EBN Strengthens Its Role in Green Gas

Energie Beheer Nederland (EBN) is temporarily expanding its role in green gas to contribute to achieving the national green gas scale-up targets. In addition to its role as a non-operating partner in several green gas projects, including the North Star project in Emmen, the public energy company is exploring additional opportunities.

Uncertainty about achieving targets

Green gas production is currently lagging behind the national target of 2 bcm of green gas by 2030. Reaching this target requires annual production growth of 37% through to 2030. Through the Green Gas Programme, the Dutch government is deploying several policy instruments aimed at accelerating green gas production in the Netherlands. One of these is proposed legislation requiring energy suppliers to deliver a blend of green gas and conventional natural gas. The introduction of this so-called blending obligation, which is still subject to final approval by the government and parliament, is regarded by the green gas sector as an essential building block for achieving the required scale-up.

However, it remains uncertain whether these measures alone will be sufficient to deliver the necessary growth in green gas production. This uncertainty has led the government to assign EBN a temporary role in green gas production.
This temporary involvement is intended to provide an additional stimulus, making investments in green gas projects more attractive to market participants. In addition, EBN can leverage its public-sector relationships to help accelerate the integration and development of green gas projects.

Knowledge and financial strength

As the Dutch public energy company, EBN is active on behalf of the State across many areas of today’s and tomorrow’s energy system, including natural gas, sustainable heat, hydrogen, and energy and CO₂ storage. Throughout the Netherlands, EBN contributes knowledge and financial strength as a non-operating partner in hundreds of public-private partnerships. Green gas projects are now being added to this portfolio. The focus is on large-scale projects where public-private cooperation can create added value.

Douwe van Leverink, Director of the Energy Systems Development Unit at EBN:
“We are pleased to strengthen our role in green gas and contribute to the development of this sector as an indispensable building block of our future sustainable energy system. We are specifically looking at large-scale anaerobic digestion and gasification projects, as well as partners who are open to the added value we can bring through our knowledge, experience and network in public-private collaboration.”

Regular evaluation

Depending on market developments, EBN’s role will be reviewed and adjusted where necessary. Every three years, the development of the green gas market and the relevance of EBN’s involvement will be evaluated jointly with the Ministry. Based on these evaluations, EBN’s role can be expanded or scaled back.