51,000 homes and 355 companies in Brabant receive their heat via Ennatuurlijk from the Amercentrale in Geertruidenberg, but that could easily come to an end. The German energy company RWE, the owner of the plant, has canceled the contract for the supply of heat with effect from January 1, 2027. The production of heat in the biomass plant does not yield enough for the company. Researchers think that all alternatives will be more expensive for Ennatuurlijk customers.
The homes, especially in Breda and Tilburg, and companies receive heat via the Amernet. It is unclear where they will get their heat from from 2027. In addition, the owner of the heating network, Ennatuurlijk, also wants to connect another 55,000 new homes.
Last year, RWE announced the termination of the contract with Ennatuurlijk. Consultancy firm Over Morgen subsequently conducted research into the future of the Amernet.
Secret contract
The contract between RWE and Ennatuurlijk is secret, but according to the researchers it appears that RWE can terminate the contract without giving any reason. Nevertheless, Ennatuurlijk is contesting the termination.
According to the researchers, these are the alternatives after 2027:
- Negotiating a new contract with RWE. That will certainly be more expensive.
- Use backup boilers from the Amercentrale. But then a new boiler must also be added. These boilers must then be fired by more expensive gas or bio-oil, which is also a lot less sustainable.
- Building a pipeline to collect residual heat from the Moerdijk industrial area. It cannot be completed until 2030 at the earliest. In addition, pipelines in the future will probably have to be managed by the government. Ennatuurlijk and the government must therefore work together.
Solutions that seem obvious are not options. For example, only a very small part of the homes in the Amernet have a gas connection. Installing solar panels and heat pumps will take too long and also cost a lot of money, the researchers think.
Black scenario
During a meeting in the provincial government, members of Parliament were updated about the research. This made it clear that it is assumed that it is not a question of if, but when Ennatuurlijk will go bankrupt. The company simply won’t be able to support the expensive alternatives.
There was also speculation about what could be the reason for RWE to terminate the contract. Did the Germans perhaps want a good position in negotiations for a new contract, several members of Parliament and also the researchers wondered out loud.
The situation surrounding the Amernet certainly does not leave the Provincial Council cold. The VVD spoke of a dark scenario and CDA and PVV expressed their surprise at the ease with which RWE was able to terminate the contract. Oscar van Raak (SP) concluded: “If heat ends up in the hands of companies, it poses enormous risks. The misery we are experiencing now shows this.”