Electricity in Netherlands in 2023/2024

Over the last 12 months, from September 2023 to August 2024, electricity consumption in the Netherlands has shown a notable mix of low-carbon and fossil energy sources. More than half of the electricity, about 55%, comes from clean energy, with wind and solar being the major contributors. Specifically, wind energy accounts for around 28%, while solar energy contributes almost 19%. Although biofuels form a small part of the clean energy mix at just over 5%, nuclear energy represents a modest 3%. On the other hand, fossil fuels still make up a significant portion, around 44%, of the electricity generation, with gas being the largest fossil contributor at 35%, followed by coal at about 7%.

Suggestions

To further increase its low-carbon electricity generation, the Netherlands could expand its existing wind and solar infrastructure, as these energy sources are already making substantial contributions. Learning from countries that have successfully increased their clean energy share could be beneficial. For example, Denmark generates a significant 61% of its electricity from wind energy, and by emulating their robust implementation strategies, the Netherlands can substantially boost its wind energy output. Furthermore, the country can look to Belgium, which generates 36% of its electricity from nuclear power, to understand best practices in nuclear energy expansion. Following such examples can help the Netherlands to progressively phase out fossil fuels and bolster its sustainable energy capacity.

History

Historically, the Netherlands has seen significant developments in its low-carbon electricity generation. In the late 1990s, nuclear electricity generation saw slight fluctuations with a decrease of 1.8 TWh in 1997, followed by a minor rebound of 1.4 TWh in 1998. The early 21st century marked progress in biofuels, with a notable increase of 1.9 TWh in 2005, although it experienced a drop of 1.3 TWh in 2007, before recovering gradually. Significant advancements have been seen in wind and solar energy in recent years. Since 2015, wind energy has continually grown, with notable increases of 1.8 TWh in 2015, 2.4 TWh in 2017, 3.8 TWh in 2020, and 4.7 TWh in 2023/2024. Solar energy also saw considerable growth, particularly in 2020 and 2021, with increases of 3.4 TWh and 2.7 TWh, respectively, continuing with an impressive 4.1 TWh addition in 2023. These trends highlight the Netherlands' commitment to enhancing its clean electricity generation capacity.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources