Dutch SER advises biomass use for chems production

The Dutch Social Economic Council (SER) published this month its report: “Biomass in Balance, a sustainability framework for the high value application of bio-feedstocks” (in Dutch) which advises the Dutch government about biomass sustainability and giving a recommendation that biomass should be use more as bio-feedstock (chemicals and materials production) instead of bioenergy and fuel production.

Below is a summary of the SER report:

Getting the highest value out of bio-feedstocks: Sustainable bio-feedstocks are a necessary and valuable tool for a CO2 neutral and circular economy and are needed to reach the Netherlands’ climate goals. For this, available feedstocks must be used for the highest value applications as possible and comply with clear sustainability requirements. The government must set the pace in supporting the expansion of high-quality applications and phasing out low-value use of bio-feedstocks (e.g. power and heating). A long-term investment is, therefore, very important.

Expansion of high-value applications: The future lies in high-value applications for bio-feedstocks — as inputs for the production of chemicals and materials. The bio-feedstocks can be derived from crops, algae, trees and plants, and animal products. In chemistry, the SER believes they can partly replace petroleum and fossil gas. They can also be used, for example, for bioplastics or bio-concrete. The capture of CO2 in materials helps the climate and benefits a circular economy and circular agriculture. Although this technology is not yet commercialized, the expansion requires a clear, long-term, and consistent government policy that businesses, the labour market, and researchers can respond to.

Transition as a temporary solution: For the energy usages for which no sustainable alternative is available, bio-feedstocks can serve as a temporary solution. For example, and for the time being, biofuels are still needed for heavy road transport, shipping, and aviation. A swift transition is needed for this commercialization as well as for phasing out these biofuels.

Phasing out of low-value applications: The application of bio-feedstocks for generating power and heat must be phased out. The SER indicated it is crucial that the government takes the initiative to make alternative sources available for heat generation, such as geothermal and aqua-thermal energy, hydrogen, and heat pumps. Otherwise, the Netherlands’ climate goals cannot be achieved. The SER stated that the demand for electricity will increase after 2030 and that this demand will be mainly fulfilled by wind energy. The SER further stated that wind and solar energy are more cost-effective than bioenergy.

Sustainability requirements: The SER advised the Netherlands to implement clear and specific requirements for the production of bio-feedstocks. The EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED) provides the basis for these rules, but must be supplemented with social-economic criteria and ecological risk assessments related to the use of the bio-feedstocks. An important condition for the feedstock is its availability. The global supply of sustainable bio-feedstocks is limited, and the Netherlands must not make disproportionate use of the supply. The Dutch Cabinet must take control in determining the use of bio-feedstocks as an input for the Dutch economy.

As part of the SER’s advice, the Dutch government asked the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) to investigate the available supply and economically viable applications of biomass for the Dutch economy. The overall conclusion of the report, published on 8 May 2020, is that it is risky that the government policy for the circular economy does not have a significant role for biomass. In its report, the PBL advised the government to develop an agenda for the realization of bio-refinery projects on an industrial scale. PBL also questioned the extent to which the Dutch government can impose requirements on biomass that come on top of the conditions already laid out in the EU’s REDII. Therefore, PBL advises the Ministry to work at the EU-level for a further completion and enforcement of harmonized requirements.