Essent concludes contract with Rabobank for the supply of green gas

Arnhem, 15 August 2008 - During the next two years, Rabobank will be using green gas supplied by the energy company Essent. The two parties have signed a contract to this end. In the contract Essent guarantees that it will supply Rabobank with 50% green gas. This percentage is unique in the Netherlands and with it Rabobank becomes the largest private customer for green gas. In addition, Rabobank is going to investigate jointly with Essent further possibilities for producing green gas.

"We were looking for a gas supplier who could supply us with green gas and in Essent we have found one", said Bart Jan Krouwel, Manager Corporate Social Responsibility for Rabobank. "By purchasing green gas, we lower our CO2 emissions and emphasise our climate-neutral business operations. In addition, ensuring that we consume as little gas as possible is even more important than buying it green". 

Essent is also extremely pleased with the contract. "Green gas is the collective name for gas that is released with the fermentation of organic material. However, the crude product is not directly suitable for heating homes and offices. Essent therefore processes the crude product and, as soon as it satisfies carefully imposed requirements, we can release it through the existing natural gas network", Hannie Preuter tells us on behalf of Essent B2B, the business unit for big business customers. 

"The production of green gas is good for the environment in several respects. It prevents methane from entering the atmosphere as a greenhouse gas and the CO2 that is trapped during processing can be used in a pure form, for example in greenhouses or the manufacturing industry."

Rabobank and Essent are shortly starting an investigation into the possibilities for producing green gas. Their collaboration will be a starting point to facilitate further innovations in the green gas chain.