Green gas from leftover sugar beet

With the launch of this beet campaign, Suiker Unie is producing sustainable gas using two methane reactors in Dinteloord and Vierverlaten. Essent will be purchasing green gas certificates from Suiker Unie for a period of five years. Both companies are using the Vertogas (new certification body for green gas) trading platform for the first time.

Essent, market leader in green gas in the Netherlands, has advised Suiker Unie on the administration involved in production of the gas and on obtaining green gas certificates. "We are happy with the collaboration with Essent. The company set up the monitoring protocol and guided us during approval of the equipment by Vertogas”, said Albert Markusse, General Manager of Suiker Unie.

By using its own gas in the production process, Suiker Unie is able to reduce consumption of fossil fuels. “A sustainable approach”, said Jacob Ruiter, Director of Large-Scale Enterprise at Essent. “In this way Suiker Unie is contributing to a high-quality certification system for green gas.”

How does Vertogas work?

Through Vertogas, producers are able to have the gas they produce certified in a sustainable manner and then sell the certificates. The certificates provide users with a guarantee that the gas supplied is sustainable.

What is the monitoring protocol?

The monitoring protocol has been developed to organise the administration of biogas producers for trade in certificates. Using the protocol, administration and data traffic for biogas production will be established and the quality and volumes of biogas safeguarded.

About Suiker Unie

Together with Suiker Unie Sensus, Aviko, SVZ, Unifine Food & Bake Ingredients and Nedalco, Suiker Unie forms part of Royal Cosun. Suiker Unie produces and supplies a wide range of sugar products to the food industry, food service and (chain) shops in the Netherlands and Europe. On the Dutch retail market, Suiker Unie is primarily known under the brand name Van Gilse. The two Suiker Unie sugar factories in the Netherlands are among the largest, most modern and most efficient in Europe. In addition to these, Suiker Unie has a sugar factory and a bioethanol factory in Germany (Anklam). Royal Cosun is an international group of companies that develops, produces and sells natural foodstuffs and ingredients. At present the cooperative has some 11,000 members / shareholders. Around 4,200 staff work at Cosun - of which 650 at Suiker Unie - which is achieving a group turnover of roughly 1.7 billion Euros per annum.

Published: 09 September 2009