No increase share renewable energy in 2013

Last year, 4.5 percent of total Dutch energy consumption was generated by means of renewable energy sources, i.e. the same share as in 2012. In accordance with European agreements, the target for the Netherlands is set at 14 percent in 2020.

Renewable heat consumption up

Renewable energy is used as heat, electricity and biofuels for transport. Last year, the consumption of renewable heat increased, but at the same time renewable electricity consumption decreased. Both sources of renewable energy accounted for 43 percent of the total use of renewable energy of nearly 100 petajoules (PJ) in 2013.

Renewable energy, consumption by form of energy

Waste incineration plants generate more heat

The consumption of renewable heat grew by about 10 percent in 2013 to 43 PJ. Waste incineration plants are important sources of renewable heat and contributed most to the increase. They produced more steam and more hot water for district heating systems in, for example, Rotterdam.

With a growth by 25 percent, geothermal energy was the fastest growing form of renewable energy. Heat from deep geothermal resources is frequently used in greenhouse horticulture. The use of geothermal energy extracted from shallow resources also increased and was mainly used to heat buildings.

Use of renewable heat

Consumption renewable electricity down

Consumption of renewable energy declined by 5 percent in 2013, as less biomass was incinerated in power stations. Due to the erection of new wind turbines, the use of wind energy increased, but the increase could not compensate for the reduced incineration of biomass in power stations.

Use of biofuels for transport stable

The consumption of biofuels for transport has varied around 13 PJ in recent years. Suppliers of petrol and diesel have the obligation to generate part of the energy for transport from renewable energy sources, usually biofuels. The obligation becomes stricter every year, but in recent years, so-called double-counting biofuels with an advanced level of environmental technology are used to fulfil the extra obligation.

Reinoud Segers