The European Biogas Association (EBA) has announced that it has appointed Harmen Dekker as a new Director to reinforce the activities of the organisation in Brussels, Belgium. Harmen Dekker takes up his position on April 1, 2020, and will be co-responsible for executing the strategy of the association in the coming years.
With an “unrelenting commitment” to carbon-neutrality in Europe, the European Biogas Association (EBA) is growing and becoming an essential stakeholder in the path towards decarbonisation. Biogas, biomethane and other renewable gases have a key role to play in helping Europe’s transition towards a clean energy system with a genuinely resource-efficient and circular economy.
As an Advisory Board member, Harmen Dekker was already providing the EBA with essential guidance on policy questions.
Biogas has a significant potential to reduce emissions but has also multiple socio-economic and environmental benefits. It can already be easily implemented on a wide scale as of today. I am very excited about the opportunity to contribute as Director of the EBA to the further deployment of renewable gases in these crucial times for Europe, said Harmen Dekker in a statement.
The new measures proposed by the European Commission represent an opportunity for the anaerobic digestion (AD) sector – a tried and tested technology – to shift up a gear and emphasize the invaluable environmental and societal benefits it has to offer, such as organic waste recycling into bio-fertilisers, renewable energy or decarbonization.
Wealth of experience
Harmen Dekker has worked for almost 15 years in the sustainability sector and is devoted to the mitigation of climate change. He has built his career in the water and gas sector, where he has held different managerial positions. He joins the EBA after 5 years of service at DMT Environmental Technology.
As Business Development Manager, he worked on the expansion of the biogas sector into new markets. During those years, he also focused on the implementation of new techniques for valorising biogas, such as liquefied biogas (LBG or bio-LNG). These responsibilities included the analysis of future opportunities to produce biomethanol and bioplastics.
Susanna Pflüger, Secretary-General of the EBA, warmly welcomes Harmen on board the association’s management team.
He will play a pivotal role in strengthening the presence of renewable gases in Brussels in these crucial times when the policies for the next decade are being drafted and put forward by the European Commission. He was already actively contributing to EBA’s activities as a member when representing DMT Environmental Technology. Now, we look forward to continued collaboration and an ever stronger EBA, commented Susanna Pflüger.
According to Harm Grobrügge, President of the EBA, this appointment will be also crucial to “boost the further expansion of the EBA in Europe and reinforce the role of the association as a key EU stakeholder.”
as a Director with effect April 1, 2020 (photo courtesy EBA).
