Dutch biodiesel alliance presents action plan to policymakers
The Dutch Waste-Based Biodiesel Alliance (NBAA) presented its action plan Sept. 22 to four members of the Dutch parliament.
In this action plan, the alliance calls for immediate policy measures to further strengthen energy security, strategic autonomy and the sustainability of Dutch transport through the increased use of waste-based fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), also known as biodiesel.
Amid this period of geopolitical uncertainty and high diesel prices, the alliance warned that continued reliance on imported fossil diesel leaves the Dutch economy vulnerable to external shocks.
Waste-based biodiesel is already available today and can be used in existing vehicles, vessels and fuel infrastructure without requiring major modifications.
Collectively, the alliance members possess an annual production capacity of approximately 710,000 metric tons of waste-based biodiesel in the Netherlands.
This enables an annual reduction in emissions of around 2.5 million tons of CO2e and the replacement of a volume of fossil diesel equivalent to approximately 49 days of Dutch diesel consumption in 2025.
“Record-high diesel prices serve as a stark reminder that energy security cannot be taken for granted,” said Dickon Posnett, co-chair of the biodiesel alliance. “Biodiesel derived from waste offers a solution that is available today, produced in Europe and sustainable, and which can be deployed using existing transport infrastructure. This action plan proposes removing remaining barriers and ensuring clear, predictable policy so that the Netherlands can strengthen its resilience, reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels, accelerate the transition to sustainable transport and meet its climate goals.”
The action plan sets out a clear agenda for policymakers.
The alliance calls on the government to recognize Dutch and European biodiesel production as a strategic pillar of energy security, to safeguard access to sustainable waste and residual streams as feedstocks through stable regulations, and to provide long-term policy certainty to enable investment in Dutch biofuel production.
Furthermore, the plan advocates a technology-neutral approach that recognizes sustainable biofuels and electrification as complementary solutions.
To accelerate the reduction of emissions in the transport sector, the alliance recommends a roadmap toward higher biodiesel blends for passenger vehicles (B10), measures to support higher blends in heavy-duty road transport (B20 to B30), and the recognition of biodiesel made from Annex IX-B feedstocks under the fuel-transition obligation for the maritime sector.
It also calls for greater awareness among fuel users and fleet managers regarding the benefits and compatibility of higher biodiesel blends.
The alliance supports the electrification of transport wherever it is technically and economically feasible.
At the same time, the alliance emphasizes that internal-combustion engines will continue to play a significant role in heavy-duty road transport and the maritime sector for years to come.
Therefore, all sustainable technologies must be leveraged to achieve a safe, resilient and affordable energy system for transport.
In these sectors, maximizing the use of sustainable biofuels is essential to reduce emissions and meet climate goals.
Click here to access the action plan.
