be realized faster and cheaper. The…
Efforts to decarbonise the European steel sector have taken a major step forward with the development of biocoal from biowaste. This emerging solution directly aligns with the ambitions of the EU Green Deal and the circular economy. New technologies and initiatives in Belgium and Finland, among others, show that this sustainable fuel…
A project has been launched in France to use residual heat from a data centre to produce biomass. The initiative, led by data centre operator Data4 in collaboration with the Fondation de l'Université Paris-Saclay and start-up Blue Planet Ecosystems, is the first step towards a new generation of biocircular data centres. Data centres are the backbone of the digital…
Biobased materials are rapidly gaining ground in the construction sector, but to what extent are they also biodegradable? This is the central question in a practical study currently taking place at the Living Greenlab in Den Bosch. According to a report from MNEXT.nl, two materials specialists are investigating how different forms of mycelium biocomposites behave in natural soil conditions. Researchers Paula Jerez…
As EU Member States press ahead with implementing the Renewable Energy Directive III (REDIII), they are required to apply the “cascading principle” when awarding subsidies for woody biomass for energy. The idea sounds straightforward — prioritize higher-value uses of wood before lower-value ones — but in practice, it is anything but. As I've written previously,…
Avantium, an innovator in renewable chemistry, is working with The Bottle Collective on a new type of sustainable fiber bottle. This collaboration should lead to a widely applicable, fully plant-based packaging solution that can eventually replace plastic bottles. The Bottle Collective is an initiative of PA Consulting and Swedish technology company PulPac, known for its patented Dry Molded Fiber technology.…
Woody biomass from sustainably managed forests now complies with the latest EU directive Biomass from sustainably managed forests can now demonstrably comply with the latest European sustainability requirements. Certification organisation PEFC has adapted its standards to the revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED III). This makes it possible for wood suppliers and buyers of biomass to obtain a PEFC certificate for…
On Saturday 20 September, the Dutch energy transition will once again open its doors. During the fifth edition of the Open Energy Day, citizens throughout the country will have the opportunity to view sustainable energy projects up close. From wind farms and solar fields to geothermal installations and bioenergy plants: visitors can experience for themselves how the energy future of the Netherlands is being built. With more…
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…
Methanol is a versatile and much sought-after chemical building block. It is used as a raw material for plastics, adhesives, antifreezes and fuels. But methanol is also a problem child: the vast majority is produced from fossil sources such as natural gas and coal, resulting in substantial CO₂ emissions. This can be done differently, TNO states in a recent article: biomethanol, made from…
The dairy industry annually produces large volumes of whey permeate – a residual flow that has little economic value. While the protein-rich part of whey finds its way into food or animal feed, the sugar-rich and mineral part often remains as a low-value waste product. Yet this liquid holds surprising potential for the biobased industry. It…
In a recent paper in Scientific Reports, researchers present a method to develop a bio-based material that has similar properties to conventional leather. The basis of this material is fungal biomass, grown on bread waste. The study contributes to the search for more sustainable and circular alternatives to animal and synthetic leather. The research team used surplus…
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…
A new European call for proposals was launched in Brussels in early April, making no less than 172 million euros available for groundbreaking projects in the circular bioeconomy. It is the largest annual call of the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU), a public-private partnership that focuses on accelerating the transition to a more sustainable,…
Without effective gas cleaning, there is no future for high-quality biofuels and biochemistry from biomass. This is evident from a new publication by IEA Bioenergy, which explains how crucial this step is within the gasification process. The study shows which techniques are available, where the challenges lie, and why gas cleaning is often decisive for success. From…
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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