Dutch companies’ CO2 emissions surge on power exports to neighbors
The energy sector’s CO₂ emissions in the Netherlands surged 15 percent in 2025 — the first increase since 2015 — as power plants ramped up production to export electricity and cover shortages in neighboring countries, driving a 2.3 percent overall rise in emissions from large Dutch companies to about 72 megatons, the Dutch Emissions Authority said Monday.
The Netherlands is required under European agreements to prioritize power exports when shortages occur across the connected grid. Last year, Dutch plants stepped in during maintenance at Belgian nuclear facilities, and when wind and hydropower output fell short in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
While Dutch emissions rose, overall European CO₂ output dropped 1.3 percent, helped by increased cross-border electricity trading.
NEa Director Mark Bressers said the figures show more work is needed to meet climate goals. “The increase in CO2 emissions in 2025 makes it clear that there is still a lot of work to be done to achieve this government’s climate goals,” Bressers told De Telegraaf. He stressed that the Netherlands’ role in supplying power to neighbors is exactly how the European system is designed.
Coal plants accounted for more than half the energy sector’s increase, adding 1.9 megatons of CO₂, even though the Amercentrale in Noord-Brabant has been barred from burning coal since last year. The rest came mainly from gas-fired plants and residual industrial gases.
The NEa oversees the EU emissions trading system, which forces the 345 largest polluters to buy increasingly expensive emission allowances.
Emissions fell in other sectors. The chemical industry cut output by 1.3 megatons, partly because plants at Chemelot and Dow Benelux reduced production due to high Dutch energy costs.
Aviation emissions dropped 4 percent to just under 3 megatons, with sustainable fuel use tripling to nearly 166 kilotons. And shipping emissions edged down to 7.1 million tons, though the figures remain volatile as some ships call at non-EU ports.
