Green gas must become a strategic pillar of a robust and affordable energy system. This is stated by Platform Groen Gas in a publication dated April 30. According to the trade association, the Dutch energy supply is under pressure due to geopolitical tensions, grid congestion, and the phasing out of Groningen gas extraction. In this context, green gas can contribute to more stable prices and greater independence from foreign energy.
Energy system under pressure
According to Platform Groen Gas, energy prices are rising sharply for the second time in five years. Energy demand is largely inelastic, meaning that even a small shortage quickly leads to substantial price increases. At the same time, the Netherlands is at a standstill due to the nitrogen crisis, making it difficult for new projects to get off the ground, even if they contribute to emission reduction.
Now that gas extraction in Groningen is being phased out, the Netherlands has become increasingly dependent on imports and, consequently, on international price fluctuations and geopolitical risks. The platform argues that energy autonomy is not an ideological wish, but an economic necessity. Green gas is produced from domestic waste and residue streams and can reduce the need for fossil natural gas from abroad.
A role alongside electrification
Grid congestion hinders further electrification. Households and businesses are literally grinding to a halt, the platform writes. Green gas can be transported via the existing gas infrastructure and is immediately ready for use in the built environment. According to Platform Groen Gas, every kilowatt-hour of electricity used for the production of green gas yields ten kilowatt-hours of usable energy. As a result, green gas could relieve the electricity grid and increase the flexibility of the energy system.
European potential
The Netherlands is not alone in this. In Europe, a large amount of organic material is available in the form of manure, green waste, sewage sludge, and agricultural residues. Consultancy firm Guidehouse recently concluded that Europe has sufficient bio-based raw materials to produce up to 200 billion cubic meters (bcm) of green gas. That is more than current European LNG imports.
Opportunities also lie untapped within the Netherlands itself. Although livestock farming is shrinking, according to the platform, only a fraction of the available manure is still being utilized for biogas. By quickly removing manure from the barn or preserving it, nitrogen and greenhouse gas emissions cease almost immediately. The platform speaks of a threefold return: more biogas, a better barn climate, and a circular fertilizer that replaces synthetic fertilizer. According to the trade association, nitrogen reductions of 40 percent or more are achievable.
Blending obligation in the works
With the blending obligation, the government has an instrument at its disposal to accelerate the production of green gas, according to Platform Groen Gas. The legislative proposal for this has been substantially amended in recent years. The Council of State issued an opinion on the revised proposal on March 18, 2026. This will be followed by parliamentary consideration in the House of Representatives and the Senate. Entry into force is scheduled for January 1, 2027.
Previously, work was underway on an obligation with a target in cubic meters of gas, aimed exclusively at green gas produced in the Netherlands. Following objections from the European Commission regarding the free movement of goods, the legislative proposal was amended. Foreign green gas is now also permitted. According to the most recent cabinet plans, the annual obligation will rise from approximately 0,16 billion m³ of green gas in 2027 to 0,84 billion m³ in 2031, which corresponds to a 2,85 megaton CO₂ chain emission reduction. The obligation will continue until at least 2035.
Strategic pillar
Green gas can therefore contribute to making the energy transition a success in multiple areas, writes Platform Groen Gas, provided work starts now. The trade association argues that green gas strengthens the earning capacity of agricultural entrepreneurs, reduces environmental pressure, and makes the Netherlands less dependent on foreign energy.
Sources: Green Gas Platform; Legislative calendar Green gas blending obligation Act; Parliamentary Paper 32813, no. 1524.
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