The BioBased Circular programme aims to set up a sustainable sugar-based chemical and materials manufacturing industry in the Netherlands. The programme, which runs until 2032, will link up the agricultural sector with the chemical and plastics industry, creating entirely new sustainable value chains to position the Netherlands as a frontrunner in the production of plant-based and circular plastic materials.
The BBC programme is conditionally awarded €338 million in total2 . The Ray Technology™ Flagship Plant had requested a total award of €53 million, which is now conditionally approved. One of the conditions is that the Ray Technology™ Flagship Plant will be constructed in the Netherlands. Other conditions that are detailed in the National Growth Fund report will be further evaluated. The grant award will be paid out to the Ray Technology™ Flagship Plant project in milestone payments over the coming years and pending Final Investment Decision.
Avantium has developed an efficient and sustainable way to produce the plant-based glycols plantMEG™ and plantMPG™ from plant-based feedstocks, as alternative to fossil feedstock, with its Ray Technology™. PlantMEG™ is a plant-based product used in large applications like packaging, polyester textiles, and antifreeze. PlantMPG™ can be used for airplane de-icing, in unsaturated polyester resins such as used for the production of windmill blades and as a heat transfer fluid in solar panels. Avantium currently produces plantMEG™ and plantMPG™ at its demonstration plant in Delfzijl, the Netherlands using Cosun Beet Company’s locally grown beet sugar as the renewable feedstock. The intention is to construct a Flagship Plant for the production of plant-based glycols and operate this plant by 2027.
The National Growth Fund is an initiative of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy and the Ministry of Finance of The Netherlands. Collectively, these Ministries manage the fund on behalf of the Dutch government. The National Growth Fund is intended for one-off public investment that contributes to the country's future economic growth. The projects that are granted funding are expected to all result in increased productivity and create new business.
