Electricity in Netherlands in 2023

In 2023, the Netherlands generated more than half of its electricity from low-carbon sources, with a share of approximately 51%. Clean energy contributions include wind at around 24%, solar at 17%, geothermal and biofuels at close to 7%, and nuclear at a modest 3%. On the other hand, fossil energy sources such as gas and coal still account for a significant portion of the electricity mix, making up about 48% in total, with gas alone contributing 38% and coal adding nearly 9%. Oil plays a minimal role with just over 1%. This blend indicates that while the Netherlands is making strides in adopting low-carbon technologies, there is still a substantial reliance on fossil fuels.

Suggestions

To further increase its low-carbon electricity generation, the Netherlands could expand its existing wind and solar energy infrastructure, as these sources are already providing substantial portions of its electricity. Learning from countries such as Denmark, where wind power makes up an impressive 53% of electricity generation, could provide valuable insights into scaling up wind energy. Additionally, countries like France and Slovakia generate a large majority of their electricity from nuclear power, 65% and 62% respectively. This demonstrates that by investing in nuclear energy, the Netherlands can significantly enhance its clean energy portfolio, effectively reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combatting climate change.

History

Historically, the Netherlands has witnessed significant growth in various low-carbon energy sources. In the early 2000s, biofuels saw fluctuating changes with notable increases in 2005 and occasional declines like in 2007. From 2011 onward, wind energy began to ramp up, showing consistent and substantial increases, especially from 2017 to 2023, where wind generation rose markedly each year. Solar energy has also seen a significant rise since 2018, with continual annual increases and a massive jump in 2022 and 2023. Nuclear energy experienced a decline in 1997, but subsequent years like 1998 and 2014 saw minor recoveries. Overall, the last decades have shown a clear trend toward expanding wind and solar capacities, setting the stage for a more sustainable and cleaner energy future.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources