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 use of fossil energy Avoided energy relative (% total energy cons.)
Total energy sources Total energy applications 2022** 467,318 16.69
Wind energy, total Total energy applications 2022** 173,983 6.21
Wind energy on shore Total energy applications 2022** 105,714 3.78
Wind energy off shore Total energy applications 2022** 68,270 2.44
Solar energy Total energy applications 2022** 140,370 5.01
Total geothermal energy Total energy applications 2022** 12,143 0.43
Total shallow geothermal energy Total energy applications 2022** 5,358 0.19
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).

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.
An exception applies to the biogas used for bio-methane production. The current methodology doesn’t discern sustainable from non-sustainable biogas used for bio-methane production. This differs from the methodology used for gross final energy consumption that is the basis of most statistics on renewable energy.


Data available from:
1990

Status of the figures:
This table contains definite figures up to and including 2021 and revised provisional figures for 2022.

Changes as of December 14th 2023
Figures have been adjusted for 2021 and 2022.
As of 2022 final energy consumption of bio jet kerosene is reported in the Netherlands. This bio jet kerosene is used by the aviation sector, which is not counted toward the total primary energy consumption (the denominator of the share of renewable energy in terms of the avoided use of primary fossil energy). This is why bio jet kerosene is not reported in this table.

Changes as of June 30th 2023
Provisional figures added for 2022, revised provisional figures adjusted 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). 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.
An exception applies to the biogas used for bio-methane production. The current methodology doesn’t discern sustainable from non-sustainable biogas used for bio-methane production. This differs from the methodology used for gross final energy consumption that is the basis of most statistics on renewable energy.

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 energy relative
Primary energy equivalents as percentage of the total domestic energy consumption. Total domestic energy consumption is defined as the supply of energy (primary production plus imports) minus the flows that leave the country (exports, bunkers for international transport) plus or minus stock changes.