Biomass will remain the main source of renewable energy in the Netherlands in 2024. According to the long-term statistics published by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) on September 8, biomass accounts for 34 percent of total renewable energy consumption. This is higher than the share of wind and solar energy separately. These are preliminary figures compiled in the annual report "Renewable Energy in the Netherlands 2024."
Biomass remains the largest source
The total share of renewable energy in Dutch final energy consumption reached 2024 percent in 19,8. Within this renewable mix, biomass accounts for 34 percent, wind 32 percent, and solar 22 percent. Outdoor heat and geothermal energy together contribute 8 percent, with the remainder coming from hydropower, geothermal energy, and renewable cold. This distribution demonstrates that biomass remains a key pillar in the renewable energy mix.
Where the energy from biomass comes from
The CBS analysis shows that the main applications together account for more than seven out of ten units of biomass consumption. These include liquid biofuels for transport, energy from waste incineration plants, co-firing in coal-fired power plants, and the use of biomass in combined heat and power plants at companies. In 2024, waste incineration plants supplied approximately 4 percent of renewable final energy consumption, as did the co-firing of biomass in power plants. Combined heat and power plants at companies contributed approximately 3 percent, and the combustion of biomass for heat at companies another 3 percent. Biogas from wastewater treatment plants and other biogas each added approximately 1 percent.
Wood burning by households in perspective
Households also play a role. Approximately one million households have a wood-burning system. Together, domestic wood burning will represent approximately 2024 percent of renewable final energy consumption in 5. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) points out that this share is included in the renewable balance because it involves direct consumption of renewable energy. Even the occasional use of charcoal in the summer has a marginal impact.
Shifting ratios within biomass
Overall, 2024 is not a year of uniform growth. The slight increase in total biomass consumption compared to 2023 is mainly due to the increased use of liquid biofuels for transport. Other forms decreased or remained comparable. For example, co-firing in coal-fired power plants decreased by approximately fourteen percent, and the contribution from waste incineration plants decreased by approximately nine percent. The increase in biofuels is related to the higher annual obligation and the increased use of hydrogen hydroxide (HVO) in road transport.
Sustainability requirements drive the figures
Solid biomass used in large installations is subject to strict sustainability requirements under the European Renewable Energy Directive. From 2023 onwards, solid biomass used for energy purposes must be demonstrably sustainable to be considered emission-free within the European Emissions Trading System. The CBS methodology aligns with this and only includes volumes that meet these requirements. This partly explains why the use can fluctuate by category.
What this means for policy and market
The figures place the discussion about biomass in a concrete context. As long as biofuels and residual flows from waste and industry contribute substantially, biomass will remain a significant factor in achieving national targets. At the same time, the decline in co-firing and waste incineration demonstrates that policy and the market are evolving, with more emphasis on liquid fuels for mobility and on heating in businesses. For municipalities and grid operators, it is relevant that combined CHP installations and heat boilers in businesses provide a significant portion of renewable heat. For consumers, individual use, such as wood burning, has a visible impact on national statistics, which calls for transparent information on air quality and consumption.
The publication also makes it clear that the renewable energy mix is being broadly supported by offshore wind and onshore and rooftop solar. This reduces the Netherlands' reliance on biomass compared to a few years ago, but for the time being, biomass remains an indispensable component of the total. In the coming years, European regulations, national transport obligations, and the availability of sustainable residual flows will determine how this role will develop.
Sources CBS publication Renewable energy in the Netherlands 2024, chapter Biomass, publication date September 8, 2025; CBS news item on renewable energy in 2024.
