Decarbonising existing industrial sites: plenty of opportunities – if we dare to collaborate

On 8 May, KH Engineering, in collaboration with ORAM, hosted an inspiring knowledge event at Tata Steel Netherlands. The central question: how do we make existing industrial sites more sustainable—and what does it take? Drawing from our experience in brownfields and transition projects, we shared insights, approaches, and real-world examples.

High energy and sharp questions
The event attracted a full house. The energy in the room was high, and audience engagement was remarkable—critical questions were raised, and constructive solutions exchanged. Moderator Annemarie Brüning skilfully guided the programme, kept time on track, and kept the audience on its toes. The overarching message of the day? The industrial energy transition is both urgent and achievable—but only if governments, businesses, and engineers work together and take action.

A first-hand look at practice
Before the formal programme began, a select group of attendees were given an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the Tata Steel site. This active brownfield location—an existing plant in full operation—offered a powerful impression of scale, complexity, and ambition. After the tour, participants spoke of the massive volumes, environmental mitigation efforts, and the visible steps being taken toward sustainability. An inspiring prelude to the afternoon’s discussions.

Collaboration as a catalyst for acceleration
The official programme opened with remarks by Kees Noorman (Managing Director of ORAM) and Marc Steigenga (CEO of KH Engineering). Both emphasised the importance of collaboration: between ORAM and KH Engineering, between companies, and between industry and government. ‘KH Engineering has been around for 75 years,’ Marc noted. ‘Over those years, we’ve built up an enormous amount of expertise—expertise we now apply to shape a sustainable future. Not just for our clients, but for the generations to come.’ Kees underscored the importance of maintaining an attractive investment climate in the region: ‘Transitions don’t happen by themselves. We need to join forces.’

A masterplan for brownfields
The first speaker, Serdar Erdag (Account Manager New Energy & Infrastructure at KH Engineering), presented our team’s approach to decarbonising brownfields. His key message: ‘Many companies skip the feasibility and concept phases of a project—and run into problems later. We advocate an integrated approach: analyse thoroughly first, design later. This helps avoid costly mistakes and builds confidence in investment decisions.’ Using practical examples from the food and chemical industries, he showed that while sustainable transformation is often technically feasible, it is organisationally and financially complex. His closing message: ‘Not everything needs a watertight business case. Sometimes, value matters more than profit—and that’s where government support plays a role.’

Curious about KH Engineering’s approach to sustainable brownfield transformation? Download the Masterplan for the Energy Transition in Industry and discover how your organisation can take the next step in decarbonisation.

Green steel revolution
Next, Laura Buil (Project Engineering Manager at Tata Steel) shared insights from Tata’s Green Steel Plan – an ambitious multi-year programme focused on CO₂ reduction, less fine particulate matter, and greater circularity. Laura walked the audience through the company’s technological choices – from direct reduced iron (DRI) to electric melting furnaces – and illustrated what such a transition looks like in a functioning brownfield. ‘We’re building a new plant in the middle of an operating site, and that requires surgical precision.’ Audience questions covered topics such as scaling up, permitting processes, and tailored agreements with government bodies. ‘We’re in the middle of a complex journey, with new technologies, strict regulations, and many interdependencies. But we’re moving forward – step by step.’

🔗 More about the Green Steel Plan

New biobased value chains in the port
Jaap Koomen (SVP at VTTI-NL) presented plans for a new Eurotank Amsterdam facility that will pre-treat biobased feedstocks, including used cooking oil and animal fats. ‘It sounds simple – converting an old terminal into something green. But you run into everything: contaminated soil, nitrogen emissions, bats, electricity grid connections.’ Despite the challenges, the project is moving forward. Jaap was candid about the lessons learned: ‘Spend more time on feasibility. Involve all stakeholders from the beginning. And be honest about what’s needed: time, money, and flexibility.’

🔗 More about VTTI’s sustainability approach

Panel discussion: Where are the bottlenecks?
The closing panel openly discussed both the obstacles and opportunities in decarbonising existing industrial sites. The biggest roadblocks? Lack of grid capacity, slow permitting procedures, and uncertainty about long-term policy.
Kees Noorman highlighted the need for a level playing field across Europe: ‘The Netherlands places additional burdens on its industry, making it difficult to compete with neighbouring countries.’ Laura Buil advocated for tailor-made solutions: ‘We can’t achieve sustainability with a one-size-fits-all approach.’ And Jaap Koomen called for realism: ‘A brownfield is never perfect. But if you approach it wisely, you can achieve a lot – while maintaining production and jobs.’

The audience participated via an interactive tool, voting on statements such as ‘Is sustainability possible without government support?’ and ‘Should companies bear the responsibility alone?’ The results reflected both trust and urgency: collaboration, consistent policy, and investment certainty are vital.

In closing
The event concluded with a networking reception, where conversations continued well into the evening. A recurring sentiment: ‘It’s reassuring to hear others face the same challenges – and to learn how they deal with them.’ Making existing industrial sites more sustainable is no easy task. But it is possible – if we share knowledge, show courage, and work together.