Dutch gov’t pleads for measures to fix energy grid, but climate targets drifting away
Climate Minister Sophie Hermans (VVD) presented a package of emergency measures aimed at relieving pressure on the overfull power grid. Among other things, she wants to introduce new tariffs to encourage households to consume electricity during off-peak times. She also wants to build 55,000 new transformers to expand the grid’s capacity. With the current policy, the Netherlands’ climate goals are falling further out of reach, the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) said on Thursday.
For consumers, Hermans’ plans could mean lower tariffs for using electricity at low-demand times, the Telegraaf reported. By encouraging households and other small users to run their washing machines or charge their cars when the sun is shining and there is a lot of solar power available, for example, the Minister wants to prevent “peaks” that overload the grid.
But the main focus of the plan is to build 55,000 new transformer houses as quickly as possible, with as little inconvenience as possible to locals. Municipalities and grid operators will be in charge of finding locations, arranging construction and all the necessary permits, and coordinating with locals.
Hermans said she realizes that this will mean a lot of extra, complex work for some municipalities. She will, therefore, launch a “flying brigade” to support municipalities and provinces with spatial procedures for reinforcing the energy grid.
Hermans presented her plans to parliament in an Energy- and Climate memo. She acknowledged that the Netherlands would likely not achieve its legal climate targets with the current policy. In the spring, the government announced extra measures to achieve the targets, but Hermans has now turned her focus on first tackling the “congestion” on the power grid.
Also on Thursday, the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) published its latest Climate and Energy Outlook. The agency called it “very unlikely” that the Netherlands would be able to hit the target of 55 percent less emissions in 2030 than in 1990. The goal is getting even further out of sight. According to the PBL, the Netherlands currently has a less than 5 percent chance of achieving the target.
With the current plans, the Netherlands would achieve a 44 to 52 percent emissions reduction in 2030, compared to 1990. Not a single sector is on track to meet its targets.
The PBL gave three main reasons for the target getting further out of reach. First, energy prices have fallen so industry, companies, and households have less incentive to make sustainable investments. Second, plans for offshore wind farms and scaling up green hydrogen have been delayed. And third, the Schoof Cabinet plans to reverse CO2-saving measures like road pricing, lower speed limits, the netting scheme for people with solar panels, and a planned increase in energy tax.