Rekenmodel individueel sectorsysteem glastuinbouw (2023)

CO2 Sector System for Dutch Greenhouses

Why was a new CO2 sector system needed for the Dutch greenhouse sector?

The current CO2 sector system for greenhouses proved ineffective at driving emissions reductions due to two main limitations. First, the long processing time meant greenhouse operators only received bills for their emissions long after the fact, preventing them from factoring carbon costs into their investment decisions. Additionally, the collective nature of the CO2 sector ceiling meant individual operators felt less responsible for reducing their emissions. A new individual sector system was therefore proposed to provide clearer and more immediate price signals while creating direct accountability for emissions at the facility level.

What role do fiscal measures play in driving greenhouse sector emissions reductions?

The analysis revealed that proposed fiscal measures, particularly the elimination of reduced energy tax rates and changes to CHP exemptions, create substantial incentives for greenhouse operators to transition to sustainable heating options even without an additional sector system. These fiscal changes particularly impact smaller extensive operations that fall entirely within the first tax bracket. When combined with expected energy price developments, the fiscal measures alone could potentially achieve significant portions of the sector's emission reduction targets.

How do different types of greenhouse operations respond to carbon pricing incentives?

The response to carbon pricing varies significantly across different greenhouse operation types based on their energy intensity and technology choices. Extensive operations without CHP units tend to transition rapidly to sustainable options due to their higher relative energy tax burden. Meanwhile, unlit greenhouse operations with CHP benefit from electricity sales and exemptions, making them slower to transition. The analysis shows intensive operations generally require stronger carbon price signals to drive change since they can partially offset costs through electricity market revenues.

What role does technology availability play in achieving emission reductions?

The sector's ability to achieve emission reductions depends heavily on access to sustainable heating technologies like geothermal, waste heat, and heat pumps. The analysis assumed certain technologies would have limited availability based on geographic constraints. Additionally, scarce sustainable fuels like biogas were modeled with sector-wide availability limits. These technology constraints proved to be key determinants of both the required carbon price and the distribution of costs across different operation types.