Source: Agro & Chemie

The Groningen-based BioBTX, Eindhoven University of Technology, and the Dutch government in Groningen have received a subsidy of €2.8 million from the Just Transition Fund (JTF) with the assistance of ASQA Subsidies.

The Just Transition Fund (JTF) has recently provided financial support for an ambitious project related to sustainable technology in the Netherlands. This subsidy is intended for the implementation and execution of the project titled “Production of Renewable and Biobased BTX and Other Sustainable Chemicals from Combined Organic and Circular Inputs.” This allocation is a recognition of the potential of BioBTX to promote innovation in sustainable practices and contribute to Europe’s transition to a climate-neutral future.

A Green Future with BioBTX

The main goal of this project is the further development of BioBTX technology, which efficiently converts biomass and mixed plastic waste into valuable materials, including the basic chemicals Butene, Toluene, and Xylene. These chemicals have numerous industrial applications and serve as the building blocks for various products. By producing these valuable substances from renewable and circular sources, BioBTX contributes to a greener future and waste reduction.

The company collaborates closely with leading research groups, including those of Professor Erik Heeres from the University of Groningen, Professor Hans Kuipers, and Dr. Kay Buist from Eindhoven University of Technology. Together, they aim to take the next steps in the development and improvement of BioBTX ICCP (Integrated Cascading Catalytic Pyrolysis) technology, both operationally and fundamentally.

“We are very pleased to be one of the first recipients of the Just Transition Fund subsidy, which is a significant milestone in our mission to develop state-of-the-art technology for renewable chemicals,” said Cor Kamminga, CEO of BioBTX. “This enables us to actively contribute to the circular economy and make progress in waste reduction while creating sustainable employment.”

Just Transition Fund

The JTF, the ‘fund for a just energy transition,’ is a European fund for regions most affected by the shift to a green economy. The European Union aims to reduce socioeconomic inequality through this fund. The JTF is derived from the European Green Deal, the program for a climate-neutral Europe by 2050. To achieve this transition in Northern Netherlands, €330 million has been allocated until 2027. In addition to this year (2024), multiple subsidy schemes will be opened.

The JTF in Northern Netherlands is managed by the provinces of Groningen, Drenthe, and Fryslân, the municipality of Emmen, and the Labor Market Table Northern Netherlands (a public collaboration between the three Northern Labor Market regions – consisting of the municipality and UWV – and the three Northern provinces). The Northern Netherlands Cooperation (SNN) administers the JTF subsidies.