Sustainable energy policies: The UK versus The Netherlands Who’s best? René Kemp

Sustainable energy policies in NL

The Dutch “transition approach” Led by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (responsible for business, energy and innovation) Goal: to achieve a transition to a low-carbon economy In a bottom-up, top-down manner, moving from programmes & experiments to alternative systems with new business With an important role for platforms

Top-down elements 26 transition paths 5 platforms for energy transition Government support for experiments (35 million euro) Policy renewal

Areas of interest Policy Renewal Biomass Sustainable Rijnmond New Gas Eff. Energy Chains

Bottom-up elements Business alliances Experiments Identification of barriers / opportunities informing private action and policy

New GasSustainable mobility Biomass Decentralised electricity (Greenhouses Hydrogen Clean fossil fuels Built environment Hybrid vehicles Biofuels Hydrogen vehicles ITS Biomass production in NL Biomass import chains Biomass coprod. SNG Green chemistry Dutch transition paths

Chain EfficiencySustainable electricity supply Optimized waste chains Precision agriculture Process intensification Multimodal transport Freight load management Symbiosis Decentralised cogeneration Paper industry Renewables Decarbonisation and cogeneration Electricity infrastructure Electricity saving Dutch transition paths continued

2050 Biomass 20-40% of primary energy supply‘Vision’ 2020 ‘Strategic goals’ 10-15% in power prod.15-20% in traffic à 3 % ‘Transition Paths’ C. Biofuels B. Pyrolysis A. Gasification Expv EOS Exp EOS : experiments: R&D The biomass vision

How serious are they? Platform for “green resources” (one of official 5 platforms)  4 transition paths 60 million euro for biofuels In % blending requirement for gasoline and diesel Certification system

Why is NL interested in biomass?  Because NL is a gas country (biomass can be turned into a gas)  Because agriculture business and the logistic sector (Rotterdam harbour) are interested in it  Because the chemical industry thinks it may obtain an competitive edge from knowledge- intensive, green materials  Because ECN is a world leader in biomass gassification

Why biomass #2  Because of Europe: the biofuel Directive  Because environmental groups are positive about biomass (if done in the right way)  Because the government views it as a relatively attractive way to achieve CO2 reductions

Policy renewal for technological innovation in NL  ‘room for experiments’  environmental permits, zoning regulations  ‘attitude’ of public authorities  public funds: ‘unique opportunities’  ‘service points’  cooperation within the bureaucracy  R&D in support of transition paths

Members of platform “green resources” Paul Hamm (chair) Dhr. G.G. Bemer (Koninklijke Nedalco) Dhr. A. van den Biggelaar (Stichting Natuur en Milieu) Mevr.dr.ir. M.J.P. Botman (Ministerie van Economische Zaken) Prof.dr. A. Bruggink (NWO-ACTS / Universiteit Nijmegen / DSM) Ir. K.W. Kwant (SenterNovem) Dhr. P. Lednor (Shell Global Solutions) Dr. Peter M. Bruinenberg (AVEBE) Prof.dr. E.M. Meijer (Unilever) Prof.dr. J.P.M. Sanders (Agrotechnology & Food Innovations) Prof.dr. W.P.M. van Swaaij (Universiteit Twente) Prof.dr. H. Veringa (ECN) Dr. J. Vanhemelrijck (EuropaBio) Prof.dr.ir. L.A.M. van der Wielen (Technische Universiteit Delft)

NL: Energy transition is “accelerated evolution” UK: Making business sense of climate change Government should not pick winners Policy discourse

1)Because of the barriers to system innovation -- which have to with uncertainty, the need for change at various levels and vested interests 2)Because public policy is highly fragmented and oriented towards short term goals 3)Because of the need for societal support for transition policies and for legitimising policies towards structural change 4)Because a gradual approach of small steps is economically not disruptive and politically (socially) do-able Why we need transition management

Transition management relies on blueprints Not true: it is based on a set of goals and quality images (visions). The goals and policies are constantly re-evaluated and periodically adjusted. This creates some flexibility but maintains a sense of direction. Transition management is the enemy of control policies Not true: control policies are needed. Transition management adds something to such policies: a framework and a commitment to change.. Transition management is something consensual Not true: There are stakes and ultimately winners and losers. It will succeed where other policies will fail Not true: it helps to achieve greater coherence in policy and increases diversity Misunderstandings about transition management