At the request of Greenpeace, KEMA has investigated the feasibility of building a large power station (1000 MWe) in the Netherlands, with biomass as fuel source. This type of plant emits no fossil-based carbondioxide and can supply a quarter of all Dutch households with green electricity. KEMA concluded that it is quite possible from a technical standpoint, although it cannot be realized overnight. The biggest challenge is the logistical aspect. A large-scale, international biofuel chain must be established. For the time being, that cannot be accomplished without subsidy because coal-based generation is still cheaper. 

On the basis of this report, Greenpeace is calling on the cabinet to make serious work of sustainable energy. Without subsidy for green alternatives, gas and coal plants will be built and the Netherlands will never make its contribution to prevent climate change. The Netherlands can take the lead in this innovative technology and reduce its dependence on fossil energy from abroad; this is the standpoint Greenpeace wishes to convey to the government and energy companies. 
The investigation was financed by Greenpeace and E.ON Benelux, a division of Europe's second largest energy company.

3.7 Million Tons of Pellets
The Netherlands currently has four small biomass power stations. The largest has an installed capacity of 25 MWe. The largest in the world (Finland) has a capacity of 250 MWe. Placing four of this type of installation next to each other is also possible. Another idea worth considering is the placement of these 250 MWe plants at diverse locations in order to achieve better heat-source coupling. After all, it must be possible to take advantage of the heat in the close vicinity of the plant. 

Many green biomass power stations can operate completely on the basis of waste products generated by timber and agricultural production, according to the KEMA investigation. Such power stations require enormous quantities of biomass: 3.7 million tons per year. In the Netherlands these quantities are not available, so wood pellets from North America, Scandinavia or Eastern Europe would have to be imported.