Energy consumption 18 percent lower than in 2000

© ANP / Fotografie Siebe Swart
  • Energy consumption has remained virtually unchanged over the last two years, relative to 2023.
  • Fossil fuel consumption is down by 28 percent from 2000 level.
  • The chemical sector consumes more oil today than it did in 2000.

The Netherlands consumed nearly 2,600 petajoules (PJ) of energy in 2025, 1 percent less than the previous year. Total energy consumption in 2025 was 18 percent lower than it was in 2000. The consumption of fossil fuels has fallen by 28 percent compared with 2000, while the use of renewable energy sources has increased almost eightfold over the same period. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports this on the basis of new, provisional figures.

Energy consumption has remained virtually unchanged in recent years

The Netherlands consumed just under 2,600 PJ in 2025. This is 1 percent more than in 2024. In 2000, the total amount of energy consumed in the Netherlands was almost 3,200 PJ. Total energy consumption fell, while the population grew by 14 percent. Over the past two years, total energy consumption has not changed significantly. Less oil was consumed, but the consumption of coal and natural gas was actually higher in 2025 than it was in 2024. This was necessary in order to generate more electricity and meet increased demand from abroad.

In 2025, consumption of fossil fuels was just over 2,100 PJ. In the year 2000, the Netherlands consumed nearly 3,000 PJ of fossil energy. The consumption of natural gas (36 percent) and coal (42 percent) was lower than in the year 2000. Specifically, the use of natural gas and coal to generate electricity is lower now. Due to higher CO2 prices, it has become more expensive to generate electricity from fossil fuels, in relative terms. This applies to coal in particular, but also to a lesser extent to natural gas. At the same time, energy production from renewable sources was higher in 2025 than in 2024. Additionally, less natural gas was consumed in people’s homes in 2025 than in 2000, due to the increased use of heat pumps.

Energy consumption from oil is down since 2000

Energy consumption from oil was 14 percent lower in 2025 than it was in 2000. Oil refineries and road traffic, in particular, are using less oil. The percentage change for oil is lower than that for natural gas and coal. The main reason for this is that the policy measures relating to the energy transition have focused primarily on electricity generation.

The share of oil derivatives in total energy consumption rose from 37 percent in 2000 to 39 percent in 2025. This meant that oil was the most widely used energy source in the Netherlands in 2025. In 2000, natural gas was the most widely used energy source, accounting for 47 percent of total energy consumption.

In 2025, the amount of energy generated from renewable sources was 6 percent higher than the previous year: 432 PJ. Energy from renewable sources was almost eight times higher in 2025 than it was in 2000. The consumption of solar and wind energy was higher, in particular, driven by government measures such as subsidies, tax exemptions and offshore wind farms.

The chemical sector consumes more oil than it did in 2000

Industry is the largest consumer by far of any end-user sector, consuming 33 percent of total energy. In 2025, energy consumption by industry was 7 percent lower than in 2024. Consumption has fallen from just over 1,100 PJ in 2000 to nearly 870 PJ in 2025 in this sector. The sub-sector of industry with the highest energy consumption is the chemical sector. Oil consumption in this sector is actually higher in this sector than it was 25 years ago.

Energy consumption from road traffic, households and agriculture is lower than in 2000

Energy consumption by road transport in 2025 was down by 4 percent, year on year. That was 15 percent lower than it was in the year 2000. One of the reasons for this is better fuel-efficiency in cars, tax incentives (including road tax), consumers purchasing fuel across the border in other countries and environmental zones. Electricity consumption by road transport was higher due to the increase in the number of electric and hybrid cars. Electric cars accounted for 3 percent of the energy consumption of all road traffic in 2025.

Energy consumption by households was 28 percent lower than it was in the year 2000, due to further improvements in energy efficiency, mild winters and higher natural gas prices in recent years. Energy consumption in the agricultural sector was 20 percent lower than it was in 2000. Specifically, the consumption of natural gas was significantly lower in this sector, while the consumption of energy generated from renewable sources was higher.

Sources

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