The Dutch government is planning to scale up the expansion of renewables as part of plans to reduce the Netherlands’ dependence on natural gas from Russia.
Scaling up the production of green gas and accelerating the installation of solar energy and offshore wind turbines are some of the measures the cabinet wants to take.
It also wants to reduce energy consumption, including soon launching a campaign to raise awareness of the possibilities of energy-saving measures and practical tips for households and businesses.
“Saving energy and switching to renewable energy faster makes the Netherlands and Europe less dependent on fossil fuels and also contributes to climate goals,” the government said today.
The country plans to take action to reduce Russia’s dependence on gas as quickly as possible but ensure the availability of sufficient gas next winter.
Minister for Climate and Energy Policy Rob Jetten said: “The war in Ukraine, high energy prices and concerns about gas supplies make it clear once again that the Netherlands and Europe are too dependent on the import of fossil fuels.
“Therefore, we are preparing to ensure that sufficient gas is available next winter and we are taking measures to reduce the dependence on Russian gas.
“That is a complex task that brings with it dilemmas, in which we need to find the right balance between the reliability, affordability, sustainability and security of our energy supply. Everyone will have to contribute their share.
“The government will launch an energy-saving campaign in the short term to bring the opportunities for sustainability even better to the attention of both companies and households.”