Renewable energy; final use and avoided use of fossil energy, 1990-2013

Table explanation

Description topics

Gross final consumption renewable energy

Gross final consumption of renewable energy follows the definition from the EU directive for renewable energy from 2009. It is calculated as the sum of three parts:
1. Gross production of electricity from renewable sources
2. Gross production of sold heat from renewable sources
3. Final consumption of energy from the earth, outdoor air, the sun and biomass.
Unsold heat from renewable sources (for example wood stoves in households) is included in final consumption of renewable energy.
Imports and exports of green electricity is not included.

Final consumption in terajoule

In this table, the unit TeraJoule (TJ) is used. This equals 1,000,000,000,000 joules (10 to the power of 12). A joule is a unit of energy equivalent to 0.24 calories. A TJ is equivalent to 31 600 cubic meters of natural gas or 278 000 kilowatt-hours of electricity.

In % total energetic final consumption

Gross final consumption of renewable energy as percentage of total gross final energetic energy consumption, calculated according the definitions from the EU directive on renewable energy from 2009. Total gross final energetic energy consumption is the sum of three parts:
1. Energetic final use of the end use sectors manufacturing industry (excluding refineries), households, services, agriculture, fishing and transport.
2. Distribution losses of electricity and heat
3. Own use of electricity and heat by the producers of electricity and sold heat.

Avoided use of fossil primary energy

The avoided use of fossil primary energy is the amount of fossil (and nuclear) energy that would have been used if renewable energy was not
used.
The avoided use of fossil primary energy is the sum of:
1. The avoided use of fossil primary energy by the domestic production of electricity, heat and gas from renewable sources.
2. The avoided use of fossil energy by the biofuels for road transport sold on the domestic market.
Imports and exports of green electricity is not included.

Avoided primary energy in TJ

In this table, the unit TeraJoule (TJ) is used. This equals 1,000,000,000,000 joules (10 to the power of 12). A joule is a unit of energy equivalent to 0.24 calories. A TJ is equivalent to 31 600 cubic meters of natural gas or 278 000 kilowatt-hours of electricity.

Avoided primary energy in % total use

Primary energy equivalents as percentage of the total domestic energy consumption. Total domestic energy consumption is defined as the supply of energy (primary production plus imports) minus the flows that leave the country (exports, bunkers for international transport) plus or minus stock changes.

Avoided carbon dioxide emission

The amount of carbon dioxide that is emitted if no use is made of renewable energy technology. The amount of carbon dioxide is calculated in accordance with the methodology of the Protocol Monitoring Renewable Energy (AgentschapNL, 2010). It covers domestic production of renewable electricity, heat and gas. Imports of green electricity is not included.
This methodology only considers the avoided emission by the use of the renewable energy at the final stage: production of renewable electricity, heat and gas. The earlier stages are not included. For biofuels for road transport greenhouse gas emissions of the earlier stages may be substantial. Therefore, for these biofuels no avoided CO2 emissions are published.

Avoided carbon dioxide emission in kton

1 kton = 1,000 ton = 1 million kg.

Avoided CO2 emission in % of tot. emiss.

Avoided emission of carbon dioxide as percentage of the total Dutch CO2 emission according to the IPCC guidelines (Kyoto Protocol).