Large companies in Central and West Brabant want to invest 10 billion euros in projects to make the region CO2 neutral by 2030. Implementation is only possible with a substantial expansion of the energy infrastructure and will potentially lead to 8.5 Megaton CO2 savings in the region of Central and West Brabant. The cooperating companies are therefore calling on the government and grid managers to accelerate their investments in the region.
Letter of intent
On 12 May, the collaborating companies in the Central and West Brabant Industry Table – Attero, Cosun, Ennatuurlijk, RWE, SABIC and Shell – and the Province of North Brabant signed a declaration of intent in Geertruidenberg. It is the joint intention to realise sustainable projects that reduce CO2 emissions and accelerate the energy transition.
Ready to go plans
Six companies have ready-made plans for CO2 capture and use, a heat network, electrification of production processes and there is room for the landing of offshore wind power and the production of green hydrogen. The companies are working intensively together to connect with grid managers and the government to provide clarity on the infrastructure needed for the ambitious plans. This includes pipelines for the transport of CO2 and hydrogen, expansion of the heat network and reinforcement of the electricity network in the region. The intention is explicitly that smaller businesses can become more sustainable and benefit from the investments and efforts of the cooperating industrial partners.
Negative CO2 emissions
The projects even lead to negative CO2 emissions. This is partly due to the capture, reuse and storage of CO2 from bio-based raw materials. In addition, the companies can supply a quantity of heat to surrounding municipalities equivalent to the consumption of 200,000 homes. The plans also include 1400MW of additional production capacity for hydrogen and 1500MW of flexible upstream and downstream electrical power. The circular approach to the use of raw materials is being further developed.
Circular Biobased Delta quartermaster
The first step towards cooperation was already taken last year by the Circular Biobased Delta Foundation: Willem Sederel has been working on this as quartermaster. “It is our role to bring companies together and to accelerate the green economy”, says Sederel. This is how close cooperation came about and how, last year, the companies mapped out the possible CO2 reductions for the Cluster Energy Strategies (CESs).
It is now clear that even greater CO2 gains can be achieved through cooperation. “The province welcomes the fact that the industry in Central and West Brabant is working together to tackle the climate problems,” said Energy Commissioner Anne-Marie Spierings.
Together, the projects of the six companies achieve no less than 18% of the objectives of the Climate Agreement.
In the photograph, standing from left to right: Marc Martens (Attero), Tom Emons (Ennatuurlijk), Rutger Bosch (SABIC), Bram Fetter (Cosun), Richard Zwinkels (Shell); seated: Anne-Marie Spierings (Provincial Executive for North Brabant), Taco Douma (RWE)