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CE Mailvision newsletter Summer 2023

Our newsletters update you on a selection of current research and advisory projects, so you are the first to know about the studies and recommendations that are coming out.

In this issue:
  • CountEmissions EU initiative
  • 4i-TRACTION
  • Sustainability of biobased plastics
  • Allocation rules for chemical recycling
  • Impacts of a CO₂ ceiling for Dutch aviation
  • Aviation policy in 5 countries
  • Adapting buildings to climate change
  • Decarbonising the Dutch buildings sector
  • Refuelling and charging requirements Clean Energy Hubs
  • Recent publications

CountEmissions EU initiative
The European Commission wants to establish a EU framework for the harmonised accounting of GHG emissions for transport and logistics. This information will allow transport users to compare transport modes and operators with regard to their GHG emissions performance. In the current market for GHG emissions accounting, different organisations use different methodologies and data from different sources and of different quality. CE Delft and Ecorys have supported the European Commission in developing a harmonised EU framework for GHG emissions accounting by providing input for the Impact Assessment of the CountEmissions EU initiative that will be implemented by the Commission. In that context, we identified potential design options for this EU framework and assessed the potential economic, social and environmental impacts of these options. Based on the results of these assessments, a preferred design for the EU framework has been established. More information: Arno Schroten

4i-TRACTION
CE Delft is a participant in 4i-TRACTION, an EU-funded project with the aim of analysing what a transformative EU climate policy might look like. The project will describe how the current EU policy-mix should evolve in the 2020s in order to be on course for climate neutrality by 2050. CE Delft is contributing its expertise in energy, infrastructure and economic analysis to 4i-TRACTION. We will conduct an ex-post quantitative analysis of European climate policy, develop pathways for future transformative climate and energy policy and provide leadership for an ex-ante assessment of core policy instruments for the future policy mix. Furthermore, we will provide support for all work packages of the project by providing the topic lead for infrastructure, one of the four ‘4i topic leads’ to ensure consistency of the 4i approach across work packages. In this capacity, CE Delft will support infrastructure-related work throughout the project. Some examples of results that have been published so far 4i-TRACTION: Climate policies for the 2020s. More information: Bettina Kampman

Sustainability of bio-based plastics
In 2018, the market share of recycled plastic was only 9% and that of bio-based plastic only 1%. Given the environmental benefits of bio-based and recycled plastics over fossil-based plastics, various policy options to encourage their adoption are being studied and discussed. Firstly, this analysis focuses on identifying and explaining the potential climate benefits that bio-based plastics can realise compared to fossil-based plastics. Secondly, we propose a methodology to calculate the reduction of the climate impact of bio-based plastics, in line with the calculations for biofuels of the European Renewable Energy Directive (RED II). More information: Geert Bergsma

Allocation rules for chemical recycling
Allocation rules are required to match inputs (such as plastic waste) with the multiple outputs (such as plastics, chemicals, fuels) of a recycling process and to determine recycled content levels. For ‘long-loop’ chemical recycling, there are currently three main options under discussion in Europe: (1) proportional allocation, (2) polymers only, and (3) fuel exemption. These methods differ in the degree of freedom chemical companies have to allocate recycled content to outputs. CE Delft has determined the environmental impacts of the allocation options. More information: Geert Warringa

Impacts of a CO₂ ceiling for Dutch aviation
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management has commissioned CE Delft to assess the impacts of various CO₂ ceiling options for Dutch aviation. The main impact assessment defined 54 scenarios covering a wide range of options regarding: the capacity of Dutch airports, European measures from the European Fit for 55 proposals, national climate policy and socio-economic development. More information: Stefan Grebe

Aviation policy in 5 countries
In this report for the Foundation for Nature Conservation and Environmental Protection, we provide an overview of the scope of the aviation sector in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France and the United Kingdom. We then identify and list national and local measures, such as limiting aviation growth to meet CO₂ reduction targets and making aviation more sustainable. The Foundation for Nature Conservation and Environmental Protection asked us to identify the most effective national measures. More information: Stefan Grebe

EU-Level Technical Guidance On Adapting Buildings To Climate Change
CE Delft and Ramboll have prepared EU technical guidelines on adapting buildings to climate change, which was commissioned by the European Commission. The ‘EU-Level technical guidance on adapting buildings to Climate Change’ consists of two parts: ‘technical guidance’ and ‘best practice guidance’. CE Delft’s contribution, in collaboration with Ramboll, has been to compile an overview of climate adaptation measures for buildings in Europe. More information: Martha Deen

Decarbonising the Dutch buildings sector
Over 90 per cent of residential and commercial buildings in the Netherlands currently use natural gas for heating and cooking. To meet climate targets, it is necessary to phase out the use of natural gas and implement new heating and cooking systems powered by renewable energy sources. In this article, Katja Kruit describes Dutch policy for this heat transition and provides a framework for evaluating and developing a comprehensive policy package to support full decarbonisation. This article is based on a previous publication. More information: Katja Kruit

Refuelling and charging requirements Clean Energy Hubs
The Clean Energy Hubs (CEH) programme aims to realise a nationally coordinated network of refuelling and charging stations in the Netherlands for heavy road transport and inland navigation, providing two or more renewable energy carriers (‘Clean Energy Hubs’) by 2050. However, it is still uncertain what the mix of energy carriers will look like for heavy road transport and inland navigation in the future. To avoid a mismatch between the actual energy mix and the refuelling and charging infrastructure in the Netherlands, the Clean Energy Hubs programme asked CE Delft to investigate how many refuelling and charging points are expected to be needed to meet European and Dutch policy targets in 2030. More information: Matthijs Otten

Recent publications

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