Stories about sustainability are usually very fluffy. However, during our Energy Transition event on 12 December 2023, we heard a very practical story from Stef van Hout. Stef is Strategy & Transformation Director at Nobian. Nobian is one of the biggest carbon emitters in the Netherlands, and Stef shared its decarbonization journey with a group of Sweavers.

The timing of the event turned out well. Shortly before, COP28 reached an agreement on transitioning away from fossil fuels. In addition, Dutch politics had started to shift after the elections in November 2023.

Nobian is one of the frontrunners in decarbonization in Dutch heavy industry. The company aims to accelerate its decarbonization by 10 years and reach net zero by 2030. To get there, Stef shared his roadmap. He covered topics such as decarbonization initiatives, new business models, the changing political climate, government subsidies, project financing, and private equity internal rate of return.

Key takeaways

Here are three key takeaways of our sustainability event:

• Sustainability initiatives in heavy industry can generate high-impact results. After all, companies in this industry are major emitters.

• For a successful energy and sustainability transition, reliable and stable government policies are crucial. In addition, companies need a clear vision for investments and focus areas.

• Knowledge and experience from heavy industry emitters can help create new sustainable business models. For example, companies can store carbon and hydrogen in underground salt caverns or build natural batteries.

As explained by Het Financieele Dagblad, Nobian is the first major industrial emitter to reach a so-called joint letter of intent with the Dutch ministry. This letter is needed to obtain a green government subsidy. A positive assessment of the technical, business, and financial components of the sustainability plan was a prerequisite.

Support Nobian

We are proud to have supported Stef’s team at Nobian in this work through our freelance strategy consultant Jurgen Sirks. This was Jurgen’s first interim strategy consulting experience through the Sweav network.

“Finding this engagement through Sweav has been an exciting and fulfilling experience. I could not have imagined the real impact this project will have on the transition of Dutch heavy industry. I am very happy and lucky to have applied my strategic skills in this way.”

At Sweav, we will continue working towards a greener, cleaner, and more sustainable future.