Wind energy policy in the
Netherlands
General
The Dutch renewable energy support scheme, SDE, is operational
since April 2008. For each category of renewable energy, the SDE sets a base rate making use of a private-sector financial analysis, given the duration of the
subsidy. The feed-in premium varies as a result of annually
determined correction values corresponding to the revenues from electricity (or heat) sales on the market. In other words, the annual SDE
feed-in premium is equal to the base rate minus the electricity (or heat) price. This is the major difference between the SDE
and the previous feed-in support scheme, MEP, as the latter was
based on a fixed premium. Other important differences are that the
SDE also includes green gas and (starting in 2012) renewable heat, and
that the budget for renewable categories is capped.
In 2008, the Ministry of Economic Affairs introduced a new support
scheme: the programme 'Duurzame warmte' (sustainable heat), to stimulate installation of solar water heaters, heat pumps, and micro-CHP in approximately
70,000 households. The scheme applies to existing
dwellings (built before 1 January 2008) and targets private owners and social housing
associations. In February 2011, this programme was discontinued due to budget reductions.
According
to the Directive 2009/28/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the
promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources the target for the share
of energy from renewable sources in gross final consumption of energy in the
year 2020 for the Netherlands is 14% (in the year 2005 the share was 2.4%). The
Directive has a mandatory 10 % target for transport to be achieved by all Member
States, which refers to renewable sources as a whole, not biofuels alone.
Renewable energy projections according to the National Renewable Energy Action Plan for the Netherlands
The
National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) for the Netherlands was
submitted in July 2010. The target according to Annex I of Directive
2009/28/EC is 14% for the year 2020 and the projected NREAP share in
that year is 14.5%. According to the projection, the most important
contribution in the year 2020 is expected from wind power (32.4 TWh or
2787 ktoe, 38% of all renewable energy). The second important contribution
is expected from biomass (renewable heating and cooling) (1520 ktoe,
21% of all renewable energy). The third largest contribution is from
biomass (renewable electricity) (16.6 TWh or 1431 ktoe, 19% of all
renewable energy). Wind power contributes with 11.2 GW (32.4 TWh) in
the year 2020 (onshore wind 6.0 GW and 13.4 TWh, offshore wind 5.2 GW
and 19.0 TWh). For photovoltaic power the 2020 contribution is
projected to be 0.7 GW (0.6 TWh). For solar thermal the 2020
contribution is projected to be 23 ktoe. The two most important
biofuels are projected to contribute 552 ktoe (biodiesel) and 282 ktoe
(bioethanol / bio-ETBE) by 2020. The renewable electricity production
from solid biomass amounts to 12.0 TWh (1030 ktoe) and for biogas it is
expected to be 4.7 TWh (401 ktoe). The consumption of renewable heat is
expected to amount to 650 ktoe for solid biomass and 288 ktoe for
biogas. A contribution of 582 ktoe is expected from bio-methane for
grid feed-in by the year 2020.
Renewable electricity:
wind power
In
2010, three major wind farms have been awarded SDE subsidy. The wind farm Noordoostpolder (NOP) near Urk will
have 38 turbines placed on land and 48 turbines in the lake
IJsselmeer. It will have a capacity of 450 MW and generate 1.4
billion kWh per year. Almost 1 billion Euro of subsidy has been awarded: 880
million Euro as a regular subsidy and up to 116 million Euro
due to the innovative character of the wind farm. Construction
will start in 2012 and the wind farm will be operational in 2014. The wind farm has experienced considerable local
protest.
An offshore wind tender has resulted in funding allocated to ZeeEnergie C.V. and Buitengaats C.V., both part of the
German group BARD. The construction of the two offshore wind parks with
a total power output of 600 MW should start before August 1st, 2013.
As part of this tender, a third offshore wind farm of 129 MW is to be built by Eneco. Therefore, the combined
capacity of the three offshore wind farms of the tender (round 2) will be 729 MW. The aggretated feed-in premiums needed for these wind
farms amount to 5.3 billion Euro.
In March 2012, the new SDE+ scheme will be opened. The new
scheme has, like the old SDE scheme, an annual budget ceiling. The
opening of the SDE+ will take place in different phases. Therefore, the
wind developers will have the choice between obtaining a high rate base
(about 9.6 ct/kWh) or a lower rate base (9.0 ct/kWh). The
high subsidy rate has a higher rejection risk as a result of budget
overrun. The total subsidy available for the SDE in 2012 is expected to amount to 1.5 billion Euro.
The base rate for onshore wind is 9.6 ct/kWh, based on 2200 full-load hours per year,
while
the reference electricity price is 5.1 ct/kWh. The period
covered by SDE subsidy for onshore wind
is 15 years.
In 2010 a new sub-category has been defined for onshore wind
turbines larger than 6 MW. The rate base for wind turbines larger than 6 MW is also 9.6 ct/kWh, based on 3000 full-load hours.
Future programme changes
expected
No changes expected.
Sources
Directive
2009/28/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the
promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources, http://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/transparency_platform_en.htm
S.M. Lensink et al: Bindadvies basisbedragen 2011 voor elektriciteit en groen gas in het kader van de SDE-regeling,
ECN/KEMA, ECN-E--10-082, September 2010, http://www.http://www.ecn.nl/docs/library/report/2010/e10082.pdf
Minister
van Economische Zaken, Landbouw en Innovatie: Regeling aanwijzing
categorieën duurzame energieproductie 2011. Staatscourant, nr. 60,
1 juni 2011, https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/stcrt-2011-9424.html
(accessed January 2012)
Tweede Kamer
2009-2010, 31239, nr. 76, KST137617: Stimulering duurzame
energieproductie; Brief van de Minister van Economische Zaken, 23 November 2009
Tweede Kamer 2011-2012: Stimulering duurzame
energieproductie; Brief van de Minister van EL&I over Openstelling SDE+ 2012, 3 November 2011
Tweede Kamer 2011-2012: Stimulering duurzame
energieproductie; Brief van de Minister van EL&I over Openstelling SDE+ 2012, 23 december 2011
Regeling windenergie op zee 2009, Staatscourant Nr. 17851, 24 November 2009, http://www.senternovem.nl/duurzamewarmte (accessed April 2009)Ministry of Economic Affairs: Verhagen kent eenmalige subsidie windmolenpark Noordoostpolder toe, 2010, http://www.agentschapnl.nl/nieuws/verhagen-kent-eenmalige-subsidie-windmolenpark-noordoostpolder-toe (accessed January 2012)
Eneco: Eneco builds innovative offshore wind farm, November 2011, http://corporateuk.eneco.nl/News_and_Media/pressreleases/Pages/Eneco-builds-innovative-North-Sea-windfarm.aspx (accessed January 2012)
The National Renewable Energy Action
Plans (NREAPs) are all published on the Transparency Platform on
Renewable Energy: http://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/transparency_platform/action_plan_en.htm
(accessed July - December 2010)
Renewable Energy Projections as Published in the National Renewable
Energy Action Plans of the European Member States, http://www.ecn.nl/nreap
(accessed December 2010)
Interactive EurObserv’ER Database
http://www.eurobserv-er.org
Last update: January 2012
This information can be referenced without permission provided that the
source is mentioned completely and correctly: 'Interactive EurObserv'ER
Database, http://www.eurobserv-er.org (date of last update)'
Suggestions for improvements to the policy description can be sent to
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