Netherlands

Highlights in 2018
Highlights in 2018

 

Mission Innovation impact case study

Activities that would not have occurred without MI are the development of a prototype for a Comfort Climate Box (the active cooperation between the International Energy Agency Technology Collaboration Programmes and MI (IC7)), the expanding of the Accelerating CCS Technologies ERA-net cofund to non-EU MI-members (contributes to the goals of IC3), Biofuture platform report (IC4) and reinforced cooperation within the hydrogen challenge (IC8).

MI stimulated these activities by creating a platform for countries through which they can more easily collaborate. Also, adding the MI Innovation Challenges to the projects/collaborations, the country members have more leverage to make things happen.

Comfort Climate Box (CCB)

Impact: shared costs research and development, integration of components at system level and with that a ‘plug & play system’ for affordable heating & cooling.

The Netherlands aims at establishing further private engagement in the CCB, and also to discuss this further in the Business & Investor Engagement subgroup.

Accelerating CCS Technologies ERA-net cofund call 

26 proposals were received for the second call, selected projects will start in September 2019. A new call is planned in 2020. The focus of the MI IC3 workshop in Trondheim, June 20th 2019, will be on strengthening private-public collaboration by identifying research, development and innovation gaps of common interest in higher Technology Readiness Level technologies.

Biofuture Platfom report

Strengthened collaboration with existing international initiatives (Biofuture Platform, MI Sustainable Biofuels Innovation Challenge (IC4), among other initiatives). A call in the Horizon 2020 work program for advanced biofuels which can contribute to the objectives of IC4.

The cooperation within the hydrogen challenge is reinforced. All topics are open to international cooperation with the aim to bring costs down (3-4 times), performances up and accelerate development of a global hydrogen market.


Update on clean energy innovation policies and strategies

The Netherlands has set an ambitious CO2-reduction target of 49% in 2030, with a view to increasing the European Union target for CO2-emission reduction to 55% in 2030 compared to 1990. The Netherlands is targeting CO2-reduction on a sectoral level within the Dutch Climate Agreement for the Electricity sector, Industry, Mobility, the built environment and Agriculture & land-use. For this purpose, sectoral consultations were organised with all relevant stakeholders, including industry and non-governmental organisations to discuss options and concrete measurements.

The draft of the Climate Agreement has been completed and with that a Mission Oriented Knowledge and Innovation Agenda (“IKIA”) for Climate and Energy has been developed. In this agenda all the relevant knowledge and innovation challenges to reach the sectoral CO2-reduction targets have been translated in to 13 mission-oriented innovation programs. These innovation programs are designed to stimulate (fundamental) research, the development and market-introduction of effective CO2-reduction technologies, taking to account social circumstances and preferences. The definitive Climate Agreement is foreseen before summer 2019.

The cabinet has assigned an additional €300 million per year, starting in 2018, to execute the national Climate Agreement focussing on pilots and demonstration projects. With this additional budget the Netherlands has met the MI doubling targets.


Major innovation initiatives in 2018/19

The Netherlands supports energy-innovation projects through a variety of programs and collaborations. Among the most successful national programs are:

  • the Topsector Energy program: €41.8 million in 2018, €33 million in 2019
  • the demonstration program for climate & energy-innovation that supports pilots and the demonstration of CO2-reduction projects: €40 million in 2018, €35 million in 2019
  • the renewable energy program that supports early technologies to achieve cost reductions: €50 million in 2018, €50 million in 2019

New themes and budget have been added to the national programs this year and in 2018 in accordance with the extra budget that the cabinet has assigned for the upcoming National Climate Agreement (in total €300 million/year). The additional available budget amounts to €36.4 million in 2018 and €91.5 million in 2019. With that extra budget research & innovation projects are stimulated on for example CO2-reduction in the industry including CO2 capture, utilisation and storage CC(U)S and recycling, flexibilization of the electricity system, hydrogen, spatial integration of large-scale renewable energy production (wind or solar), and phasing out of natural gas in the built environment for heating/cooking. An example is the development of a sustainable low temperature heating network for existing buildings with photovoltaic thermal systems and ground fittings.


Major activities in support of the Innovation Challenges in 2018/19

Comfort Climate Box (IC7)

The Netherlands has provided project-leadership to develop a prototype for a comfort climate box. Cooperation with MI members of the International Energy Agency Heat Pumping Technologies /Energy Conservation through Energy Storage network including UK, Austria, Sweden, Canada etc.

ACT ERA-net cofund call (IC3)

Second call of €30 million to internationally accelerate CCUS technologies, with a reference to the MI IC3 report on Priority Research Directions. Start of projects in September 2019. MI members: NO, DE, FR, NL (€4 million), UK, USA. Other: CH, ES, GR, RO, TR.

Biofuture platform report ‘state of the Low Carbon Bio-economy’ (IC4)

Successful cooperation between Biofuture Platform members (the Netherlands and 11 other MI members) and MI members (EU, Mexico and Norway).

Reinforced cooperation within the hydrogen challenge (IC8)

The Netherlands joined IC8 and is helping to develop the work program. Dutch priorities include: Hydrogen Valleys, working technologies at scale, (Green) H2 in industry, feedstocks, transport/maritime, gas turbines in powerplants, admixture into natural gas networks, underground storage, enabling global market, suitable carriers.

Additional climate budget for the national Climate Agreement:  nationally supports the objectives under IC3, IC4, IC7 and IC8.


Other Mission Innovation related activity in 2018/19

  • The Netherlands has participated in the MI Champions program.
  • We are investigating with the Communication Department of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, how we can improve the promotion of MI.
  • Within the framework of the 13 mission-oriented innovation programs we are aiming at further developing these programs according to the triple helix model. This implies that the Netherlands is actively looking at how to reinforce private engagement, but also how to strengthen and re-assess international means.