Renewable energy has been a spearhead in Dutch energy policy for years. Based on this spearhead, CBS has published an annual report on renewable energy in the Netherlands. The report describes the developments in renewable energy in 2021. The methods and sources used are also explained.
The share of renewable energy in total energy consumption in 2021 was between 12,0 and 13,4 percent. The exact share cannot yet be calculated due to uncertainties surrounding the implementation of sustainability criteria for biomass from the revised EU renewable energy guidelines (RED II). Depending on the implementation, part of the biomass used may not contribute to the share of renewable energy in 2021.
In 2020, the share was 14,0 percent, of which 11,5 percent was domestically produced renewable energy. The remaining 2,5 percent has been achieved through a statistical transfer with Denmark in which 13,7 TWh has been purchased to achieve the European target in 2020. Most renewable energy in 2021 will come from biomass, 45–51 percent. When the uncertain part of the biomass is included in the total, 25 percent comes from wind energy and 16 percent from solar energy. The other sources such as hydropower, geothermal energy and heat from the outside air jointly contributed 8 percent.
Biomass
The most important applications, accounting for three quarters of biomass consumption, are: waste incineration plants, co-firing of biomass in power stations, the use of liquid biotransport fuels and the consumption of biomass in CHP plants. The remaining 25 percent concerns not only the use of biomass by households and the consumption of biomass for (exclusively) heat by companies. In addition to direct burning, the biomass can first be converted into biogas, which is done at landfills. Wet organic waste streams are also often suitable for conversion into biogas via fermentation. This happens in many sewage treatment plants, in wastewater treatment plants in industry and much biogas is made from fermentation of manure together with other organic material (co-fermentation of manure).
Read the full CBS publication here:
https://longreads.cbs.nl/hernieuwbare-energie-in-nederland-2021/
