Dutch NAP-2 consultations: harmonised definitions and opt-in N2O

Consultations on NAP-2 in the Netherlands are well on their way, according to the recent official CO2 Newsletter. Most of the 500 participating sites have filled in the questionnaire and twelve sector organisations have been consulted by the government. The government asked in a letter to the European Commission to ensure that all member states use the same definition of combustion installation for energy activities, so that for example all member states include crackers of chemical sites. The recent EC Guidance is not mandatory, and although the UK proposed, backed by NL, Esp, France, to adopt an EU wide Agreement to legalise the Guidance, the Dutch government wants certainty for their industry; this was the reason for 9 Dutch sites to obtain an opt-out last time.

Also beneficial for the chemical sector but certainly for the fertilizer and nylon producers is the Dutch preference to opt-in N2O into the emissions trading system (5 Mton CO2e/annum). A cap would lead to stronger reductions that the current IPPC/BAT requires. The government knows that other member states are interested, which would have the preference over a unilateral opt-in.