1、EbookState of Green:NetherlandsMuch like other European Union Member States,the Netherlands is focused on transitioning from fossil fuels to renewables.The country aims to sustainably generate 70%of its electricity by 2030 and reach 100%carbon neutrality by 2050.Although these goals are similar to t

2、hose of other European countries,the Netherlands objectives are at least partially driven by necessity.The countrys once-abundant natural gas sources are dwindling,leading the Dutch government to actively transition away from fossil fuels.Their efforts so far have worked well,and the country is alre

3、ady a European leader in renewables thanks to substantial investments in wind and solar energy.If they continue their efforts,they will stay on track to reach their sustainable energy goals.04Looking to the future03Largest PV plants in Netherlands02The solar sector in the Netherlands01The energy sec

4、tor in the NetherlandsTable of contentsThe energy sector in the Netherlands01.A broader look at the Netherlands energy sector reveals just how much has changed in the last few years.In 2023,the country achieved the significant milestone of having almost half(48%)of its electricity generated from ren

5、ewables.That number peaked at 57%in July 2023.Overall,this represented a 21%increase compared to the previous year.Despite the significant rise in renewable electricity generation,the total amount of electricity produced was consistent with previous years at 120 billion kilowatt hours(kWh).However,o

6、f this amount,58 billion kWh came from fossil fuels,a steep 12%reduction from the previous year and the lowest amount in a year this century.Electricity from coal production was also down 38%in 2023,largely due to the increased availability of cheaper wind and solar energy.Wind power has been perfor

7、ming particularly well.In 2023,it increased by 35%compared to the prior year,accounting for 29 billion kWh.This boost can be attributed in part to the increased capacity of wind turbines,both onshore and offshore,reaching a total capacity of 11 gigawatts(GW)last year.The decreasing demand for coal a

8、lso affected the biomass landscape.Even though seven billion kWh of energy was generated from biomass for the year,this was 1.7 billion kWh less than in 2022,as less biomass fuel was used in coal-fired power plants.The energy sector in the Netherlands57%of the countrys electricity was generated from

9、 renewables in July 2023,marking the peak of a milestone achieved in 2023 when almost half(48%)of its electricity came from renewable sources.The solar sector in the Netherlands02.The solar sector in the Netherlands4.3 GWIn fact,more of its electricity was generated from solar farms in the Netherlan

10、ds last year than any other major European economy.The Netherlands imports a significant quantity of Chinese PV panels and components,which is a key factor in how such a small and densely populated country achieved such extraordinary results.In addition,generous subsidies and strategic use of space

11、were also important factors.Solar developers capitalized on every available square meter,from rooftops adorning car parks to train stations,apartment blocks,warehouses,and even old churches.One innovative developer even installed solar panels on a 25-meter-tall hill built from 15 years worth of hous

12、ehold and business waste in Armhoede.increase in solar capacity nationwide was partly responsible for this.In 2023,21 billion kWh of electricity was produced from solar,a 24%increase from the previous year.17%increase over just five years resulted in a total of 20.63 TWh of solar electricity being g

13、enerated.of total electricity in 2023 was generated from solar power,setting a record for the country.450%03.Largest PV plants in the NetherlandsThe biggest PV plant in the Netherlands is the Dorhout Mees Solar PV Park,which has a 148.90 megawatt(MW)capacity and is about 60 kilometers from Amsterdam

14、.Dorhout Mees Solar PV ParkImage:NovarThe second and third largest plants are the Vloeivelden Hollandia Solar Project and Vlagtwedde Solar PV Park,which have capacities of 116 MW and 110 MW,respectively.Both of these projects began commercial operations in the first couple of years of this decade an

15、d are located in opposite corners of the country.Vloeivelden Hollandia Solar Project&Vlagtwedde Solar PV ParkImage:PowerfieldAbout half an hour from Vlagtwedde is the Midden-Groningen Solar PV Park,which has a capacity of about 103 MW since its commissioning year in 2019.Also in the Groningen area i

16、s the fifth biggest plant,the Blue Elephant Stadskanaal Solar PV Park.This one has a capacity of 101.34 MW and was the result of a joint development between PowerField Nederland and Chint Solar Nederland Projecten in 2020.Midden-Groningen Solar PV Park&Vlagtwedde Solar PV ParkImage:Chintsolar04.Look

17、ing to the futureLooking to the futureLooking forward,the future of energy in the Netherlands is undoubtedly green.The Dutch government has clearly defined goals and ambitious plans to reshape its energy sector and strongly contribute to global climate change mitigation efforts.One area that will be

18、 key to the countrys future renewable success is its ability to harness offshore wind power.By 2032,its projected that 21 GW of offshore wind energy will be generated across the Netherlands.These planned wind farms are set to supply about 16%of all required energy nationally,equivalent to nearly thr

19、ee-quarters of current electricity consumption.Projections suggest the Netherlands could generate around 50 GW of electricity from offshore wind by 2040,double its energy target for 2032 and around 70 GW in 2050.Such advancements would help the Netherlands meet its climate-neutral energy supply goal by 2050.Discover RatedPowerAnd if you are looking to try out RatedPowers software for yourself,book a demo today and take your PV designs to the next level!Crafted solutions for every solar professional