Dutch biomass-to-methanol developer Perpetual Next has announced that it has selected international industrial services provider Bilfinger Engineering & Consultancy as lead consultant for its Methanol Moerdijk project, a planned biomethanol facility in the Port of Moerdijk, the Netherlands. The appointment covers environmental impact assessment and permitting support for the development of the project.
Under the agreement, Bilfinger will support Methanol Moerdijk B.V. with key permitting activities, including the environmental impact assessment (MER/EIA), support for environmental and nature permits, stakeholder and authority coordination, and project management and quality assurance.
The work will be executed in a structured sprint-based approach. Perpetual Next is developing Methanol Moerdijk as part of its wider ambition to accelerate circular and low-carbon industrial solutions.
The project is intended to support the transition to sustainable fuels and chemicals infrastructure in the Netherlands and Europe.
Integrated approach
The Methanol Moerdijk project is being developed as a large-scale biomethanol facility intended to convert approximately 313,000 tonnes of biocarbon into around 216,000 tonnes of biomethanol annually, thus supporting the defossilisation of industry and shipping by replacing fossil-derived methanol.
Perpetual Next selected Bilfinger based on its combined permitting and engineering capabilities, its experience with complex industrial environmental permitting processes, and its proposed integrated approach to managing the project’s EIA and permit applications.
In its proposal, Bilfinger highlighted its experience with large industrial permitting projects and its ability to combine technical understanding with regulatory execution.
Selecting Bilfinger is an important step forward for Methanol Moerdijk. Their combined strength in permitting, environmental assessment, and technical understanding makes them a strong partner as we advance this project through the Dutch permitting process, said Rene Buwalda, CEO of Perpetual Next.
The agreed scope focuses on sprints 1 through 6 of the permitting process, and includes kick-off, EIA start notification, preparation of general EIA sections, description of the proposed activities and alternatives, environmental impact studies, completion of the final EIA and public summary, and preparation of the environmental and nature permit applications.
Construction permit support may be added separately at a later stage if required. Bilfinger’s approach also includes stakeholder analysis, early engagement with competent authorities, nitrogen deposition assessment at an early stage, and a range of environmental sub-studies covering air quality, odor, noise, water, external safety, BAT assessment, sustainability, and ecology.
We are proud to support Perpetual Next on the Methanol Moerdijk project. This is an ambitious development with strong sustainability credentials, and we look forward to contributing our permitting and engineering expertise to help move the project forward efficiently and responsibly, said Kevin Pieterse, VP, Bilfinger Engineering & Consultancy.
