Avoided use of fossil energy and emission of CO2

Avoided use of fossil energy and emission of CO2

Energy sources/techniques Energy application Periods Avoided use of fossil energy Avoided energy (TJ) Avoided carbon dioxide emission (CO2) Avoided emission (kton)
Total energy sources Total energy applications 2020 331,791 20,713
Total energy sources Total energy applications 2021** 387,214 25,339
Hydro power Total energy applications 2020 676 38
Hydro power Total energy applications 2021** 711 45
Wind energy, total Total energy applications 2020 108,777 6,168
Wind energy, total Total energy applications 2021** 152,684 9,688
Wind energy on shore Total energy applications 2020 63,132 3,580
Wind energy on shore Total energy applications 2021** 84,560 5,366
Wind energy off shore Total energy applications 2020 45,645 2,588
Wind energy off shore Total energy applications 2021** 68,124 4,323
Solar energy Total energy applications 2020 67,002 3,799
Solar energy Total energy applications 2021** 93,337 5,914
Solar photovoltaic Total energy applications 2020 65,736 3,727
Solar photovoltaic Total energy applications 2021** 92,084 5,843
Solar thermal, total Total energy applications 2020 1,266 71
Solar thermal, total Total energy applications 2021** 1,254 71
Solar thermal, covered systems <= 6 m2 Total energy applications 2020
Solar thermal, covered systems <= 6 m2 Total energy applications 2021**
Solar thermal, covered systems > 6 m2 Total energy applications 2020
Solar thermal, covered systems > 6 m2 Total energy applications 2021**
Solar thermal, uncovered systems Total energy applications 2020
Solar thermal, uncovered systems Total energy applications 2021**
Total geothermal energy Total energy applications 2020 11,242 633
Total geothermal energy Total energy applications 2021** 11,678 653
Deep geothermal heat Total energy applications 2020 6,228 351
Deep geothermal heat Total energy applications 2021** 6,326 352
Total shallow geothermal energy Total energy applications 2020 5,014 282
Total shallow geothermal energy Total energy applications 2021** 5,352 301
Shallow geothermal heat, total Total energy applications 2020 3,775 212
Shallow geothermal heat, total Total energy applications 2021** 4,087 229
Shallow geothermal heat, heat pumps Total energy applications 2020 3,590 201
Shallow geothermal heat, heat pumps Total energy applications 2021** 3,900 219
Shal geothermal heat, without heat pumps Total energy applications 2020 185 10
Shal geothermal heat, without heat pumps Total energy applications 2021** 187 11
Shallow geothermal cold Total energy applications 2020 1,238 70
Shallow geothermal cold Total energy applications 2021** 1,265 72
Aerothermal heat, total Total energy applications 2020 3,311 184
Aerothermal heat, total Total energy applications 2021** 4,401 244
Total biomass Total energy applications 2020 140,784 9,892
Total biomass Total energy applications 2021** 124,403 8,794
Municipal waste; renewable fraction Total energy applications 2020 21,447 1,214
Municipal waste; renewable fraction Total energy applications 2021** 24,001 1,454
Co-firing of biomass in electr. plants Total energy applications 2020 40,359 3,822
Co-firing of biomass in electr. plants Total energy applications 2021** 24,711 2,340
Total biomass households Total energy applications 2020 11,215 633
Total biomass households Total energy applications 2021** 11,389 642
Biomass households, open fireplaces Total energy applications 2020 202 11
Biomass households, open fireplaces Total energy applications 2021** 194 11
Biomass households, inserts Total energy applications 2020 1,617 91
Biomass households, inserts Total energy applications 2021** 1,631 92
Biomass households, wood stoves Total energy applications 2020 7,894 445
Biomass households, wood stoves Total energy applications 2021** 7,726 436
Biomass households, pellet stoves Total energy applications 2020 1,503 85
Biomass households, pellet stoves Total energy applications 2021** 1,838 104
Biomass households, charcoal use Total energy applications 2020
Biomass households, charcoal use Total energy applications 2021**
Biomass boilers companies, total Total energy applications 2020 27,940 1,578
Biomass boilers companies, total Total energy applications 2021** 24,475 1,406
Biomass boilers companies, CHP Total energy applications 2020 14,243 805
Biomass boilers companies, CHP Total energy applications 2021** 9,037 536
Biomass boilers companies, heat only Total energy applications 2020 13,697 773
Biomass boilers companies, heat only Total energy applications 2021** 15,438 871
Total biogas Total energy applications 2020 15,495 904
Total biogas Total energy applications 2021** 12,088 747
Biogas from landfills Total energy applications 2020 322 19
Biogas from landfills Total energy applications 2021** 326 20
Biogas from sewage water purification Total energy applications 2020 2,329 133
Biogas from sewage water purification Total energy applications 2021** 1,913 118
Biogas, co-digestion of manure Total energy applications 2020 7,070 412
Biogas, co-digestion of manure Total energy applications 2021** 5,521 343
Other biogas Total energy applications 2020 5,774 340
Other biogas Total energy applications 2021** 4,329 265
Liquid biofuels for transport, total Total energy applications 2020 24,328 1,742
Liquid biofuels for transport, total Total energy applications 2021** 27,739 2,204
Biogasoline Total energy applications 2020 9,481 592
Biogasoline Total energy applications 2021** 9,766 720
Biodiesel Total energy applications 2020 14,847 1,150
Biodiesel Total energy applications 2021** 17,973 1,484
Source: CBS.
Explanation of symbols

Dataset is not available.


The use of renewable energy avoids the use of fossil energy and as a consequence avoids emission of CO2. Renewable energy is energy from wind, hydro power, the sun, the earth, heat from outdoor air and biomass. This is energy from natural processes that is replenished constantly.

Figures are presented in an absolute way, as well as related to the total emission of carbon dioxide in the Netherlands.

Avoiding the use of fossil energy and avoiding emission of carbon dioxide are important underlying aims for stimulation of the use of renewable energy.

The figures are broken down into energy source/technique and into application (electricity, heat and transport).

Data available from:
1990

Status of the figures:
This table contains definite figures up to and including 2020 and revised provisional figures for 2021.

Changes as of February 8th 2023
Revised provisional figures added for 2021.
Figures for 2020 are definite.
From reporting year 2021, new sustainability criteria for solid and gaseous biomass will apply in the context of the EU Renewable Energy Directive (2018). Only solid and gaseous biomass compliant according to these criteria are used to determine the avoided use of fossil energy and emission of CO2 in 2021.
Figures for 2020 and before were calculated based on RED I; in accordance with Eurostat these figures will not be modified anymore. This may result in inconsistencies with other tables.

Changes as of July 2022:
Revised provisional figures added for 2021.
From reporting year 2021, new sustainability criteria for solid and gaseous biomass will apply in the context of the EU Renewable Energy Directive (2018). It is currently unclear whether all biomass consumed in the Netherlands meets these new sustainability criteria. This has an impact on the calculation of the avoided use of fossil energy and emission of CO2. For the cases where this uncertainty applies a “.“ is displayed.


When will new figures be published?
Provisional figures: June of the following year.
Revised provisional figures: December of the following year.
Definite figures: December of the second following year.

Description topics

Avoided use of fossil 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 energy
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 carbon dioxide emission (CO2)
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 emission
1 kton = 1,000 ton = 1 million kg.