AEB Amsterdam

AEB Amsterdam (Afval Energie Bedrijf) is a waste processing and energy company based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Municipality of Amsterdam and operates two waste incineration plants in the Westelijk Havengebied (Western Port Area), using the heat released during incineration to generate electricity and district heating. The company processes residual waste from municipalities and businesses, recovering valuable materials and converting what remains into energy. AEB's history dates back to 1919, when Amsterdam began incinerating municipal waste at a facility in Amsterdam-Noord. The operation moved to the Australiëhavenweg in the Western Port Area in 1993, where the current Afvalenergiecentrale (waste-to-energy plant) was commissioned. In 2007, a high-efficiency plant (Hoogrendement centrale, HRC) was added next to it. The HRC was designed to generate electricity with an efficiency of at least 30% and also supply district heating. After initial technical problems, it has operated stably since 2009. In 2021, a Bio-Energy Plant (Bio-Energiecentrale, BEC) at the Petroleumhavenweg was completed, converting prunings and waste wood into sustainable energy. AEB was originally a municipal service. At the end of the 20th century, the decision was made to expand capacity with the HRC, which exceeded local demand. To utilize the extra capacity, AEB attracted commercial and foreign waste, particularly from England, and became more active in the commercial market. On 10 December 2013, AEB Amsterdam was formally established, with the legal transfer of municipal activities taking effect on 1 January 2014. All shares are owned by the Municipality of Amsterdam. In the summer of 2019, AEB nearly went bankrupt due to technical and safety problems. To strengthen its financial position, the Municipality of Amsterdam acquired the 50% stake in Westpoort Warmte B.V., for which AEB received €73 million in March 2021. Westpoort Warmte used AEB's heat to supply district heating to 35,000 households. In December 2021, the municipality announced plans to sell AEB's shares to waste processor AVR for €450 million, subject to approval by the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM). In April 2022, the ACM decided to conduct a further investigation because the acquisition could lead to higher prices for waste processing. In May 2023, the ACM blocked the transaction, and the municipality had to look for an alternative solution. In October 2024, Indaver made an offer for AEB, but in February 2025 the municipality decided not to proceed with the sale, as interested parties offered too low a price and attached conditions that did not meet the requirements. For the next ten years, AEB will remain in the hands of the Municipality of Amsterdam. AEB annually processes approximately 1.4 million tonnes of waste. The current Afvalenergiecentrale has a capacity of 900,000 tonnes of waste and sludge and produces about 525 GWh per year, corresponding to a continuous power of about 64 MW. Amsterdam and the region supply more than half of the waste processed; due to overcapacity in the Dutch waste market, foreign waste, mainly from England, is attracted to achieve full load. The electrical efficiency is about 22%. The plant also supplies heat to the district heating network via Westpoort Warmte B.V., bringing the total energy efficiency to about 28%. The HRC has a capacity of about 600,000 tonnes of commercial waste and sludge per year. Together, both plants process several hundred truckloads of waste daily. Waste can also be delivered by water (the site is on the Aziëhaven) and by rail; AEB has its own rail connection. Until mid-2015, several waste trains were handled weekly. The BEC produces electricity and heat, with the heat sufficient for about 27,000 households.

AEB's history dates back to 1919, when Amsterdam began incinerating municipal waste at a facility operated by the Stadsreiniging (municipal cleaning service) at Zijkanaal I in Amsterdam-Noord. In 1969, this was replaced by the larger AVI Noord (Afvalverwerkingsinrichting Noord). In 1993, waste processing moved to the Australiëhavenweg in the Westelijk Havengebied (Western Port Area), where the current Afvalenergiecentrale (waste-to-energy plant) was commissioned. This plant has a capacity of 900,000 tonnes of waste and sludge and produces about 525 GWh per year, corresponding to a continuous power of about 64 MW. Amsterdam and the region supply more than half of the waste processed; due to overcapacity in the Dutch waste market, foreign waste, mainly from England, is attracted to achieve full load. The electrical efficiency is about 22%. The plant also supplies heat to the district heating network via Westpoort Warmte B.V., bringing the total energy efficiency to about 28%. At the end of the 20th century, the decision was made to expand AEB's capacity with a high-efficiency plant (Hoogrendement centrale, HRC). This also meant a significant expansion of capacity that far exceeded local demand. To utilize this extra capacity, AEB attracted commercial waste and waste from abroad. After the construction of the HRC, AEB no longer fulfilled only a public function but also became more active in the commercial market. This brought the corporatization of AEB a step closer. The HRC was commissioned in 2007 next to the Afvalenergiecentrale. It has a capacity of about 600,000 tonnes of commercial waste and sludge per year and was designed to generate electricity with an efficiency of at least 30% and also supply district heating. The plant experienced significant initial problems due to a break in the generator shaft. After initial commissioning in August 2007, it had to be taken out of service again. Since 2009, the new plant has been running stably. On 10 December 2013, AEB Amsterdam was formally established, and the legal transfer of municipal activities took place on 1 January 2014. All shares are owned by the Municipality of Amsterdam. In the summer of 2019, AEB nearly went bankrupt due to technical and safety problems. To strengthen its financial position, the Municipality of Amsterdam acquired the 50% stake in Westpoort Warmte B.V., for which AEB received €73 million in March 2021. Westpoort Warmte used AEB's heat to supply district heating to 35,000 households. In December 2021, it was announced that the municipality would sell AEB's shares to waste processor AVR for €450 million, subject to approval by the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM). In April 2022, the ACM decided to conduct a further investigation because it had become apparent that the acquisition could lead to higher prices for waste processing. Other waste processors were using their full capacity or were too far away, making high transport costs a barrier, leaving waste suppliers with few or no alternatives. In May 2023, the ACM prohibited the transaction, and the municipality had to look for an alternative solution. In October 2024, Indaver made an offer for AEB. It was the only known candidate, but in February 2025 the municipality decided not to proceed with the sale. Interested parties offered too low a price and attached conditions that did not meet the requirements. For the next ten years, AEB will remain in the hands of the Municipality of Amsterdam. In 2021, a Bio-Energy Plant (Bio-Energiecentrale, BEC) at the Petroleumhavenweg was completed. This plant converts prunings and waste wood into sustainable energy. The BEC produces electricity and heat, with the heat sufficient for about 27,000 households. In addition to processing combustible residual waste, AEB operates six waste collection points, a hazardous waste depot (Depot bijzonder afval, DBA), and a sorting centre for electrical appliances (Regionaal Sorteer Centrum). At the waste points, bulky waste is separated to maximize reuse. At the DBA, hazardous waste is sorted, stored, and sent to various end processors, also aiming for maximum reuse of fractions. At the Regional Sorteer Centrum, electrical appliances from all over North Holland are collected, sorted, and sent to recognized processors. More than 80% of the materials recovered from electrical appliances can be reused. AEB annually processes approximately 1.4 million tonnes of waste. Its net revenue fluctuates between €150 and €200 million, consisting of three main components: a fee for waste processing, the sale of energy, and the proceeds from recyclable materials.

• 2025

  In February, the municipality decides not to proceed with the sale; AEB remains municipally owned for the next ten years.

• 2024

  In October, Indaver makes an offer for AEB.

• 2023

  In May, the ACM prohibits the AVR acquisition.

• 2021

  AEB receives €73 million for the 50% stake in Westpoort Warmte B.V.; the Bio-Energiecentrale (BEC) is completed.

• 2021

  In December, the municipality announces the sale of AEB to AVR for €450 million, subject to ACM approval.

• 2019

  AEB nearly goes bankrupt due to technical and safety problems.

• 2014

  Legal transfer of municipal activities to AEB Amsterdam takes effect on 1 January.

• 2013

  AEB Amsterdam is formally established on 10 December.

• 2009

  The HRC begins stable operation after initial technical problems.

• 2007

  The Hoogrendement centrale (HRC) is commissioned next to the Afvalenergiecentrale.

• 1993

  Waste processing moves to the Australiëhavenweg in the Western Port Area; the current Afvalenergiecentrale is commissioned.

• 1969

  The original incinerator is replaced by the larger AVI Noord.

• 1919

  Amsterdam begins incinerating municipal waste at a facility in Amsterdam-Noord.

Municipal waste-to-energy and recycling company contributing to Amsterdam's sustainability goals.

• Afvalenergiecentrale (waste-to-energy plant)

  Capacity of 900,000 tonnes of waste and sludge per year; produces about 525 GWh per year (about 64 MW continuous).

• Hoogrendement centrale (HRC)

  Capacity of about 600,000 tonnes of commercial waste and sludge per year; designed for at least 30% electrical efficiency and district heating.

• Bio-Energiecentrale (BEC)

  Completed in 2021; converts prunings and waste wood into sustainable energy, producing electricity and heat sufficient for about 27,000 households.

• Westpoort Warmte B.V.

  District heating company using AEB's heat to supply 35,000 households.

1. 1AEB Amsterdam | Voor een schone samenleving, nu en in de toekomstaebamsterdam.nl
2. 2AEB Amsterdam - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Afval Energie Bedrijf - Wikipedianl.wikipedia.org