Dutch greenhouse sector adopts carbon capture and explores hydrogen

Thirteen greenhouse companies in the Netherlands have been awarded SDE++ subsidies to implement direct air capture (DAC) technology. This initiative aims to capture CO2 from the atmosphere to use as a fertilizer, which can stimulate plant growth by an average of 20% to 40%.

This move addresses a projected CO2 shortage in the sector. While the industry aims to have 2 megatons of CO2 available for plant growth by 2030, current availability is only 0.7 megatons. The transition to fossil-free energy sources, such as geothermal energy and heat pumps, is reducing the CO2 byproduct traditionally provided by combined heat and power (CHP) units.

In addition to carbon capture, the sector is exploring hydrogen as a strategic long-term energy option. While analyses suggest hydrogen may not be the most economical solution in the short term compared to natural gas-based CHP, industry leaders emphasize the need to engage with hydrogen developments now to influence future infrastructure and ensure a reliable, sustainable energy supply.