Share of renewable energy at 6.6 percent

© Hollandse Hoogte / Rob Voss
In 2017, renewable energy sources accounted for 6.6 percent of total Dutch energy consumption. This is an increase of 10 percent relative to the previous year. Consumption of solar energy rose by over 30 percent. Biomass consumption increased as well, partly due to higher consumption of biofuels for transport. This is reported by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) today.

Renewable energy consumption by source (petajoules)
 2017* (PJ)2016 (PJ)
Biomass83.9977.92
Wind energy34.7130.11
Solar energy8.886.76
Geothermal energy7.126.70
Air source heat3.412.64
*Provisional figures

Total renewable energy consumption in the Netherlands amounted to 138 petajoules (PJ) in 2017, over 10 percent up on the previous year. Gross final energy consumption stood at around 2,100 PJ last year, just as in 2016.

Wind and solar energy consumption (petajoules)
 Solar energy (PJ)Offshore wind energy (PJ)Onshore wind energy (PJ)
20111.422.6714.34
20121.892.8214.96
20132.862.6516.68
20143.952.7018.22
20155.173.7321.17
20166.768.3621.75
2017*8.8811.9822.74
*Provisional figures

More wind and solar energy consumption

In 2017, solar energy consumption (for electricity and heat) increased by 31 percent to 9 PJ. The total established capacity of solar panels used to generate solar power saw a record increase from over 800 to nearly 2,900 megawatts (MW).

At the same time, wind energy production rose by 15 percent to 35 PJ. The installation of offshore wind turbines with a total capacity of 600 MW in the second half of 2016 led to a substantial rise in consumption levels; these turbines were in operation all year long in 2017. Hardly any new turbines were added last year, as a result of which total wind capacity did not exceed 4,200 MW.

Renewable energy consumption from biomass sources (petajoules)
 2017* (PJ)2016 (PJ)
Waste incineration plants20.3420.00
Biomass households19.4719.04
Liquid biofuels for transport13.4810.44
Biogas10.6210.54
Biomass for electricity plants and companies10.148.40
Biomass boilers for heat at companies9.949.51
*Provisional figures

Consumption of biofuels for transport surged

Biomass is the largest source of renewable energy with a share of 61 percent; consumption rose by 8 percent in 2017. Consumption of biofuels for transport increased in particular, by around 30 percent. This is partly related to the obligation for suppliers of motor fuels to increase the share of renewable energy in transport fuels.

Biofuel consumption by power plants and companies for electricity production rose as well last year, by 20 percent. This was mainly due to the fact that these installations started generating mainly more heat - in addition to electricity - for adjacent industrial sites.

Compared to 2016, an increase was also seen in the other types of biofuel consumption such as waste incineration plants, biogas and consumption by companies with only heat installations and households, but this was limited to a few percent.

Renewable energy consumption
 Heat (% of gross final energy consumption)Electricity (% of gross final energy consumption)Transport (% of gross final energy consumption)
20001.160.480
20011.150.550
20021.190.680
20031.190.660.01
20041.240.810.01
20051.341.170
20061.491.240.08
20071.571.180.58
20081.641.460.53
20091.811.770.71
20101.731.80.41
20111.941.970.61
20122.092.060.57
20132.251.970.55
20142.712.130.71
20152.912.320.61
20162.912.60.47
2017*3.132.840.59
*Provisional figures

Mainly renewable heat

Energy from renewable sources is consumed to generate heat, electricity and for transport. In 2017, nearly half of renewable energy consumption was destined for heat, over 40 percent for electricity and just under 10 percent for transport.