Renewable electricity more and more important

In 2009, generation of renewable electricity has risen to nearly 9 percent of total domestic electricity consumption. The objective of the Dutch government was to raise the share of renewable energy to 9 percent before 2010.

Approximately 9 percent renewable electricity

In 2007, only 6.0 percent of electricity consumption was covered by renewable electricity, as against 7.5 percent in 2008 and approximately 9 percent in 2009. The generation of electricity from biomass and wind has increased.

Generation of renewable electricity

Reduction total electricity consumption

Approximately 1 percentage point of the increase in the share of renewable electricity generation is attributable to an increase in generation of renewable electricity. Electricity consumption in the Netherlands was reduced by more than 5 percent last year. As a result, the share of renewable electricity grew by around 0.5 percentage points. It was agreed at international level to express the share of renewable electricity as renewable domestic generation divided by total consumption.

More electricity generated from biomass

The use of biomass in high-capacity power stations grew by nearly 20 percent in 2009 relative to 2008. Generation of electricity from biomass outside high-capacity power stations also increased, e.g. burning and fermentation of wood pulp, household waste and manure.

Generation of renewable electricity from biomass, most important technologies

Large amount of renewable electricity generated by wind turbines

Last year was less windy than 2008. All the same, the amount of electricity generated by wind turbines grew by about 8 percent, because new, high-capacity wind turbines were installed in the course of 2008 and early 2009. Wind energy accounted for 45 percent of renewable electricity production.

Supply and demand green electricity

Considerable imports of renewable electricity from abroad

The domestic demand for renewable electricity rose further in 2009 to reach 26 billion kWh, i.e. 23 percent of total electricity consumption. Domestic production of renewable electricity falls short of demand. This accounts for the considerable imports of renewable electricity covered by green electricity certificates ((17 billion kWh in 2009). These imports do not contribute to the Dutch government’s objective to cover 9 percent of total domestic electricity consumption by electricity generated from renewable sources in 2010.

Reinoud Segers and Marco Wilmer