The agreement between the energy companies and environmental groups including Greenpeace comes after a two-year deadlock, which has slowed down implementation of the government's crucial Energy Agreement.
The Energy Agreement is meant to pave the way for more sustainable energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Among other things, it offers energy companies subsidies for switching to cleaner fuel. But according to Greenpeace and other environmental groups, the conditions imposed to ensure sustainable production of these alternative fuels were not strict enough.
The agreement announced by the Economic Affairs ministry on Friday means the Netherlands will now have the toughest guarantees "of any country", said Ed Nijpels of the Social and Economic Council of the Netherlands (SER). And with the threat of litigation averted, there are no longer any obstacles to implementing the Energy Agreement in full.
But last January, the Royal Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) published a position paper (.pdf) that casts serious doubt on the science behind this part of the agreement.
Authors Martijn Katan, Rudy Rabbinge and NIOO-director Louise Vet summarise the conclusions of a number of independent experts, who say the use of biofuel and wood combustion will not lead to a substantial decrease in greenhouse gas emissions. According to these experts:
The position paper sparked a great deal of controversy in the Netherlands, with supporters of biofuel such as André Fraaij of the Energy Academy Europe accusing the KNAW of political activism. That's why the KNAW is now organising a symposium that offers a platform to both sides.
Fraaij will be one of the speakers on 10 April. The subject of his paper is "How biobased economy can be part of sustainable development and why we can't do without it". Other speakers, such as Martin Junginger from Utrecht University and David MacKay from Cambridge University, will focus more on the "uncertainties" and on "sustainable energy without the hot air."
There is more information about the symposium on the KNAW website. Participation is free, but as there is a limited number of places registration is compulsory.