Sustainable solutions for Aspen energy transition

Related theme: Energy transition 

Challenge – Steps towards net zero

Aspen Oss is an international producer of active pharmaceutical ingredients with three locations in Oss and Boxtel, the Netherlands. Its objective is to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and it engaged TAUW to explore what alternative energy sources are available, how to make the transition and what steps would be needed to achieve net zero.

Complex locations
The company has 3 production sites in the Netherlands. The locations are currently using natural gas as the main energy source.  A complicating factor was that Aspen supplied various energy carriers to other operators at the two industrial estates in Oss. And so, any changes to the energy supply would affect those other parties.

Solution - Comprehensive package of sustainability measures seen in a broader context

TAUW was chosen to lead this project because of its high-value proposal with a transition scenario approach. A transition scenario shows the viable pathways towards the sustainability goal by taking into account uncertainties in future energy supply, grid capacity and other external factors. It shows the current and future options that the company has and by when choices should be made. For this project, TAUW consultants also involved several stakeholders - talking to energy suppliers and grid operators about bottlenecks and establishing contacts with initiators of renewables, such as wind turbines and geothermal sources, to discuss anticipated developments.

Clear-cut report
The resulting report clearly showed which choices were available to the client, the type of energy source best suited to each location and the routes to implementing those new energy sources. It allows the client to make a strategic planning for the future energy supply for the buildings and processes at its sites. Any investment today should take into consideration the energy supply in 2050.