Green gas: engine of sustainability. The Netherlands Expertise Centre for Biomass Gasification

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1 Green gas: engine of sustainability The Netherlands Expertise Centre for Biomass Gasification

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3 Gas country the Netherlands Welcome to natural gas country the Netherlands. This small country in Northwest Europe runs on gas. Since the discovery of extensive natural gas reserves in the nineteen-fifties, it has developed into one of the largest gas producers worldwide. This may be observed in the statistics of the Netherlands energy economy. Natural gas provides 43 per cent of the Netherlands total energy demand, and 60 per cent of all electricity is generated using natural gas. Because the Netherlands has already been a major gas producer for half a century, it has a perfect infrastructure and is a leader in innovation. The potential of green gas Now that stocks of fossil fuels are declining and energy demand continues to rise, alternative energy sources are essential. An important sustainable energy source with unprecedented (economic) potential is green gas from biomass. ECN has developed a patented technology, unique worldwide, to convert dry biomass demolition wood, pruning waste, mown grass into green gas at very high efficiency and without harmful environmental effects. The possibilities for gasification of biomass are immense. Green gas can be used to generate electricity and heat, as fuel for cars and trucks and in chemical production. In the province of North Holland, ECN and energy and waste utilities company HVC are front runners in the development. In 2013, the first demonstration installation for biomass gasification will arise in the city of Alkmaar, called MILENA, which will produce green gas. Also, gas infrastructure company Gasunie supports this development. Within a few years this demonstration installation will be followed by a commercial installation with the capacity of a small power station. Simultaneously, energy company TAQA Energy, HVC, ECN, North Holland province and the municipality of Alkmaar will found the internationally-oriented Netherlands Expertise Centre for Biomass Gasification. National and international companies and knowledge developers can profit from the technological progress and be leaders in innovation. Building the future in North Holland

4 Green gas hub of knowledge and jobs

5 North Holland s energy North Holland has much to offer: space, low prices and welleducated and strongly-motivated personnel. Everything is at a stone s throw from Amsterdam and Schiphol airport. North Holland has a long tradition in the energy field. In the far north, Den Helder has been the offshore port for the oil and gas platforms in the North Sea for decades. The port of Den Helder, together with IJmuiden, is also the place from which assembly and maintenance of the existing and future offshore wind farms take place. The most important ingredients for successful, large-scale production of green gas from biomass are present. International research institute ECN offers applicable knowledge and technology at top level and carries out pioneering work in the field of sustainable energy development. Close to Alkmaar, energy company TAQA is building the Bergermeer Gas Storage Facility, the largest freely accessible gas storage facility in Europe. Energy and waste utilities company HVC has been a pioneer in the field of sustainable energy and waste processing for years and provides a constant supply of biomass. The bundling of expertise and industrial activity in the field of fossil and sustainable energy makes North Holland an ideal place to realise your innovations in the field of sustainable energy. The Energy Region North-Holland North ECN, HVC, TAQA, North Holland province and Alkmaar municipality have united under the name Energy Region North- Holland North. They aim to expand the existing strong energy sector to develop the region as a centre of knowledge and employment in the field of innovative energy, with green gas as one of the focus areas. For this reason, these parties also signed the Green Gas Green Deal, a public-private collaboration with the Dutch government to develop a full production chain for green gas to be connected to the existing natural gas network. The Energy Region cooperates closely with Energy Valley, the foundation which focuses on strengthening the North Netherlands position in the field of clean, reliable and innovative energy. The development of the Netherlands Expertise Centre for Biomass Gasification is one of the cornerstones of the Energy Region North-Holland North.

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7 The Netherlands Expertise Centre for Biomass Gasification Within the Dutch ambition to make the gas supply sustainable and be Europe s gas hub, the Expertise Centre will fill the role of international top player and partner in the field of green gas. Situated in Alkmaar, at a short distance from Amsterdam, the Expertise Centre offers entrepreneurs and knowledge developers the opportunity to realise innovation in the field of biomass gasification and associated technologies in a state-of-the-art environment. They are able to use the facility centre that is being realised in the first phase. It offers all facilities needed for research and development, and moreover expertise. Innovation and making new technologies market-ready are key. The Expertise Centre will realise innovation. The demand for new sustainable energy technologies increases day by day. This means that the Expertise Centre can count on broad international interest from society and companies. This is why there will be a visitor centre as part of the Expertise Centre. Phase 1 Phase 2 For the future, the development of green gas and its applications demand qualified and well-educated personnel at all levels: scientists and also builders and operators of installations. In the Expertise Centre s second phase therefore, the collaboration with education takes shape, and thus the link between theory and practice. The Expertise Centre will collaborate with universities and other educational institutes. The MILENA-gasifier a facility centre with laboratories and experiments facilities An education and training centre A visitor centre Breeding ground for innovation

8 What does the Expertise Centre offer? The Netherlands Expertise Centre for Biomass Gasification is currently in development and is seeking partners in this development: industrial partners, SMEs, knowledge developers and educational institutes. Partners that want to be front runners in green gas and will co-design the concept in detail. Partners are also needed to participate in the development of the Expertise Centre itself. The Expertise Centre offers a unique bundling of pioneering technology and top expertise in the field of green gas. Everyone who chooses to participate as partner in the Expertise Centre will profit from the synergy this collaboration delivers. Innovation is in the air. The Expertise Centre is the place to realise the future of your business. Together with the Expertise Centre, you can conduct experiments and develop and demonstrate new techniques. With support from professional experts. Combined high-level facilities are immediately available. Entrepreneurs can join in the innovation of the future quickly, efficiently and economically. Interested parties can choose from three service packages: Basic, Plus and Superior, ranging from leasing space with basic infrastructure up to hiring scientific expertise at top level. The present setup of the facility centre provides: - an experiments hall (2000 m 2 ) - surfaced outdoor space (4000 m 2 ) - laboratories with state-of-the-art equipment - offices and storage spaces. The business model for the Expertise Centre will be further detailed in the near future. The Netherlands Expertise Centre for Biomass Gasification ensures that the activities will meet the Dutch environmental legislation. Users can therefore start working right away. Please contact us for more information or to explore the possibilities. Getting straight to work

9 SU PL U BA SI PE R IO R S C Top expertise at your service Leading in development Quick start-up Use of premises, basic facilities, licence permit, site and Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) management. All Basic facilities, plus use of the MILENA gasifier at different production stages. Service packages All Basic and Plus facilities, plus support from technical staff and operators, ECN s expertise and laboratory analysis.

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11 From biomass to green gas: two routes There are two ways of making green gas: fermentation and gasification. Fermentation is already extensively applied, mainly in the agricultural sector. In fermentation, bacteria convert the organic substances in wet biomass into green gas. As the availability of wet biomass is restricted, the possibilities for fermentation are limited. It is expected that the Netherlands could produce a maximum of two billion cubic metres of green gas from fermentation annually. Large-scale gasification of biomass has no such limitation, because it is worthwhile to import dry, woody biomass on a large scale. ECN has developed the MILENA gasification technology on a laboratory scale in recent years. This technology is now ready for commercialisation. Boundless opportunities

12 The beating heart of the Expertise Centre: MILENA ECN, HVC, TAQA and Gasunie are collaborating in the re- at various stages of production to use it for the development alisation of the MILENA gasification installation. This instal- and perfection of innovative biomass gasification applica- lation is an important step in the process of transferring the tions. Not only for the production of green gas, but also for production of green gas at laboratory scale to its commercial the production of liquid fuels and chemicals. This offers exploitation. MILENA converts dry biomass into green gas unique opportunities for science and commerce; opportuni- with a high methane content. In the conversion of biomass ties for research and education; opportunities for innovative into green gas, MILENA achieves an as of yet unequalled companies. efficiency of 70 per cent. The technique is patented, unique worldwide, and, once scaled up, an innovative export product. A special scrubber (OLGA) removes impurities particularly tar from the gas. The green gas produced can then be used as a replacement for natural gas in many applications: to generate electricity and heat, as transport fuel for cars, lorries and public transport, and in chemical production. The MILENA gasifier forms the heart of the Netherlands Expertise Centre for Biomass Gasification in Alkmaar. The first MILENA gasifier, in which the technology will be demonstrated, has a capacity of 12 megawatts. It is expected that this installation will go into operation in In 2017, a larger, commercial gasifier with a capacity of 50 to 100 megawatts will follow. The gas may be tapped off from the system Artist impression of gasifier MILENA Technique patented worldwide

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15 Initiative-takers ECN develops knowledge and technology with and for the market to enable the transfer to a sustainable energy system. ECN is one of the few institutes in the world which already has the expertise in-house to produce green gas by gasification of biomass with the as of yet unequalled efficiency of 70 per cent. TAQA Energy is a worldwide energy company, active in exploration and production of oil and gas and the generation of electricity. In the Netherlands, TAQA is contributing to the (green) gas hub through the Bergermeer Gas Storage Facility. TAQA s Dutch head quarters is presently still situated in The Hague, but is moving to Alkmaar. HVC energy and waste utilities company is a trend-setting utilities company of and for municipalities in North Holland province, which helps the participating government bodies in the realisation of their objectives in the field of energy and climate, waste and raw materials. HVC has a continuous flow of biomass at its disposal. Alkmaar municipality has the ambition to develop Boekelermeer industrial estate into an Energy Innovation Park. Location The Netherlands Expertise Centre for Biomass Gasification is sited on the Boekelermeer industrial park in Alkmaar, as part of the future Alkmaar Energy Innovation Park. The level of the available and relevant facilities in the immediate vicinity is high: the HVC heat network, the GTS high-pressure gas transport network and the Tennet high-voltage grid are close at hand. The Expertise Centre will be situated immediately next to the A9 motorway and is easily accessible by road or public transport. Amsterdam Schiphol airport is approximately a 30 minutes drive. North Holland Province, in relationship and collaboration with Energy Valley, has the ambition to be front runner in making the supply of gas sustainable. The province of North Holland, through advantageous financial structures, makes a significant contribution to the Netherlands Expertise Centre for Biomass Gasification. foto s: ECN, OLGA Dahlman, TAQA, istock, SXC

16 Want to know more? Then please contact: Bas Froon Development Company Manager, TAQA Energy B.V. Phone: +31 (0) Bert Rietveld Biomass Gasification Business Development, ECN Phone: +31 (0) or +31 (0)