Electricity in Netherlands in 2023

The current landscape of electricity consumption in the Netherlands as of 2023 reveals a balanced split between low-carbon and fossil sources, making up slightly more than half (51.37%) and roughly half (48.21%) of the energy usage respectively. Fossil energy is primarily derived from gas, which generates more than a third of the electricity. In contrast, the low-carbon energy sector relies heavily on wind and solar power, with the former producing close to a quarter and the latter almost one-fifth of total electricity. Coal has a minor role in this distribution, contributing just 8.5%. Biofuels, nuclear, and oil have marginal shares, none of them generating more than 10%.

Suggestions

Given these figures, the Netherlands has considerable room to increase its utilization of low-carbon sources, particularly by expanding its current wind and solar power capabilities. The country can draw inspiration from other nations with successful low-carbon energy sectors. For example, Denmark’s wind energy sector is quite robust, making up for close to 60% of their electricity. In contrast, France leads in nuclear power generation, with its plants providing two-thirds of its electricity. By examining and learning from these successful implementations, the Netherlands can pinpoint the technologies and strategies best suited to their context and capabilities.

History

The history of low-carbon electricity generation in the Netherlands reveals periods of both gains and losses. In the late 1990s, the nuclear energy sector experienced fluctuations, from a decline of 1.8 TWh in 1997 to an increase of 1.4 TWh in 1998. The early 2000s saw a modest boost in biofuels, but these gains were offset by a decrease in 2007. The following decade, however, marked a gradual climb in nuclear, wind, and solar energy production, peaking in 2023 with significant growth in wind energy by 7.9 TWh and solar by 3.5 TWh. Conversely, biofuels struggled during the same period, with decreases in 2022 and 2023, underscoring the inconsistent nature of its contribution to the low-carbon sector.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources