The Dutch have used alternate sources of energy for centuries, and old-fashioned wooden windmills are closely linked to the country's image.
When you think of the Netherlands, windmills very often come to mind. The country is well known for its exploitation of wind energy, and valuable improvements are being made by the Dutch in support of the worldwide attempt to reduce carbon emissions. This is being achieved through the development of various groundbreaking schemes and inventions that utilise alternative energy sources. The use of these sources for power generation in the Netherlands is on the rise.
Today, energy is generated mainly by burning fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas. Only two per cent of the world's energy supply comes from renewable sources such as the sun, sea, water, wind, biomass, ambient heat and the tide. The use of renewable energy is not new — 125 years ago wood supplied up to 90 per cent of our energy needs. Due to the convenience and low price of fossil fuels, the use of wood has fallen. The development of renewable energy is now becoming increasingly important as the world attempts to combat climate change by lowering carbon dioxide emissions.
The Dutch are prominent in the research and development of new ways to exploit renewable energy sources. Frits Zaat, Head of the Economic Department at the Dutch Consulate General says: "The Netherlands is a leading nation with regard to the development of alternative energy.
In line with the EU policies, the development should make the EU countries less dependent on fossil fuel. Energy efficiency in general and environmental issues are the other reasons." The country has an international reputation as a centre for research on alternative energy and energy efficiency. It is particularly prominent in the areas of the production of bio fuels, offshore wind power and biomass incineration/gasification.
According to the publication Holland-New Energy, in 2005 2.4 per cent of the total supply of energy in the Netherlands came from renewable sources as opposed to 1.8 per cent in 2004. The Consulate General reports that in 2006 it increased to 4.5 per cent. The rise can be put down to a doubling of the amount of biomass used at energy plants, and it demonstrates the country's dedication to utilising alternative energy. In 2005, there was also a 10 per cent rise in the amount of energy generated by wind turbines. Net electricity production from renewable sources rose to 6.1 per cent of net electricity consumption.
Senternovem is an agency of the Dutch ministry of economic affairs, and its mission is to promote sustainable energy development and innovation in the Netherlands and abroad. On behalf of the Dutch government, they implement policy regarding innovation, energy and climate change. They also work on behalf of international organisations such as the EU and the International Energy Agency (IEA). Through Senternovem, these organisations can gain access to a broad range of institutes, research centres and government officials.
The agency oversees projects that help reduce dependency on fossil fuels. It is currently overseeing the Energy Transition Programme; part of the programme is to increase companies' interest in using bio-fuels as a primary energy source.
Farming wind
Several innovative projects that utilise renewable energy have been developed in the Netherlands. One is Egmond aan Zee, the first offshore wind farm in the country. The wind farm has 36 wind turbines, each with 108-megawatt capacity and provides approximately 100,000 households with electricity.
The turbines are located about 18 kilometres offshore and are anchored at a depth of 18 metres. The building of this offshore farm was designated by the Ministry of Economic Affairs as a demonstration project and is just one example of the Dutch effort that is going into making energy more sustainable.
Another Dutch invention designed to utilise renewable energy is the Turby. The Turby is a wind turbine that has been designed to make use of wind energy in built-up areas. This turbine is unique as it can be placed on building rooftops in cities. It is designed to get the most out of cross winds that come from below as is the case around buildings and is built to cope with swirling winds and oblique air currents. The secret of the three-metre-tall turbine is the blade design and its vertical axis.
According to the Turby website, the turbine has been installed on more than 20 rooftops in the Netherlands and is attracting global interest. The Gallions project in London, Electricite' de France and holiday resorts in the Mediterranean have expressed interest in purchasing the turbines. Two companies in the US have jointly submitted a prequalification to place 800 Turbys on the Freedom Tower, New World Trade Centre and the new JET stadium in New York City.
Solar Island
Another project is the Almere Solar Island. In mid-2007 the energy company Nuon started to build this solar station near the town of Almere. Known as the Solar Island, the 17,000-square-metre-island will be home to solar collectors measuring 6,900 square metres.
According to Nuon, they will generate enough energy to satisfy 10 per cent of the total energy needs of 2,700 nearby homes and several local facilities. Nuon has worked with the town's planning and landscaping department to ensure that the solar collectors fit in well with the landscape and urban surroundings. The project is due to be completed in 2008.
The Twence company is currently building a biomass power plant that will generate enough energy to supply 44,000 households with green electricity. Much of the plant's fuel, which includes discarded wood and difficult-to-compose wood chips, will come from Germany.
The plant will be able to convert 14,000 tonnes of biomass into electricity annually and will be the first standalone system in the Netherlands to convert discarded wood into electricity on this scale. Twence is also building a third production line for its waste incineration to convert industrial waste into energy. Besides its cross-border contact with Germany, Twence is also able to supply electricity outside the Dutch borders via the electricity mains network.
