On March 8 this year, we will have used up all the renewable energy that the Netherlands produces by 2024. This day, known as Green Energy Day, symbolizes the moment when we have exhausted our supply of renewable energy for the year, if we were to rely on it current consumption level. The Dutch Sustainable Energy Association (NVDE) has also calculated the provincial Green Energy Days, ranging from February 12 in Limburg to July 7 in Flevoland. “If we move Green Energy Day forward by twelve days every year, we will arrive at December 2050 in 31,” says Olof van der Gaag, chairman of the NVDE. “Then all our energy is renewable. This is necessary for our independence and for the climate, and it also offers plenty of opportunities for the economy and employment.”
Moving Green Energy Day is a collective effort involving companies, governments, energy cooperatives and consumers. The Netherlands has made significant progress in the field of sustainable energy. In addition, a lot of energy is saved due to the increased energy costs. The share of sustainable energy is expected to reach 2024 percent in 18,6. In terms of time, that amounts to 68 out of 366 days, making Green Energy Day fall on March 8, 2024. In 2023, Green Energy Day fell on March 2, which means that it has not yet been possible to move it forward by twelve days.
The NVDE has estimated the date for Green Energy Day per province, with significant differences noted. In Limburg, sustainable energy was already fully used on February 12, 2024, while Flevoland can continue until July 7. This variation illustrates the different sustainable energy options and energy consumption patterns per province. Nevertheless, residents, companies and administrators in all provinces are working hard to take advantage of the possibilities for rescheduling their Green Energy Day.
Every individual action counts and contributes to moving Green Energy Day towards December 31, when all our energy should be sustainable. The NVDE has estimated how much Green Energy Day can be postponed with various measures, such as applying radiator foil, using the bicycle instead of the car, insulating roofs and installing electric heat pumps. These initiatives can extend Green Energy Day by dozens of days, demonstrating that small individual steps can have a big collective impact.
Olof van der Gaag emphasizes that while progress has been made, more efforts are still needed to stay on track to achieve 2050 percent renewable energy by XNUMX. However, companies and citizens are showing that it is possible, and that the energy transition is not only benefits the environment, but also the economy and employment.
The NVDE introduced the concept of Green Energy Day in 2019 to make it easier to imagine where we are now and how we can achieve one hundred percent renewable energy by 2050 through annual steps. We applaud people who are committed to this and inspire others. “The climate discussion often concerns distant dates such as 2030 and 2050, and abstract-sounding percentages and targets. With Green Energy Day we bring the goals closer and show that it is possible to achieve them if we take action now,” says Olof van der Gaag.
More information on www.greenenergyday.nl
