The share of renewable sources in electricity production increased from 2022 to 33 percent in the first half of 41 compared to the first half of 2021. This significant jump meant that gas-fired power stations in the Netherlands in particular did not have to run as fast. This saved one billion cubic meters of natural gas, about 5 percent of total gas consumption. According to the June figures Energieopwek.nl
The growth of is a major step towards the 2030 target: about three-quarters of the electricity must come from renewable sources. The first half of 2022 showed record after record. Each calendar month scored well higher than the same month last year, with the month of April being the best: almost half of all electricity (48,6 percent) came from a renewable source. February saw the largest increase compared to last year, from 30 to 44 percent.
Sun from solar panels is relatively the largest supplier, followed by wind energy from onshore turbines, biomass and offshore wind energy. Hydropower completes the list of renewable sources.
June accounts for 25 percent
The month of June saw a new milestone for solar panels in the Netherlands: together they supplied no less than a quarter (25,4 percent) of all electricity produced. There was more wind in the winter months and spring and the total amount of renewable electricity measured in kilowatt hours was greater than in June. But in percentage terms, renewable energy scored lower because the electricity demand is also greater in those months.
Renewable energy
Measured in terms of total renewable energy (power, heat and fuel), June '22 delivered 27 percent more than June '21. This growth is again higher than in the comparisons of previous months. This is mainly due to the variation in the weather. By mid-2022, renewable sources will already account for approximately 60 percent of the total production in the previous calendar year.
By the way, CBS came recent with the provisional figures for the share of renewable energy in 2021. Because stricter sustainability standards for solid biomass in larger installations are being discussed within the EU, CBS has not (yet) included this category. Energieopwek.nl does (still) report these categories, until it is clear what the consequences for the Netherlands are of the stricter standards mentioned.
Renewable electricity is only part of the total renewable energy. The final energy consumption in the Netherlands consists of three parts; heat, 55 percent (mainly buildings and industry), transport, 25 percent (mainly road traffic and air traffic) and power consumption, 20 percent.
The share of electricity will increase due to the electrification of industry, transport, cooking and heating. The PBL calculates that this will amount to approximately 2030 percent of final use in 24. Of this, 75 percent is renewable. That calculation does not yet include the announced additional 10 GW of offshore wind.
Energieopwek.nl originated from the Energy Agreement and is now part of the Climate Agreement Progress Consultation. It is a collaboration with EnTranCe/Hanzehogeschool Groningen, Tennet, Gasunie and Netbeheer Nederland. The site shows current information about what sustainable energy is being generated in the Netherlands.
All recognized forms of renewable generation can be followed on Energieopwek. This includes the contribution of heat pumps and biomass, including wood burning at home. You can see what the contribution is per source and how this relates to the total of renewable generation. The aim of the site is to provide a factual picture of where the Netherlands stands in terms of sustainability.
