Netherlands

Index rank 14

Energy Sustainability Index Rankings

 2010  2011  2012  Trend
Energy Performance  18  29  18 
Energy Security  11  53  34 
Social Equity  24  22  20 
Environmental Impact Mitigation  45  31  20 
       
Contextual Performance  8  6  6 
Political Strength  13  11  11 
Societal Strength  10  8  5 
Economic Strength  12  11  12 
       
Overall Rank  13  16  14 
Download CSV

Fossil Fuel Resources

  Loading graph...

Key Metrics

Industrial sector (% of GDP) 24.2
TPEP / TPEC  (net energy importer) 0.67
Emission intensity (kg CO2 per USD) 1.28
Energy affordability (USD per kWh) 0.22
GDP / capita (PPP, USD); GDP Group 40,969 (A)
Energy intensity (million BTU per USD) 0.02
CO2 emissions (metric tons) / capita) 14.98
Population Access to Electricity (%) 100.0
Download CSV

Index Commentary

The Netherlands rises by two places in the Index to rank 14. With a strong but constant contextual performance, the position increase was driven by an improvement in all energy dimensions. Energy security had suffered a harsh drop from 2010 to 2011, which could be recuperated this year partly due to an increase of the wholesale margin on gasoline and a decrease in the energy consumption growth, reversing last year’s positive growth rate. In addition, the Netherlands continued their improvements in environmental impact mitigation, supported by a decrease in CO2 emissions from electricity and heat generation and by an improvements of the quality of air and water which was especially high relative to peer countries.

Trends and Outlook

The Netherlands are well-positioned in the Index but still face a number of challenges. These include the public debate around installation of additional onshore wind capacity; rather high expectations of biomass and ‘green gas’ in the face of challenging markets; ensuring solar surges and geothermal meet promises given the low starting base; and a feed-in-tariff scheme that is not sufficient to reach targets. Furthermore, energy efficiency progress is fairly slow. Key energy policy developments are: 1) the ‘green deals’, specific arrangements between the national government and individual sustainability initiatives (e.g., energy, water, resources, waste) by removing ‘red tape’, adjusting policies where appropriate, making knowledge available, etc.; 2) energy innovation ‘top sector approach’ designed to strengthen market steering, market involvement and market resources for energy innovation in seven key areas, including gas, solar, offshore wind, industrial efficiency, and biomass/bio-based economy; and 3) the SDE+ (stimulation of sustainable/renewable energy) feed in scheme, which is fully operational, has significant funding (>1,5 billion Euro/annum) and strong competition between options. Key trends include a strong de-centralisation of power generation (e.g., solar, wind, small CHP) and to some degree also of gas production (‘green gas’). Policymakers have to create the framework to stimulate or facilitate this development including the upgrade of the existing network (e.g., smart grids). An important area for policymakers to focus on is the bio-based economy, and the liaison of a strong agricultural and chemical sector, and ‘green gas’. Finally, the Netherlands are expected to strengthen its position as ‘gas country’, with an increased focus on the role of gas as a ‘balancing fuel’ in a system that moves towards sustainability.

Notes

1) Data for shale gas resources not available