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Energy vision of municipality The Hague is shaping up
The municipality of The Hague has developed an energy vision, in which the following questions are answered: “What does a desirable future energy provision in 2050 of The Hague look like and what could be the role of the municipality do to realize this?”.
Starting points for the energy vision for 2050 is that: “The energy system is sustainable, affordable and reliable”. Emiel Hanekamp supports the municipality with both the process and the contents of the energy vision.
More information: Emiel Hanekamp
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Role and impact of SMEs in EU renewable energy research should improve
Partners for Innovation has recently completed a study for the European Commission, DG Research, on the role of SMEs in European renewable energy research. Two of the conclusions are:
1. For several energy technologies SMEs have a pioneering role.
2. For both the companies themselves and for the quality of the research results it is of importance that more SMEs do participate in EU renewable energy research.
More information: Peter Karsch
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Sustainable Lighting for offices and businesses in Deventer
Two well attended evening walks conclude the project Sustainable Lighting Deventer – Stores and Catering. In 2010 we started a new project in Deventer aimed at offices and business spaces. Through workshops, light advice and creating exemplary cases, offices and businesses are encouraged to switch to sustainable lighting. The Province Overijssel and Municipality Deventer have provided funding again. Partners for Innovation is project coordinator.
More information: Carolien van Merksteijn
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Editorial – Verifiable sustainable biofuels: utopia or chance?
In the media there is much negative attention on the impact of the production of biofuels, particularly made from energy crops. The discussion primarily focuses on the competition of arable land for food, feed and energy crops for fuel. The current debate lacks two important dimensions:
1. What would the world look like without biofuels, assuming that demand for energy continues to grow and this demand will be met by fossil fuels? This question is not addressed in the current debate. A sound comparison between a world with and without biofuels is not drawn.
2. The distinction between direct and indirect impacts of biofuel production lacks. When crops for biofuels are grown on a limited scale, this will lead to changes in land use, greenhouse gas emissions, water use and employment. These are immediate effects, directly and exclusively related to the biofuel chain. However when the energy crops are grown on a larger scale, this will lead to other, indirect effects on a global level. Examples are degradation of biodiversity and effects on food prices.
The question whether and to what extent biofuels are sustainable is a complex question. The food, feed and fuel discussion shows that there is a need for more clarity. Firstly, an instrument is needed to make the broad concept of ‘sustainability’ measurable. Already several initiatives have emerged that aim to develop sustainability criteria specifically for biofuels. However, the logical next step, the certification of biofuel projects is still in its infancy.
What should the approach to measure the sustainability of a biofuel project look like? The first step is to identify the direct impacts of biofuel production. For this, the entire chain from resource to producer to consumer should be taken into account. The second step should focus on the indirect effects. However, In this step the first difficulties are encountered, because these effects are not yet quantifiable. Therefore they are (so far) excluded from the various sustainability criteria that are currently being developed. This is especially due to the complexity of the relation between for example the cultivation of a certain amount of hectares of energy crops and the effect this has on food prices. Hardly any research has been done on this subject so far.
Biofuels offer many opportunities on environmental and socio-economic improvement for both Western and developing countries. To make further development and acceptance of biofuels possible, it is of crucial importance that the sustainability of this energy type is made measurable. Despite the obstacles related to the measurability of the sustainability of biofuels, I believe that investments in research and development for sustainable biofuels are necessary. The use - in a responsible manner – of biofuels is crucial for the transition towards a sustainable energy system. A sound method for determining the sustainability of biofuels is essential in achieving this.
Eva Froger, advisor at Partners for Innovation
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