“More than half of the money goes to the North: 330 million,” says Minister Micky Adriaansens of Economic Affairs and Climate about the EU funds. “The assignment here is huge because of the discontinuation of gas extraction. Think of switching to the production of, but also the use of green hydrogen. That’s where the biggest job is and that’s where the most money will be spent.”
Not only the switch from gas to green electricity or hydrogen, the products will also have to be cleaner and more sustainable. So without petroleum as a raw material. Adriaansens “Think, for example, of the trial at Avantium where they extract raw material for bio-plastic bottles from sugar beet.” Bottles that can then be recycled at Cure/Cumapol in Emmen, where there is now also a pilot plant for extracting synthetic fibers from clothing and carpet so that they can be reused.
It’s not just about the complicated chemical companies and energy-guzzling industries. The switch also affects the manufacturing industry in Drenthe, which has a strong presence in Hoogeveen and Emmen. Installations and business processes will have to be converted everywhere.
Because business processes and products will also change afterwards, millions will also be spent on education and training. And not only to pupils and students, but also especially to the further training, retraining or retraining of people who are now working.
Think of the technician of the central heating boiler who will soon have to build or install hydrogen boilers. Think of car mechanics who will soon no longer have to repair a car with a petrol engine, but one with a fuel cell in a hydrogen engine.
“The consequences of the transition are enormous. That means lifelong learning,” says State Secretary Karien van Gennip of Social Affairs and Employment. “And if your ‘fossil’ job of now no longer exists, we have to ensure that you can do something else, perhaps in that new energy generation or energy supply. We have to get everyone on board. Because if large groups of people do not can or want to come, society is falling apart.”
Deputy Henk Brink appeals to enterprising Drenthe: “The JTF fund offers great opportunities for companies and knowledge institutions in the municipality of Emmen and the rest of Drenthe. So, do you have a good initiative that helps us in Drenthe to get rid of fossil raw materials and fuels? And that the new circular economy gets going and keeps it going? Then get to work with it.”
The first subsidy scheme is the investment and training scheme, aimed at the process and manufacturing industry. Industrial companies in the Northern Netherlands that strengthen the Groningen and Emmen regions with their projects can submit an application.
The second subsidy scheme is for companies from self-employed persons to large companies, knowledge institutions and partnerships. They must come up with smart, innovative ideas and solutions for the transition to a green, fossil-free economy. This scheme is specific to innovation and research in collaborative projects.
Of the 330 million, about 80 percent goes to the province of Groningen and 20 percent to the Emmen region. Converted, about 66 million can be used in Emmen and the surrounding area.
The EU is making money available up to and including 2027 to six Dutch regions that face additional challenges to make the economy more sustainable and to strengthen the labor market. In this way they can contribute to the European ambition to be climate neutral by 2050. In addition to the regions of Groningen-Emmen, IJmond, Groot-Rijnmond, the west of North Brabant, Zeeuws-Vlaanderen and South Limburg also receive this extra support from Europe.