For the time being, RWE can continue with its plans to fully fuel the coal-fired power plant in Eemshaven with biomass and capture the CO2.
An amendment from the Party for the Animals (PvdD) that wanted to definitively put an end to the burning of woody biomass for the production of electricity did not receive a majority in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
Green light for Jetten
Outgoing D66 Minister Jetten (Climate and Energy) thus received the green light to further investigate whether biomass can be subsidized in combination with CO2 capture.
RWE says it is relieved about this. The Eemshaven power plant currently runs on 20 percent biomass. According to spokeswoman Marjanne van Ginkel, preparations are underway to move to 50 percent. RWE’s Amer power station in Geertruidenberg already runs on 80 percent biomass and is preparing for the step to 100 percent.
Coal burning banned in 2030
In addition to both RWE power stations, there are two more power stations in Rotterdam that run on coal. The one in Eemshaven is the largest.
Coal burning will be banned in 2030. Partly for this reason, the owners want to switch to biomass. The CO2 that is created must initially be stored in empty gas fields.
Ultimately, the CO2 must be transported to companies that use it as a raw material. In the case of the Eemshaven power plant, the CO2 would have to be transported via a pipeline to the chemical cluster in Delfzijl.
Intense debate
Burning biomass has been the subject of intense debate for years. Opponents, including the PvdD, say that trees are imported and burned on a large scale.
RWE denies that. According to the company, the pellets that replace coal are made from residual products (branches, sawdust, trees unsuitable for processing) from the timber industry in countries with large production forests such as Canada, the US and the Baltic States. The energy company says that the pellets are certified as sustainable.
Support inadequate
Under pressure from the protests, the cabinet decided to stop subsidizing biomass in 2022. Jetten is considering returning to this if the energy companies start capturing CO2. This creates what is called ‘negative emissions’. The outgoing minister noted some time ago that these are necessary to achieve the 2050 climate goals.
The PvdD wanted to cut off the minister with an amendment. However, the support from GroenLinks-PvdA, Volt, SP, Denk, FvD and Ja21 was insufficient.