More electricity from fossil sources

A total of 35 billion kWh of electricity was produced in Q1 2025. That was the highest quarterly figure since measurements began. The Netherlands produced 29 billion kWh in Q2 2025.

Electricity consumption varies significantly between three-month periods, but there are few differences compared to last year. The surplus (the difference between production, consumption and distribution losses) of net electricity was exported, mainly to Belgium and Germany. Exports in the first quarter were the highest on record.

A decline in renewable electricity due to lower wind speeds

Electricity production from renewable sources (solar, wind, hydro and biomass) fell by 1 billion kWh in the first six months of 2025, year on year. Electricity generated from wind, in particular, fell by 3 billion kWh, due to lower wind speeds both at sea and on land. The decline was more pronounced on land than at sea.

Electricity generated from solar energy was 2 billion kWh higher than in the same period last year. In the second quarter, it reached the highest level ever measured, at 10 billion kWh. This was mainly because it was sunnier than in Q2 2024.

In the first half year of 2025, 48 percent of total electricity production came from renewable sources. In Q1, this was 39 percent and in Q2 it was 59 percent.

More electricity from coal and natural gas

Electricity generated from coal was up by 72 percent on the previous year. In the first quarter, production from coal sources was 2 billion kWh higher than in Q1 2024, while production from natural gas was 2 billion kWh higher. Coal and natural gas-fired power stations were able to compensate for the lower production of renewable energy thanks to the relatively low prices for coal and natural gas in Q1 2025. Production from fossil fuels rose less in the second quarter.