Biomass in the Dutch Energy Infrastructure in 2030

In April 2005 the Platform Biobased Raw Materials߿ݠ(Platform Groene Grondstoffen, PGG) was established within the framework of the energy transition policy of the Dutch government. The Platform aims to promote a switch from the consumption of fossil fuels to renewable or green߿ݠraw materials. This makes the Netherlands less dependant on raw materials which are finite and on the supply from politically less stable regions. Furthermore, the switch will contribute for an important part to the decrease of the Dutch greenhouse gas emissions. The changeover will also lead to opportunities for Dutch industries. Especially the sectors agro, food, chemical and harbour/logistics could further strengthen their positions. The Platform Biobased Raw Materials has developed a vision, in which 30% of the fossil raw materials will be replaced by green raw materials. The degree of replacement varies amongst the different end-uses in the following way: - 60% replacement of transportation fuels, - 25% replacement for the production of chemicals and materials, - 17% replacement in the heat production, - 25% replacement in the electricity production. The Platform assumes a scenario in which energy savings play a central role. The Platform realises that The Netherlands have a limited agricultural area and a limited amount of by-products and that at least 60-80% of the necessary biobased raw materials will have to be imported. To gain a better insight in the requirements to realise this ambitious vision, the Platform has asked ECN and WUR to perform an analysis of the current raw material consumption for the Dutch energy supply and the expected energy supply in 2030, the fit of biobased raw materials in the energy supply and insight in the availability of biomass to realise this vision. According to the Platform this report provides a structured and sound insight in the current and future raw material consumption. The fact that the estimations of ECN and WUR of the use of biobased raw materials in certain sectors differ from the ambition of the Platform, is for the Platform a motivation for further discussions. Are the bottlenecks which have been identified by ECN and WUR recognized by other experts? Can these bottlenecks be removed with directed interventions? From this point forward the Platform Biobased Raw Materials will continue. The working groups within the Platform will start with the formulation of an implementation agenda and with an investigation of the bottlenecks in the feasibility of the ambitions. This report offers a good basis for further discussion; if you would like to contribute you are invited to respond to groenegrondstoffen@senternovem.nl.