State aid: Commission approves €3.1 million investment aid for CO2 transport infrastructure in the Netherlands

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, Dutch plans to grant €3.1 million of public support to the company OCAP CO₂ B, for the construction of CO₂ transport infrastructure in PrimA4a, in the Greenport of Aalsmeer. This measure is expected to reduce 21 kilotonnes of CO₂ emissions per year. In particular, the infrastructure will transport waste CO₂ (e.g. from Shell) to greenhouses in the PrimA4a horticulture area, which need CO₂ for their crop growth. Currently, these greenhouses produce their own CO₂ using heating systems such as cogeneration systems or gas fired boilers. In summer, when heating is not needed, the greenhouses nevertheless use their heating systems for the sole purpose of CO₂ generation. Thanks to this measure, greenhouses in future will be able to use excess waste CO2 instead. This will benefit the environment by reducing the use of primary energy sources to produce CO_2. The Commission assessed and approved the measure by applying principles set out under the Commission’s 2014 Guidelines on State aid for Environmental protection and Energy. More information on today’s decision will be available on the Commission’s competition website, in the public case register under the case number SA.48816.