Commissioned by the Dutch Association for Sustainable Energy (NVDE), the Dutch Association for biomethane (Platform Groen Gas), and the Dutch gas TSO (Gasunie), Common Futures investigated the potential of manure digestion as a springboard for nitrogen emission reduction. Manure digestion makes it technically feasible and economically attractive to implement nitrogen-reducing measures such as rapid manure removal from stables, biological acidification, and nitrogen stripping from digestate. By combining these techniques, up to a quarter of the remaining nitrogen reduction target for 2030 could be achieved - while also delivering significant co-benefits for the climate, energy system and agriculture.
Context: An Urgent Nitrogen Challenge
Following a recent ruling by the Dutch Council of State (December 2024) on internal nitrogen accounting, the Netherlands is facing major obstacles in addressing its nitrogen problem. Projects are on hold and permits are being withdrawn. Achieving healthy nitrogen levels in at least half of all Dutch nature areas by 2030 is a major challenge. Against this backdrop, Common Futures examined how manure digestion combined with complementary techniques can help unlock progress in the current nitrogen crisis.
Memo: "Biomethane as a Stepping Stone for Nitrogen Emission Reduction"
In this memo, Common Futures explored the potential of manure digestion, with attention to the broader policy context and the role of supporting measures. The analysis covered both mono- and co-digestion. It also examined key complementary measures to strengthen nitrogen emission reductions, including biological acidification of manure, rapid removal from stables, and nitrogen stripping from digestate.
The analysis quantified the amount of manure available for digestion and assessed its potential contribution to biomethane production. Of the 75 million tonnes of manure produced annually in the Netherlands, approximately 22 million tonnes could be used to produce around 400 million cubic metres of biomethane by 2030. This volume represents a significant share of the goal set under the proposed biomethane blending obligation, which would require gas suppliers to gradually increase the share of renewable gas in their supply. This obligation creates a stable market for biomethane and makes investments in manure digestion—and associated nitrogen-reducing measures—more financially viable.
The combined deployment of manure digestion and supporting measures under the blending obligation could reduce ammonia emissions by an estimated 10 million kilograms per year. At the same time, it would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2.4 megatonnes of CO₂-equivalent annually, by preventing methane emissions from manure storage and replacing fossil natural gas. Manure digestion therefore offers a valuable opportunity to align nitrogen, climate and energy policy.
The report was discussed by cabinet ministers and stakeholders working to identify effective and practical strategies to reduce nitrogen emissions. Manure digestion - combined with smart technologies - can offer a concrete and quickly scalable contribution to this effort.
The NVDE news article related to the report is available here.
The Common Futures report can be downloaded here.
