The European Commission has today authorised a €5 million investment aid for a pipeline infrastructure to transport waste CO2 from a bioethanol plant in Rotterdam to greenhouses in the “Zuidplaspolder”.
The waste CO2 will be used to enhance crop growth, thereby reducing the current use of CO2 in flue gases obtained through the burning of natural gas in boilers and cogeneration installations.
The project produces savings in the order of 25 million m3 of natural gas per year - approximately as much as that consumed by 16,000 households.
Commission Vice-President in charge of competition policy Joaquín Almunia said: “The Dutch aid favours the recyling of waste CO2 from local industry without unduly distorting competition. It reduces greenhouse gas emissions and increases the level of environmental protection in the EU."
The Commission approved €5 million of investment aid that the Dutch authorities intend to grant to Bio Supply CV, a member of the OCAP (Organic CO2 for the Assimilation of Plants) group.
The aid supports the construction of a pipeline infrastructure to transport waste CO2 from a bioethanol plant of Abengoa Bioenergy Netherlands in the harbour area of Rotterdam to greenhouses in Zuidplaspolder, within an area of around 550 hectares.
The greenhouses currently produce their own CO2 using cogeneration systems or gas fired boilers, also in mild weather conditions when heat is not needed (so-called “summer heating”). OCAP is a joint-venture of Volker Wessels and Linde Gas.
The Commission examined the measure under EU Treaty rules allowing aid for furthering an objective of common interest under certain conditions. The measure clearly contributes to EU environmental objectives, as it reduces global greenhouse emissions.
In particular, it will allow to save around 25 million m³ of natural gas wastefully burned every year, thus avoiding annual CO2 emissions of 45,000 ton.
Moreover, the aid is necessary since the project is unlikely to be undertaken without the aid, given the investment and exploitation risks involved. The aid is not expected to give rise to an undue distortion of competition or adverse effect on trade between Member States in light of the local nature of the relevant markets.
Post a comment