AD and biochar in the Netherlands
7/27/20261 min read
Following on our last post about anaerobic digestion (AD) but now zooming into the Netherlands. The Netherlands needs more green gas, more manure processing capacity, and make better use of the nutrients contained in its manure surplus.
Anaerobic digestion can contribute to all three—but for many AD plants, the underlying economics are moving in the wrong direction.
Digestate disposal and processing costs are increasing. Energy-rich co-substrates are becoming more expensive. Increasing manure loading can reduce feedstock costs, but often brings higher ammonia stress, lower process stability and reduced methane yields.
Meanwhile, H₂S management requires a continuous stream of costly treatment inputs, while large volumes of digestate remain a cost centre after the gas has been produced.
These challenges are usually addressed separately.
We believe they should be approached as one system.
Better Carbon is developing a biochar-powered AD system designed to support higher manure loading, improve biological stability and support higher and more stable methane yields, reduce the operational burden of H₂S management, and improve the quality of the resulting digestate.
The objective is not simply to introduce another additive into the process.
It is to improve the economics of the entire plant:
→ Greater flexibility to process manure and lower-cost feedstocks
→ Higher and more stable biomethane production
→ Lower dependence on recurring treatment inputs
→ A better starting point for digestate processing and nutrient recovery
→ A pathway to convert digestate from a disposal cost into a carbon-enriched biofertiliser and potential revenue stream
The green gas transition will require more than additional production capacity.
It will require AD plants that can process more manure, maintain performance under more challenging conditions, and create more value from every tonne entering (and leaving) the digester.
We are looking for AD operators interested in piloting the system under real operating conditions.
Interested in exploring what this could mean for your plant? Reach out to us.
Contact
Better Carbon B.V.
Schengestraat 35
4461 EW Goes
Netherlands
KVK / CoC: 98111493
Address
© 2026 Better Carbon BV
Robin: +31 6315 38878
Abhinand: +31 6877 23769
Wouter: +31 6147 59928