Sustainability gains ground

Sustainability has many faces. Take bio-energy. It’s clear that this is a source that can supply a significant amount of energy to the world in a sustainable way. However, once cultivation of bio-energy starts to take place on a large scale, there are inevitably certain risks. We believe that, given effective certification and monitoring programmes, these risks can be mitigated.We are therefore proud to report that we are currently involved in the world’s first government initiated set-up of a certification scheme for biofuels (in the UK).

I have been personally involved in bioenergy for the past 15 years and started working in this field within Ecofys about six years ago. At the beginning of this year I joined the board of Ecofys International to take up the challenge of further internationalizing our wind, bio-energy and power system solutions and services throughout the world.

As you all know, the renewable generation of energy is just one part of the complete range of measures that need to be taken if we are to move towards a world in which there is a sustainable energy supply for everyone. Energy efficiency and carbon management play an equally important role. As Ecofys we are involved in all of these areas. For example, when you travel with your family by train to visit the beautiful fairy tale theme park at the Efteling, you make use of services whose energy performance was influenced by solutions designed by Ecofys. In this way we aim to demonstrate that implementing a wide range of energy efficiency measures is far from a fairy tale, but rather down-to-earth everyday practice.

Below you can read about this and other examples of ways in which we can help you move your business closer to the sustainable future that we all aspire to. We invite you to contact our experts to get information that is tailored to your particular needs. I trust you will enjoy reading this newsletter.

Yours sincerely,
Richard van den Broek
Board member Ecofys International

For more information, please don't hesitate to contact Richard van den Broek by email.

Dutch Railways (NS) successful in cutting CO2 emissions

The NS, with which the Ministry of Economic Affairs has a Long-term Agreement on energy efficiency, is currently one of the most successful Dutch companies in cutting CO2 emissions. In the past eight years 1,000 kilotons of CO2 emissions were avoided by working in a more energy-efficient way. SenterNovem, which supervised the long-term agreement, commissioned Ecofys to monitor the emissions generated by the NS.

Improved energy efficiency
The traffic and transport sector is responsible for 20% of the CO2 emissions in the Netherlands. Moreover, it is a sector with one of the fastest growing emission levels and thus contributes significantly to climate change. In 1999 the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the NS agreed to work on an improvement in energy efficiency of 11% by 2011. The NS has already achieved this target in 2006. This reduction in CO2 emissions is equivalent to the emissions generated by 100,000 Dutch households.

Future plans
In the years ahead the NS plans to intensify its energy efficiency efforts by implementing new, innovative techniques and materials and by training its staff to drive in a way that saves energy. Furthermore, the NS is investigating the possibility of increasing its current share of 5% green energy, which already puts it  in the Top 10 customers of green electric power. Finally, the NS intends to extend its professional services in order to increase its share in that market segment. Again, the climate will benefit, because CO2 emissions per travelled kilometer by train are half of those emitted when travelling by car.

Earlier Ecofys had drawn up a successful energy-saving plan for the NS and in the project described above Ecofys calculated the impact of several energy-saving projects.

For more details, please contact Jeroen de Beer
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Ecofys helps the Efteling curb sharply rising energy costs

The Efteling – a fairy tale-based theme park in the south of the Netherlands – attracts more than a million visitors each year. The Efteling, which has made nature conservation one of its key goals, has produced an environmental action plan to put that goal into practice. Ecofys has worked out a strategic plan to demonstrate how the plan can improve one of the main factors contributing to sustainability: energy efficiency.

Increasing energy costs
Ecofys’ energy plan shows that the Efteling's energy costs will be 70% higher in 2007 than in 2006. This is due to a very favourable energy contract ending in 2006, rizing energy prices and a 10% increase of energy consumption required for a new attraction.

Energy-saving measures
In order to monitor and reduce these costs, Ecofys has assisted the amusement park in tendering for a new gas and electricity supplier for 2007. Furthermore, the plan focuses on energy saving in the design of new attractions. A number of elements can be implemented, such as: recovery of brake energy in roller coasters, optimizing pumping energy for water circulation, energy-efficient show lamps and more efficient cooling. Ecofys also recommended installing separate meters for the main attractions to monitor their energy consumption. In this way, the Efteling can achieve better control of its energy use. And finally, Ecofys identified options for improving energy efficiency. One interesting idea is to recover the heat from cooling the ice skating track and to use it to heat the hall.

Renewable energy
In addition, Ecofys made a quick scan of the potential for using renewable energy. One option is to expand the heat/cold supply to cover the ever-increasing demand for cooling. Another option, which seems to be both feasible and economically viable, is a small biomass incinerator for a newly planned holiday park.

For more details, please contact Jeroen de Beer
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California needs a way to measure energy efficiency

Together with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and Itron Consultants, Ecofys won a joint project from the California Energy Commission to develop a methodology for long-term supply curves for energy savings and GHG mitigation and to develop short-term and long-term curves for natural gas and electricity savings in California. This will help the state, which has an economy the size of a middle ranking country, in its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Reduce emissions
There is a general consensus that climate change induced by an increased concentration of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions poses a threat to life on the planet. Recognizing this threat, California had embarked on a long-term programme to reduce the rate of growth of its net greenhouse gas emissions. The combustion of natural gas in California contributes more than 30 percent of total carbon dioxide emissions. This amount is comparable to what is emitted from motor gasoline consumption and explains the need to reduce the contribution that natural gas is making to greenhouse gas emissions. Electricity generation is the other major part of the equation. So, increasing efficient uses of electricity will also result in lower greenhouse gas emissions.

New technologies
To estimate the potential to conserve energy in the state’s residential, commercial and industrial sectors over the next ten years, California needs to investigate new technologies. The California Energy commission is an agency of the State of California that is responsible for developing and implementing energy-efficiency policies.

For more details, please contact Ernst Worrell
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A guide to an international post-Kyoto climate change regime

The future development of the international climate regime is being discussed in a variety of forums, including the UNFCCC and groups concerned with the Kyoto Protocol. Ecofys, which contributes actively to this discussion, has prepared a report that provides an analytical basis for future commitments to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, when the first Kyoto Protocol commitment period ends in 2012.

The report Factors Underpinning Future Action provides detailed data for 47 countries on energy use, trends in greenhouse gas emissions and climate change policies. It paints a very diverse picture – almost all of the countries review have at least one unique characteristic.

The second part of the report assesses the effects of different future climate change regime models on the countries’ emission allowances. Three levels of ambition were explored for 2020 and 2050. We calculated emission allowances (before trading) for each country, and assessed the differences, applying six models. We also provided a sensitivity analysis for seven alternative ways of sharing emission allowances among industrialized countries. From the analysis we conclude that substantial emission reductions are necessary to achieve the stabilization goals.

The final agreement on an international climate change regime will be a multi-faceted, multi-stage, multi-layered system resulting from an iterative process of countries proposing and assessing each others’ proposals. The results presented in this report are designed to provide insights and to guide countries during this process.

For more details, please contact Niklas Hohne
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CO2 emission-neutral municipalities

Is it possible to make CO2 emission neutrality a criterion for cities as a whole? Following the lead taken by the municipalities of Almere and The Hague, other cities are also striving to achieve the ambitious energy target of CO2 emissions neutrality by 2020. In the long run they aim to achieve emissions neutrality without importing green electricity from outside the municipality.

Over the past ten years, Ecofys has already developed CO2 emission-neutral homes and districts such as the 'Sustainable Dreamhouses' in Leidsche Rijn, a carbon-neutral street in Leeuwarden and wind projects in Kerkrade and Heerhugowaard, where wind turbines generate renewable energy for a nearby housing estate. We believe it is technically feasible to start large-scale CO2 emission-neutral projects.

How can a city achieve CO2 emission neutrality?

• Make radical energy savings in all industries
• Use zero-carbon sources of energy
• Use renewable energy sources such as wind turbines, solar modules and biomass installations, preferably within the borders of the municipality.

But, as in all Ecofys projects, we emphasize the strong connection between a technical concept, the organization and financing of a project. We are demonstrating our commitment to this vision with the construction of a zero-energy Ecobuilding in Nieuwegein as our new head office. This building is due to be completed in 2009.

For more details, please contact Martin Mooij

World’s first government reporting system for sustainability of bio fuels

The rapid growth in the production and consumption of transport fuels based on biomass has led to public concern about the social and environmental conditions in which biofuels are produced, particularly those made from palm oil, corn and sugar cane. To provide more transparency, the UK Department for Transport decided to design a reporting system for biofuels.

This system requires companies that sell biofuels to report on the origins and sustainability of their products as part of the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO). The system, which is intended to be operational by April 2008, will provide transparent information about the environmental and social aspects of biofuel production. Ecofys has been commissioned to design this system, which will help producers, traders and users enhance their sustainability.

European or global standard
The UK system will be the first government biofuels sustainability reporting system in the world. The UK Department for Transport wanted a system that would cover the main sustainability risks of bio-energy in a practical and cost-effective manner. Ultimately the idea is to move towards a European or even global biofuels sustainability standard.

Objective criteria
The UK reporting system will be based on objective criteria for biofuel production, involving comparisons based on current conditions. Ecofys will make maximum use of standardized certification systems already developed for palm oil, soy, forest wood (FSC) and agriculture. It is very important that sustainability criteria are objectively measurable, feasible and practical. Ecofys believes in biomass as a renewable source for energy, but it is essential to develop objective criteria to ensure its sustainability.

For more details, please contact Rolf de Vos
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Can a diesel generator run on oil seeds?

Ecofys analysed the opportunities and threats for running a generator on biofuels in Ngarambe village in Southern Tanzania, close to a large wildlife reserve. The World Wildlife Fund and global electricity company ABB are jointly running an 'access to electricity' project. This project, which has assessed the technical, agricultural, economic and organizational feasibility of running the generator on locally produced biofuels, provides practical guidelines for implementing such a system. The local circumstances of Ngarambe village have been taken into account throughout the development of the project.

Simple process
Running a generator in Ngarambe village on locally produced biofuels demonstrates 'proof of principle' both for the economic and environmental performance of the access to electricity project. The production of Pure Plant Oil (PPO) is a straightforward process which can be achieved relatively easily in Ngarambe village. A simple, robust system is recommended in which oil seeds are pressed to release oil in a manual press. After filtration, the PPO is ready for use in the generator. For this purpose the generator would need to be equipped with a simple two-tank system which allows it to run on both diesel and PPO. In addition, it may need some technical adaptations to the fuel injection.

Jatropha
Of the various crops Jatropha was found to be the most suitable. It is drought-resistant, does well on poor soils, is easy to cultivate and does not compete with food production, as the oil is inedible. The disadvantage is that it does not yield a significant amount of seeds for the first three years. In order to get the system started, other crops could perhaps be used in a transitional phase.

Excellent opportunity
From an environmental perspective Jatropha is a non-invasive crop, which does not spread beyond the area in which it is planted. To produce the current annual consumption of 6,000 litres of fuel, around nine hectares of Jatropha will be needed. This is less than 0.3% of the current land set aside for settlement and cultivation.
From and economic point of view there is no reason not to produce PPO. The cost of production range from $0.47 to $0.69 per litre depending on the wages paid. This compares very favourably to the price of fossil diesel at $0.97.

Overall, the production of PPO for local electricity generation represents an excellent opportunity to reduce the costs of electricity for Ngarambe village, while at the same time creating a local economic activity with decent wages for local people. There are few technical obstacles – these are mainly related to the current generator, which should be replaced by a smaller, more suitable version for PPO. Training for the villagers in the full production chain of PPO is already available within Tanzania and is likely to substantially increase the chances of success.

For more details, please contact Leen Kuiper
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Newsflash

Ecofys Bulgaria
Ecofys is expanding rapidly. The latest addition to the list of countries where we have offices is Bulgaria. Our new office in Sofia serves Bulgaria and neighbouring countries on the Balkan peninsular. Thanks to a large international team of experts, we can offer the complete Ecofys portfolio in these countries.

New cluster: Innovation in Energy Systems
Product and system innovation is vital if we are to meet the growing demand for sustainable supplies of energy. To bundle expertise on innovations within the organization, Ecofys has set up a new international cluster: Innovation in Energy Systems. In addition to developing new innovative ideas, we continue research and development on Urban Turbines and Closed Greenhouse.

IPCC
Ecofys contributed to the 4th Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) of the United Nations. Click here for more information.

Clean transport
Ecofys brings ‘clean transport’ one step closer with a hybrid vehicle that can be connected to the grid. Click here to read the press release.

Events
In May Ecofys will be present at the following events: EWEC in Milan, Construmat in Barcelona, Carbon Expo in Cologne and the Biomass Conference in Berlin. Visit our stand and get an update on our services. We will have a small present waiting for you. More information can be found on our website.