How much energy is from renewable sources?
In 2020, the Netherlands obtained 11.1 percent of its total energy consumptionnoot1 from renewable sources. In the previous year, this figure was 8.8 percent.
The consumption of renewable energynoot2 in 2020 amounted to 220 PJ (petajoules), 19 percent more than a year earlier. Solar energy consumption (for electricity and heat) increased in particular. Compared to the year before, it grew in 2020 by 49 percent to 31 PJ.
| Jaartal | Biomass | Wind energy | Solar energy | Other1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1.45 | 0.13 | 0.02 | 0.02 |
| 2001 | 1.49 | 0.14 | 0.03 | 0.02 |
| 2002 | 1.62 | 0.17 | 0.03 | 0.03 |
| 2003 | 1.55 | 0.22 | 0.03 | 0.04 |
| 2004 | 1.69 | 0.27 | 0.03 | 0.05 |
| 2005 | 2.08 | 0.32 | 0.04 | 0.04 |
| 2006 | 2.28 | 0.40 | 0.04 | 0.06 |
| 2007 | 2.68 | 0.51 | 0.04 | 0.07 |
| 2008 | 2.84 | 0.62 | 0.04 | 0.10 |
| 2009 | 3.36 | 0.73 | 0.05 | 0.13 |
| 2010 | 3.03 | 0.69 | 0.05 | 0.15 |
| 2011 | 3.51 | 0.78 | 0.06 | 0.18 |
| 2012 | 3.56 | 0.81 | 0.08 | 0.21 |
| 2013 | 3.44 | 0.88 | 0.12 | 0.25 |
| 2014 | 3.85 | 1.04 | 0.19 | 0.34 |
| 2015 | 3.80 | 1.20 | 0.25 | 0.41 |
| 2016 | 3.60 | 1.44 | 0.33 | 0.46 |
| 2017 | 3.87 | 1.64 | 0.43 | 0.52 |
| 2018 | 4.35 | 1.70 | 0.68 | 0.61 |
| 2019 | 5.16 | 1.85 | 0.97 | 0.79 |
| 2020** | 6.03 | 2.54 | 1.54 | 0.98 |
| ** revised provisional figures | ||||
| 1)Hydropower, geothermal energy, aerothermy | ||||
Installed solar power capacity up by almost half
In 2020, installed solar power capacitynoot3 increased by 48 percent compared to a year earlier, to 10,700 megawatts. The capacity on roofs rose to 8,800 megawatts (+42 percent) and in solar parks to 1,900 megawatts (+88 percent). This assumes that all installations up to 15 kilowatts are installed on roofs.
The capacity of solar power installations on homes increased to 4,300 megawatts in 2020, an increase of 34 percent compared to a year earlier. On average, the capacity per home installation was 3.5 kilowatts. In the west and in cities, residential photovoltaic installations tend to be smaller.
| Gemeente | Average solar capacity per home | |
|---|---|---|
| Appingedam | 3.5 | |
| Delfzijl | 3.4 | |
| Groningen | 3.0 | |
| Loppersum | 4.0 | |
| Stadskanaal | 4.5 | |
| Veendam | 3.9 | |
| Pekela | 4.0 | |
| Oldambt | 4.1 | |
| Westerwolde | 4.4 | |
| Midden-Groningen | 3.5 | |
| Het Hogeland | 3.3 | |
| Westerkwartier | 4.0 | |
| Achtkarspelen | 4.4 | |
| Ameland | 4.0 | |
| Harlingen | 2.9 | |
| Heerenveen | 3.6 | |
| Leeuwarden | 3.3 | |
| Ooststellingwerf | 3.3 | |
| Opsterland | 4.1 | |
| Schiermonnikoog | 4.0 | |
| Smallingerland | 3.7 | |
| Terschelling | 4.6 | |
| Vlieland | 3.3 | |
| Weststellingwerf | 4.0 | |
| Tytsjerksteradiel | 3.6 | |
| Dantumadiel | 3.2 | |
| Súdwest-Fryslân | 3.6 | |
| De Fryske Marren | 3.6 | |
| Waadhoeke | 3.6 | |
| Noardeast-Fryslân | 3.5 | |
| Assen | 3.2 | |
| Coevorden | 3.5 | |
| Emmen | 3.9 | |
| Hoogeveen | 3.4 | |
| Meppel | 3.5 | |
| Aa en Hunze | 4.0 | |
| Borger-Odoorn | 4.1 | |
| De Wolden | 3.5 | |
| Noordenveld | 3.6 | |
| Westerveld | 3.5 | |
| Tynaarlo | 3.7 | |
| Midden-Drenthe | 3.5 | |
| Almelo | 3.7 | |
| Borne | 3.7 | |
| Enschede | 3.5 | |
| Haaksbergen | 3.8 | |
| Hellendoorn | 4.1 | |
| Hengelo | 3.8 | |
| Losser | 3.9 | |
| Oldenzaal | 3.8 | |
| Tubbergen | 4.7 | |
| Wierden | 4.5 | |
| Twenterand | 3.9 | |
| Hof van Twente | 3.9 | |
| Rijssen-Holten | 3.6 | |
| Dinkelland | 4.6 | |
| Dalfsen | 3.7 | |
| Deventer | 3.4 | |
| Hardenberg | 4.2 | |
| Kampen | 3.2 | |
| Ommen | 4.0 | |
| Raalte | 3.6 | |
| Staphorst | 3.8 | |
| Zwolle | 3.1 | |
| Steenwijkerland | 3.7 | |
| Olst-Wijhe | 3.6 | |
| Zwartewaterland | 3.6 | |
| Almere | 3.4 | |
| Zeewolde | 3.9 | |
| Noordoostpolder | 4.2 | |
| Urk | 4.1 | |
| Dronten | 3.8 | |
| Lelystad | 3.5 | |
| Aalten | 4.0 | |
| Doetinchem | 3.5 | |
| Winterswijk | 4.0 | |
| Oude IJsselstreek | 4.1 | |
| Oost Gelre | 4.4 | |
| Berkelland | 4.2 | |
| Bronckhorst | 4.0 | |
| Montferland | 4.0 | |
| Arnhem | 3.3 | |
| Beuningen | 3.9 | |
| Doesburg | 3.6 | |
| Druten | 4.1 | |
| Duiven | 3.9 | |
| Heumen | 3.9 | |
| Nijmegen | 3.1 | |
| Renkum | 3.6 | |
| Rheden | 3.7 | |
| Rozendaal | 4.5 | |
| Westervoort | 3.6 | |
| Wijchen | 3.8 | |
| Zevenaar | 3.8 | |
| Lingewaard | 3.7 | |
| Overbetuwe | 4.0 | |
| Berg en Dal | 3.7 | |
| Barneveld | 3.8 | |
| Ede | 3.6 | |
| Nijkerk | 3.6 | |
| Scherpenzeel | 3.7 | |
| Wageningen | 3.0 | |
| Elburg | 3.6 | |
| Ermelo | 3.7 | |
| Harderwijk | 3.2 | |
| Hattem | 3.7 | |
| Oldebroek | 4.4 | |
| Putten | 4.2 | |
| Nunspeet | 3.9 | |
| Buren | 4.0 | |
| Culemborg | 3.1 | |
| Maasdriel | 3.7 | |
| Tiel | 3.6 | |
| Zaltbommel | 3.6 | |
| West Maas en Waal | 3.6 | |
| Neder-Betuwe | 3.8 | |
| West Betuwe | 3.8 | |
| Apeldoorn | 3.1 | |
| Brummen | 3.7 | |
| Epe | 4.0 | |
| Heerde | 4.0 | |
| Lochem | 3.9 | |
| Voorst | 4.2 | |
| Zutphen | 3.1 | |
| Renswoude | 3.9 | |
| Rhenen | 3.4 | |
| Veenendaal | 3.2 | |
| Amersfoort | 2.9 | |
| Baarn | 2.7 | |
| Bunschoten | 3.6 | |
| Eemnes | 3.0 | |
| Leusden | 3.5 | |
| Soest | 3.6 | |
| Woudenberg | 3.1 | |
| De Bilt | 3.5 | |
| Bunnik | 3.5 | |
| Houten | 3.3 | |
| Lopik | 3.9 | |
| Montfoort | 3.7 | |
| Utrecht | 2.9 | |
| Wijk bij Duurstede | 3.5 | |
| IJsselstein | 3.4 | |
| Zeist | 3.2 | |
| Nieuwegein | 3.1 | |
| Oudewater | 3.8 | |
| Woerden | 3.2 | |
| De Ronde Venen | 3.2 | |
| Utrechtse Heuvelrug | 3.3 | |
| Stichtse Vecht | 3.2 | |
| Vijfheerenlanden | 3.1 | |
| Den Helder | 2.7 | |
| Schagen | 3.6 | |
| Texel | 3.6 | |
| Hollands Kroon | 3.6 | |
| Alkmaar | 3.0 | |
| Bergen (NH.) | 3.1 | |
| Castricum | 3.0 | |
| Heerhugowaard | 3.1 | |
| Heiloo | 3.1 | |
| Langedijk | 3.1 | |
| Uitgeest | 3.0 | |
| Enkhuizen | 3.1 | |
| Hoorn | 2.9 | |
| Medemblik | 3.2 | |
| Opmeer | 3.6 | |
| Drechterland | 3.5 | |
| Stede Broec | 3.0 | |
| Koggenland | 3.6 | |
| Amsterdam | 3.0 | |
| Beverwijk | 3.0 | |
| Bloemendaal | 3.3 | |
| Haarlem | 3.0 | |
| Heemskerk | 3.2 | |
| Heemstede | 2.8 | |
| Velsen | 2.9 | |
| Zandvoort | 3.6 | |
| Beemster | 3.9 | |
| Edam-Volendam | 3.6 | |
| Landsmeer | 4.2 | |
| Oostzaan | 3.4 | |
| Purmerend | 3.1 | |
| Zaanstad | 3.1 | |
| Waterland | 3.1 | |
| Wormerland | 3.0 | |
| Blaricum | 3.6 | |
| Hilversum | 2.7 | |
| Huizen | 2.8 | |
| Laren | 4.1 | |
| Weesp | 2.9 | |
| Wijdemeren | 3.3 | |
| Gooise Meren | 3.2 | |
| Haarlemmermeer | 3.1 | |
| Aalsmeer | 3.6 | |
| Amstelveen | 3.2 | |
| Diemen | 3.2 | |
| Ouder-Amstel | 3.2 | |
| Uithoorn | 3.4 | |
| Gorinchem | 3.3 | |
| Molenlanden | 3.7 | |
| Alblasserdam | 3.3 | |
| Dordrecht | 3.2 | |
| Hardinxveld-Giessendam | 2.7 | |
| Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht | 3.1 | |
| Papendrecht | 3.1 | |
| Sliedrecht | 3.3 | |
| Zwijndrecht | 3.0 | |
| Goeree-Overflakkee | 3.3 | |
| Hoeksche Waard | 3.4 | |
| Alphen aan den Rijn | 3.3 | |
| Hillegom | 2.8 | |
| Katwijk | 3.0 | |
| Leiden | 3.1 | |
| Leiderdorp | 3.3 | |
| Lisse | 2.6 | |
| Nieuwkoop | 3.8 | |
| Noordwijk | 3.3 | |
| Oegstgeest | 3.1 | |
| Voorschoten | 3.3 | |
| Zoeterwoude | 3.2 | |
| Teylingen | 3.0 | |
| Kaag en Braassem | 3.7 | |
| Gouda | 2.9 | |
| Waddinxveen | 3.4 | |
| Zuidplas | 3.3 | |
| Bodegraven-Reeuwijk | 3.5 | |
| Krimpenerwaard | 3.4 | |
| Barendrecht | 3.3 | |
| Brielle | 3.2 | |
| Capelle aan den IJssel | 2.7 | |
| Delft | 2.7 | |
| 's-Gravenhage | 2.7 | |
| Hellevoetsluis | 3.3 | |
| Krimpen aan den IJssel | 3.5 | |
| Maassluis | 3.1 | |
| Ridderkerk | 3.0 | |
| Rotterdam | 2.9 | |
| Rijswijk | 3.0 | |
| Schiedam | 3.3 | |
| Albrandswaard | 3.4 | |
| Westvoorne | 3.7 | |
| Vlaardingen | 2.7 | |
| Wassenaar | 2.9 | |
| Zoetermeer | 3.3 | |
| Lansingerland | 3.0 | |
| Westland | 3.7 | |
| Midden-Delfland | 3.2 | |
| Leidschendam-Voorburg | 3.1 | |
| Pijnacker-Nootdorp | 3.3 | |
| Nissewaard | 2.8 | |
| Borsele | 3.1 | |
| Goes | 3.0 | |
| Hulst | 3.1 | |
| Kapelle | 3.1 | |
| Middelburg | 2.8 | |
| Reimerswaal | 3.1 | |
| Terneuzen | 3.2 | |
| Tholen | 3.1 | |
| Veere | 3.3 | |
| Vlissingen | 2.5 | |
| Schouwen-Duiveland | 3.2 | |
| Noord-Beveland | 3.4 | |
| Sluis | 3.4 | |
| Dongen | 4.0 | |
| Gilze en Rijen | 4.3 | |
| Goirle | 4.0 | |
| Heusden | 4.2 | |
| Hilvarenbeek | 4.5 | |
| Loon op Zand | 4.0 | |
| Oisterwijk | 4.0 | |
| Tilburg | 3.3 | |
| Waalwijk | 4.2 | |
| Asten | 4.5 | |
| Best | 3.9 | |
| Deurne | 4.3 | |
| Eersel | 4.6 | |
| Eindhoven | 3.3 | |
| Helmond | 3.4 | |
| Nuenen, Gerwen en Nederwetten | 3.9 | |
| Oirschot | 4.9 | |
| Someren | 4.7 | |
| Son en Breugel | 4.1 | |
| Valkenswaard | 3.7 | |
| Veldhoven | 3.8 | |
| Waalre | 3.9 | |
| Gemert-Bakel | 4.0 | |
| Heeze-Leende | 4.5 | |
| Laarbeek | 4.3 | |
| Reusel-De Mierden | 5.1 | |
| Cranendonck | 4.3 | |
| Bergeijk | 4.8 | |
| Bladel | 4.5 | |
| Geldrop-Mierlo | 3.8 | |
| Boekel | 5.2 | |
| Boxmeer | 4.6 | |
| Boxtel | 3.9 | |
| Grave | 3.9 | |
| Haaren | 4.3 | |
| 's-Hertogenbosch | 3.5 | |
| Mill en Sint Hubert | 4.8 | |
| Oss | 4.0 | |
| Sint-Michielsgestel | 4.2 | |
| Uden | 3.5 | |
| Vught | 3.7 | |
| Cuijk | 3.8 | |
| Landerd | 4.6 | |
| Sint Anthonis | 5.2 | |
| Bernheze | 4.4 | |
| Meierijstad | 3.8 | |
| Baarle-Nassau | 4.3 | |
| Bergen op Zoom | 2.9 | |
| Breda | 3.7 | |
| Etten-Leur | 4.1 | |
| Geertruidenberg | 3.7 | |
| Oosterhout | 3.5 | |
| Rucphen | 4.3 | |
| Steenbergen | 3.5 | |
| Woensdrecht | 3.8 | |
| Zundert | 4.4 | |
| Halderberge | 3.7 | |
| Roosendaal | 4.0 | |
| Moerdijk | 3.7 | |
| Drimmelen | 3.9 | |
| Alphen-Chaam | 4.9 | |
| Altena | 3.7 | |
| Beesel | 4.0 | |
| Bergen (L.) | 4.4 | |
| Gennep | 4.0 | |
| Mook en Middelaar | 4.1 | |
| Nederweert | 4.4 | |
| Roermond | 3.9 | |
| Venlo | 3.3 | |
| Venray | 3.5 | |
| Weert | 3.9 | |
| Horst aan de Maas | 4.2 | |
| Leudal | 4.5 | |
| Maasgouw | 4.0 | |
| Roerdalen | 4.0 | |
| Echt-Susteren | 4.1 | |
| Peel en Maas | 4.1 | |
| Landgraaf | 3.6 | |
| Brunssum | 3.7 | |
| Heerlen | 3.6 | |
| Kerkrade | 3.3 | |
| Simpelveld | 3.9 | |
| Voerendaal | 4.1 | |
| Beekdaelen | 4.1 | |
| Maastricht | 3.3 | |
| Meerssen | 3.9 | |
| Vaals | 3.3 | |
| Valkenburg aan de Geul | 4.3 | |
| Gulpen-Wittem | 4.0 | |
| Eijsden-Margraten | 4.2 | |
| Beek | 3.6 | |
| Stein | 3.8 | |
| Sittard-Geleen | 3.7 | |
| ** revised provisional figures | ||
More wind energy from wind farm near Borssele
In 2020, the use of wind energy increased by 29 percent compared to a year earlier to 50 PJ. The main reason for this increase is the increase in the installed capacity of offshore wind turbines due to the construction of the wind farm at Borssele. The total installed offshore capacity increased last year by 157 percent to 2,500 megawatts.
More wind turbines were also installed on land. The total capacity of wind turbines went from 4,500 megawatts at the end of 2019 to 6,600 megawatts at the end of 2020 (+ 32 percent).
Increased use of energy from biomass
Biomass is the largest source of renewable energy with a share of 54 percent. Energy consumption from this source rose by 10 percent to 119 petajoules in 2020. This increase is largely due to the higher use of biomass in coal-fired power stations. The consumption of biogas and solid and liquid biomass in industrial boilers also increased.
The production of electricity and heat from co-firing in coal-fired power stations rose from 8 to 20 PJ. The share of biomass in coal-fired power stations grew from 10 percent in 2019 to 39 percent in 2020. The increase was stimulated by subsidies and an increase in the CO2 price for CO2 from coal.
The consumption of biofuels decreased from 28 PJ in 2019 to 24 PJ in 2020, despite an increase in the mandatory percentage of renewable energy for transportnoot4 for suppliers of motor fuels.
Sources
StatLine – Renewable electricity production and capacity
StatLine – Renewable energy; final consumption
Relevant links
News release – 11 percent of energy consumption from renewable sources in 2020
News release – More and more renewable energy from biomass
The questions
- How are figures calculated by CBS?
- How many dwellings in the Netherlands?
- How fast is the Dutch population growing?
- How tall are Dutch people?
- How many farm animals are there in the Netherlands?
- Which jobs often cause a poor work-life balance?
- How many diamond wedding couples are there?
- How much energy is from renewable sources?
- How many people fall victim to domestic violence?
- How many people use the Internet of Things?
- What are the major religions?
- What are the most popular majors?
- What do people die of on an average day?
- How much water do we consume?
- What do we buy online?
- How are the various animal species doing?
- How many under-23s receive youth assistance?
- Which flower bulbs are most common?
- How many companies in the Netherlands?
- Where do Caribbean Dutch children live?
- How do we use our land?
- How many electric cars are driving around?
- Which jobs have the highest levels of mental fatigue?
- How much nitrogen is emitted at livestock farms?
- How many workers belong to a trade union?
- How much have food prices gone up?
- Where were people in the Caribbean Netherlands originally born?
- How many families are at risk of poverty?
- How sustainable is our behaviour?
- What do we import from China?
- How many girls become teenage mothers?
- Has our purchasing power gone up or down?
- How many adults smoke?
- How many millionaires in the Netherlands?
- How many tourists stay overnight in the Netherlands?
- How does CBS handle your privacy?
Noten
Energy consumption
In accordance with European agreements, the share of renewable energy sources is calculated based on the gross energy consumption for energetic use. This concerns energy consumption by end-user sectors (manufacturing industry, households, services, agriculture and transport) for energy applications. This is exclusive of consumption for non-energy applications such as petroleum as a raw material for plastics and losses as a result of energy conversion. The rules for calculation are taken from the EU Renewable Energy Directive. These rules are slightly different from the rules for the national energy balance. As a result, energy consumption by end-users in the renewable energy statistic is not exactly equal to energy consumption by end-users in the national energy balance.
Renewable energy
Renewable energy means energy from renewable non-fossil sources, namely wind, solar, aerothermal, geothermal, hydrothermal and ocean energy, hydro power, biomass, landfill gas, waste water treatment plant gas and biogases.
Solar power
The installed capacity of solar installations in the Netherlands is calculated by combining data from a number of registrations (PIR, Ceres, Certiq, VAT, the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and Energy Investment Allowance applications (EIA).
Mandatory percentage of renewable energy for transport
Suppliers of motor fuels are obliged by the Energy for Transport regulations to supply a certain share of renewable energy. This share is a percentage of the total petrol and diesel delivered to road traffic and rail. In 2017 this percentage was 8.5, in 2019 this was 12.5, and in 2020 16.4. Suppliers of motor fuels meet the obligation mainly by blending biofuels.
Deliveries to ships sailing abroad can count towards meeting the obligation and biofuels from waste may count as double. It is also possible to carry over an additional supply of renewable energy in a given year to a later year. Deliveries to ships sailing abroad, double counting and administrative shifting do not apply to the contribution of biofuels to the total renewable energy target as discussed in this article.