Industrial decarbonization is never a one-size-fits-all challenge. Each site, each process and each team has its own realities. That is why local expertise is essential to Bilfinger’s Net Zero Approach. In Belgium and the Netherlands, that expertise comes from specialists such as: Michiel Geurds, Consultant and Program Manager Net Zero Approach, with eighteen years of experience in the energy transition, and Merve Özay, Senior Industrial Sustainability Consultant, who advises companies on managing and reducing carbon emissions and guides project teams in compliance studies. Together, they form a complementary duo that supports clients from initial ambition to concrete realization.
“What makes our work meaningful is that we do not just design roadmaps. We apply them together with our clients, step by step, until emission reduction becomes tangible,” Michiel explains.
From roadmap to reality
In practice, work means listening first. Whether it is a brownfield chemical plant or a food & beverage site, the process always begins on location, in dialogue with the people who know their installations best. “Operators and engineers on the floor often have valuable ideas,” Michiel says. “They are committed to sustainability, but they also carry responsibility for keeping production running. That is why every measure we propose must not only be effective in reducing CO₂, but also reliable in day-to-day operations.”
This collaborative approach also defines the way Bilfinger teams operate internally. In Belgium and the Netherlands, the Net Zero team works closely with colleagues from Energy and Process Engineering. Merve explains that her role is to identify opportunities during site visits and translate them into actionable concepts. Engineering then refines these concepts into feasibility-level designs, calculating energy savings, costs and integration requirements. This combination of technical reasoning and creativity helps shape practical pathways that fit each site’s needs.
A recent example demonstrates this impact. For a large pharmaceutical client, the team evaluated more than twenty scenarios against a ‘do-nothing’ baseline. Each scenario included business cases, technical results, subsidies, risks and timelines. The preferred option achieved Scope 1 and 2 zero emissions within five years, with an NPV above €4 million and an IRR above 15%. It showed that decarbonization, when approached systematically, can align with strong financial performance.
Scope and focus in the region
Most projects in Belgium and the Netherlands focus on Scope 1 and 2 emissions: direct emissions from industrial processes and purchased energy. These are the areas where companies can act now, and where impact is both visible and measurable.
According to Michiel, the differences between Belgian and Dutch industry are minimal. “The real variation is not between countries, but between companies. Even within the same sector. Some organizations already have a fully developed roadmap and are implementing advanced measures. Others only have a spreadsheet with ambitions, but no structured plan to get there. Both groups can benefit from our approach: one in executing concrete projects, the other in defining their pathway.”
A promising technology: Mechanical Vapor Recompression
One of the most relevant technologies for the Belgian and Dutch markets is Mechanical Vapor Recompression (MVR). Especially in sectors where moderate temperatures are used, such as food & beverage, paper, chemicals and manufacturing, MVR offers a highly efficient solution.
“With MVR, we can reuse residual heat and feed it back directly into the steam network,” Michiel explains. “Unlike heat pumps, which often require a new hot water distribution system, MVR connects to what many plants already have in place: steam. This makes it both technically and financially attractive. We see a growing number of applications where MVR can reduce emissions significantly.”
Overcoming challenges
Still, challenges remain. Capital expenditure is one of them. Some companies hesitate to invest, especially in times of uncertain demand or tight margins. Another hurdle is local capacity: many sites have limited staff to dedicate to sustainability projects, while production always takes priority. This is where Bilfinger adds value by acting as a partner that supports from feasibility through to engineering and execution, reducing the burden on internal teams.
Another important factor is decision-making culture. “We’ve noticed that clients differ in the level of detail they need at each stage,” Merve says. “Some prefer rough business cases early on, while others need detailed cases to secure management approval. Providing both options, with clear timelines and transparent assumptions, ensures that the roadmap fits the organization.”
Michiel underlines the importance of building strong relationships with clients: “A successful project depends on trust and collaboration. We cannot simply send emails asking for data every two days. We need to sit down together, understand the site, and make sure measures fit both technically and organizationally.”
A message to clients
For Michiel, success is when measures move beyond paper. A recent roadmap for a pharmaceutical company, for an engineered heat pump solution that delivers up to 60% CO₂ reduction, illustrates what he finds most rewarding: concrete steps that make sustainability real. Merve shares this motivation. She values designing optimized solutions that balance environmental and financial impact. “It is rewarding when optimized routes get implemented quickly and start saving energy and emissions.”
To clients, their advice is clear. Even if investment is not yet possible, a structured plan is essential. Subsidies are available for initial studies and a roadmap helps prioritize measures over time. Early action provides resilience and clarity.
Looking ahead
The future of the Net Zero Approach in Belgium and the Netherlands lies in accelerating the first steps. Digitalization and automation of feasibility studies can shorten the time from ambition to action, while technologies like MVR are set to become increasingly mainstream in moderate-temperature industries.
Merve also sees new opportunities emerging: “With AI-supported tools, feasibility insights can be generated faster and shared earlier in client conversations. This enables quicker decision-making and helps clients identify industry-typical opportunities during initial meetings.”
As Michiel concludes: “Industrial decarbonization is a journey we take together. The sooner we begin, the sooner we can turn ambition into measurable CO₂ reduction.”
Curious how the Net Zero Approach would apply to your operations?
Request a tailored analysis and discover which technical measures, financial opportunities, and roadmap fit your site-specific goals. Contact Michiel Geurds.
