Towards a sustainable energy system for the Netherlands in 2050

According to the Dutch Climate Act, the Netherlands must have an almost complete climate-neutral energy system by 2050. But how can we achieve that goal? What are the consequences of our choices for our energy system? Are we going to achieve the goals by radically reforming the economy, or are we going to continue as normal, but without emitting CO₂? It is impossible to predict what the future will look like. An energy system without CO₂ emissions is certainly conceivable, but there are differing opinions about what this should look like. Many of the scenario studies published in recent years indicate a wide variety of possible future energy systems for the Netherlands, but what determines these results is often unclear. Why do multiple renewable energy options appear in most scenarios, while there are fewer options in others? And how do the choices for, or the limitation of, certain options affect the costs of the energy system? Parties involved in the energy transition, such as policy makers, energy companies, network operators, technology developers, non-governmental organisations and energy users need insights into these options and how they can be influenced.

Based on this research, the article “Towards a climate-neutral energy system in the Netherlands” [PDF] (PDF) was published in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews in January 2022.