Energie-Nederland sees the government program as a good basis for continuing the energy transition. The further details of the outline agreement announced today give Energie-Nederland hope. “We are pleased that the focus is now on implementing the plans,” says Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, chairman of Energie-Nederland.
Moving Forward
“We need to move forward now to continue the energy transition. The government program shows sufficient urgency. Addressing grid congestion, developing the hydrogen economy, and focusing on affordability and energy security are all areas where the cabinet sees Energie-Nederland as a partner,” says Van Nieuwenhuizen.
Energy Security
Energie-Nederland emphasizes the importance of energy security alongside the cabinet. Van Nieuwenhuizen states, “Sustainably generated electricity is not always available due to the unpredictability of the weather, so we will need controllable capacity: an electricity source that we can turn on and off. Decisions need to be made quickly.”
Affordability
Energie-Nederland shares the cabinet’s concerns about the affordability of the energy transition. In the coming years, the electricity grid will be built for many generations to come. Energie-Nederland believes that part of this can best be financed from general resources. This way, the rise in energy bills can be limited, and low-income households will not need to be compensated later if they struggle to pay their energy bills.
International Obligations
Energie-Nederland welcomes the cabinet’s commitment to international obligations and its willingness to develop new plans if CO2 reduction remains insufficient. However, Energie-Nederland sees challenges in the further rollout of offshore wind. Van Nieuwenhuizen comments, “Continuing to build offshore wind farms is crucial for achieving climate goals. But the success of this depends on external factors: the electricity price, the construction of wind farms, the development of hydrogen production facilities, and the industrial demand for that hydrogen. Unfortunately, the hydrogen market will not develop on its own, and the cabinet sees us as a partner to support this initiative.”
Collaboration
Energie-Nederland looks forward to further collaboration with this cabinet. As a sector, we remain committed to providing sustainable, affordable, and reliable energy.
