Dear friends and followers of the Clean Air Committee,

Even though summer is (fortunately) just around the corner, developments in the field of clean air and biomass (including BECCS) are continuing. And no matter how you look at it, the Netherlands is and remains a political outsider.

The most important developments of the past month

1. Politics

  • Adopted House of Representatives motion: ‘biomass not a sustainable energy source‘;
  • Cabinet decision: no subsidies for CO2 capture and storage for coal-fired power stations converted to biomass (BECCS);
  • Remarkable turn by Frans Timmermans and Diederik Samsom.

2. Update Vattenfall

  • Follow-up of the Council of State’s ruling on Vattenfall nature permit, or ‘waiting for Godot’.
  • Date known for the hearing of our appeal against the new and secretly awarded subsidy of 395 million from RVO to Vattenfall: October 21, 2024.

3. Update RWE

4. Clean Air Committee goes to court

5. The Scientific Climate Council (WKR) rightly points out major disadvantages of BECCS

6. Announcement of new Biomass documentary. Premieres mid-July 2024

Introduction

Lobby versus scientific policy making

The Netherlands has been leading the way when it comes to biomass for some time, compared to other EU countries. The Netherlands is an outsider in both positive and negative respects. Nowhere else, with the exception of England and Denmark, is the total subsidy provided to biomass power plants as high as in the Netherlands. Thanks to a well-oiled economic lobby from the energy industry. At the same time, the Netherlands excels in scientifically based policymaking.

An ear and eye for nature

Not only is the Dutch PBL (Dutch Environmental Agency) and the SER (government advisory and therefore politically non-independent organizations) listened to, former minister Rob Jetten, more than his VVD predecessors Kamp and Wiebes, also has an ear for natural and international scientific organizations (Joint Research Center of the EU and European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC), which has long stood up for ecological importance.

As a result, over the past 5 years there has gradually been a growing political and social consensus that burning wood for energy production is counterproductive because it is very harmful to both the climate and biodiversity.

Political actions

For example, in February 2021, the Dutch parliament voted against subsidies for new heating plants based on forest biomass. This was confirmed in April 2022 by stopping all new subsidies for biomass projects (heating networks and greenhouses). This was under pressure from a petition initiated in the Netherlands by the Clean Air Committee, which was signed by more than 300,000 citizens in three months.

Discouragement of biomass and BECCS

This year, the Dutch parliament adopted a new motion, initiated by the Party for the Animals and NSC (New Social Contract), which “strongly discourages the import of woody biomass from abroad” and demands that no new subsidies be provided for it. It is noted that “the import of woody biomass leads to large-scale destruction of nature” and that “transport over thousands of kilometers costs unnecessary energy”.

Two more restrictions will follow last month, June 2024. A House of Representatives motion calling on the Netherlands to insist in Brussels that woody biomass be excluded from the list of “renewable energy sources”, and Jetten’s decision not to provide financial government support for biomass with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) to (large) coal-fired power stations.

Unreliable technology

The minister’s letter contained an interesting restriction on subsidies for biomass with carbon capture and storage (BECCS). A hugely expensive and unreliable technology that would have to store part of the carbon emissions from biomass combustion under the sea. The decision should prevent energy companies such as RWE from converting their coal-fired power stations to biomass plus BECCS. Converting would increase annual combustion by millions of tons of logged wood, from the current 3.5 million tons to 7.5 million tons annually.

Ambitious?

This cabinet decision is therefore more ambitious than the minimum requirements set by Brussels in the new Renewable Energy Directive (REDIII). Decisions on the implementation of these requirements (EU sustainability criteria) in national legislation and regulations are expected after the summer. It is up to the new cabinet to further shape this. Given the position on biomass in the outline agreement of the new cabinet, it is expected that this course will be continued.

New Cabinet

In the outline agreement, the new Dutch government (installed on July 2, 2024) states that “the subsidization of biomass power stations with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) should be stopped as soon as possible”. Forests and wood are becoming an increasingly scarce and precious commodity as more industries use them to replace fossil fuels. This is despite the excessive logging and clear-cutting that has been undermining the resilience of forests for many years now. Such awareness of this and the resulting government restriction on encouraging wood burning is therefore remarkable and good news for nature.

Unexpected perspective

Moreover, it offers an unexpected perspective on the new, radical right-wing government. No more incentive subsidies for ‘all’ forest biomass projects, new and existing (long-term), with or without carbon storage. Remarkable policy of the Netherlands that, in the event of a European right-wing radical wind, remains an outsider in the EU in terms of ‘biomass for energy’ for the time being. And as far as we, as nature organizations are concerned, this deserves to be quickly followed by other political parties and EU member states.

1a. Adopted motion ‘biomass not a sustainable energy source’

In our June newsletter we already indicated that a large majority of the House of Representatives is opposed to biomass combustion for energy. The widely adopted motion of the Party for the Animals and NSC (‘strong discouragement of importing biomass and no subsidization of it’; April 18) shows this.

Following on from this, the new government’s Outline Agreement (May 16) states that subsidizing bioenergycombined with CO2 capture and storage (BECCS) and biomass power stations willbe stopped as soon as possible. To top it all off, on June 11, the motion of the Party for the Animals was adopted by a large majority in which the government is requested to commit itself in a European context to no longer designate woody biomass combustion as a sustainable energy source. Our new Minister of Climate and Green Growth, Sophie Hermans, can immediately take this positive message to the European Council of Ministers. We will follow her.

1b. No subsidy for CO2 capture from biomass combustion in coal-fired power stations

In his last weeks as administrator, Minister Jetten made it clear that he would not provide a subsidy for CO2 capture and storage for biomass combustion in coal-fired power stations (BECCS for short) in the sustainable energy subsidy round of September 2024. The minister states in his letter to Parliament (dated June 17 last) that ‘only biomass energy plants are eligible for this subsidy for CO2 capture and storage that do not have too great an impact on the energy system and on the availability of bio raw materials for applications with few or no alternatives. Bio raw materials are important now and in the future for the transition to a climate-neutral and circular economy. For example, in mobility (for sustainable fuels, especially in aviation and shipping) and as a raw material in industry.’

The Clean Air Committee is pleased with the exclusion of coal-fired power stations from these subsidies and believes that this exclusion should also apply to subsequent years. This exclusion should also apply to biomass power plants (with a capacity of less than 100 MW).

MediaNU.nl and De Telegraaf have paid attention to this decision by the minister not to provide additional subsidies for coal-fired power stations for BECCS.

1c. Remarkable turn by Frans Timmermans and Diederik Samsom

It is remarkable that when the majority in the House of Representatives votes against biomass combustion, fraction leader Frans Timmermans of GL-PvdA suddenly supports this position. As European Commissioner, he stated throughout his term that burning biomass is necessary to save the climate. It is, of course, good news and his turn could testify to progressive insight, were it not for the fact that due to his years of denial of abuses and tenacity as a biomass promoter in Brussels, biomass as a ‘sustainable fuel’ has been anchored in European legislation for the next 5-15 years.

Fenna Swart, chairman of the national Clean Air Committee, calls the fact that PvdA/GL can now also be included in the list of opponents of wood burning as ‘good news for our forests and biodiversity’. Yet she says that it is ‘unprecedentedly ironic’ that this motion is now supported by Frans Timmermans’ party. “Not long ago, as European Commissioner, he was the biggest advocate of large-scale biomass combustion in Brussels. Under his administration, subsidized biomass burning has become one of the largest ecological disasters worldwide. Supporting this motion now is therefore at least unbelievable and absurd.”

‘Subsidy train’

According to Swart – who has also been active for GL in the past – Timmermans has actually opened the door to additional wood burning. “Whatever Timmermans now supports, we will not get rid of biomass in the next five to fifteen years, for which most subsidies have already been awarded (such as to Vattenfall) or promised (such as to RWE). Thanks to Timmermans, that subsidy train is roaring along at full speed, and you won’t be able to stop it with the best motions in the world for the time being. Those responsible for this will have to answer for this one day, with or without a supported motion,” she said.

Click to see Fenna Swart’s Twitter post about it: @fenokkio

Diederik Samsom, Frans Timmermans’ right-hand man as EU climate commissioner, also made a striking turn. On June 26, he announced that he had accepted the position of chairman of the supervisory board at the Dutch state-owned company Gasunie. He failed to request permission from the European Commission before accepting this job with the major gas network operator. This is contrary to ethical rules, the influential Politico reported. Samsom says he regrets his mistake. The EU is now assessing the subsequent request for approval of this switch.

Read the whole article HERE (scroll down for English)

2. Deadlock at the Council of State on an appeal against the Vattenfall nature permit

The ruling of the Council of State on the appeal by MOB, Natuurmonumenten together with the Clean Air Committee against the nature permit of the biomass power plant Diemen of Vattenfall is taking an unusually long time. The court hearing at the Council of State on the appeal against the Environmental Permit and Nature Permit was on February 21, 2023. Almost 17 months ago now. The ruling on the appeal against the Environmental Permit was on August 30, 2023, 6 months after the hearing.

Exceptionally long

Almost a year later, the decision on the appeal against the nature permit has still not been made. This is exceptionally long. The Council of State may have a hard time with this ruling (extra nitrogen emissions and additional deposition on Natura2000-areas, including on the nearby Naardermeer) because of the far-reaching consequences of this ruling for many other ongoing nature cases (cancellation of nature permits). This appears to have created an impasse with Vattenfall waiting for the ruling of the Council of State and vice versa. While society should expect the Council of State to simply do its job and not listen to a multinational (Vattenfall) that cannot make a decision.

3. Update RWE

Never a dull moment when it comes to biomass combustion at energy company RWE: this time, after a long negotiation between RWE and CAC, the debate finally took place between Fenna Swart of the Clean Air Committee and Taco Douma of RWE. The national paper Telegraph was present and reported on the key points from the conversation: Woody biomass continues to be oppressed, but: ‘Our power stations cannot now do without it’.

Read the whole article HERE (scroll down for English)

* On Thursday, September 26, 2024, the court hearing on the appeal by Stichting Natuurbelang Nederland, also on behalf of the Clean Air Committee, MOB, Leefmilieu and the Foundation for the Conservation of the Schoorlse and Noord-Kennemerduingebied, against the Code of Conduct for Species Protection of Forest Management will take place at the Gelderland District Court in Arnhem. The Code of Conduct was drawn up by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (now the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature). The appeal concerns, among other things, the conflict between the 0.5-hectare clear cut and 2 hectare screen cut with the European Habitats Directive.

* On Monday, October 21, 2024, the court hearing will take place at the CBb (Board of Appeal for the business community) on an appeal by the Clean Air Committee, MOB and Leefmilieu against the award of a new subsidy of € 395 million for the biomass power plant Diemen of Vattenfall, despite a stop on this subsidy since April 2022. The new subsidy was issued by the Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate (now Ministry of Climate and Green Growth).

* On Monday, November 14, 2024, the court hearing on the appeal against the EU Taxonomy will take place at the European Court in Luxembourg. The Clean Air Committee, together with 5 other European NGOs, has filed an annulment action to prevent forest bioenergy and forestry projects from being included in the EU Sustainable Finance Taxonomy. The objection is that the Taxonomy’s standards will encourage projects that contribute to climate warming and forest degradation.

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5. The Scientific Climate Council (WKR) rightly points out major disadvantages of BECCS

The Dutch Scientific Climate Council (WKR) has issued an advice ‘Clear the air?’ about CO2 removal. The WKR advises the government to focus policy on permanent CO2 removal such as DACCS (direct CO2 capture and storage) and BECCS (biomass combustion and CO2 capture and storage). The council rightly states (page 5 of the advice): “Almost all currently known CO2 removal methods require a lot of (sustainable) energy, a lot of land, or both. As a result, many methods have limited potential. Some methods have undesirable side effects, such as a negative impact on nature, which can reduce social support. Methods that permanently capture CO2 are not yet applied on the necessary scale, partly because they are not yet sufficiently developed or are too expensive. All this makes it uncertain whether CO2 removal will be applied on a large scale in practice.”

The council points out, among other things, that biomass is becoming increasingly scarce and should therefore be used at high quality and not burned (section 2.3 of the advice). It is very striking that the ecological risks of biomass extraction through forest clearing in relation to the biodiversity crisis are not further elaborated in the advice. For example, the IPCC but not the IPBES (Intergovernmental Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services) is used as a scientific source (see also references on page 45 of the advice). This ecological expertise is underrepresented in the council. Based on scientific publications, the Clean Air Committee considers BECCS (biomass combustion with CO2 capture and storage) to be much worse than the disease.

The council sees (re)forestation as temporary CO2 removal. Partly because of the risk of forest fires. The Clean Air Committee believes that forests should be protected and designed (especially biodiverse) in such a way that the risk of forest fires is significantly reduced. Then there is permanent and natural CO2 removal. Very important for biodiversity.

Read Op-Ed of the Clean Air Committee HERE

6. Announcement of new Biomass documentary. Premiering mid-July 2024!

The new Biomass documentary from the Clean Air Committee will be released mid-July. Follow us and keep an eye on our posts!

7. Get involved and support our work for clean air!

All these developments require action. Action through new information campaigns, manifestations, street actions in collaboration with science and concerned citizens, but also new legal procedures, such as those we have initiated against Vattenfall and RWE.

We could really use your help for this. The Clean Air Committee is not sponsored by the Postcode Lottery, government, etc. and does not want it to be. We operate independently, based on an interest and a goal, namely: towards clean air as a fundamental right and the protection and expansion of forests & biodiversity, and therefore against the biomass industry.

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Many thanks for your support and support!

Maarten and Fenna on behalf of the Clean Air Committee team

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Fenna Swart | Chair of the Clean Air Committee

T. +31 (06) 415 14330 | E: fennaswart25@gmail.com | W: www.comiteschonelucht.nl