The Netherlands is a global leader in the renewable energy sector. The Dutch energy industry offers world-class R&D facilities and outstanding incentive programs that support and stimulate innovation. Furthermore, the Dutch workforce, their commitment to sustainability and innovative opportunities are advantageous for international energy companies looking to locate or expand in Europe.
Renewable energy in Netherlands is a top priority. The Dutch 2019 Climate Agreement commits to transitioning to a sustainable energy system, including reducing greenhouse gases by 55 per cent by 2030. The Netherlands’ progressive policies and affinity for innovation have attracted some of the world’s leading specialists in the industry. Notable organisations include the Top Consortium for Knowledge and Innovation Offshore Wind (TKI Wind op Zee), the Energy Research Center of the Netherlands (ECN) and Delft University of Technology.
Key logistics hub in a carbon neutral Europe
As a hotbed for energy innovation, the Netherlands is well positioned to become a key logistics hub in a carbon neutral Europe by 2050. The country is accelerating decarbonization in a number of vital areas, such as offshore wind, hydrogen and energy storage.
The national government has adopted a hydrogen strategy to boast production and use of low carbon hydrogen. There are several large scale initiatives such as H-Vision and Hydrogen 2 Magnum.
At the same time, the Netherlands is rolling out infrastructures such as carbon capture & storage/CCU and waste heat grids. An example is the international
co-venture Porthos. To stimulate innovation in this field, there is a subsidy program, the SDE++ scheme for sustainable energy transition, which applies for a wide range of decarbonisation initiatives.
International innovators join the Dutch energy ecosystem
International energy companies that are innovating in the Netherlands’ energy ecosystem include Orsted, Siemens Gamesa, and DNV GL. Air Liquide has also invested in renewable energy in the Netherlands. The company is building the first world-scale air separation unit, which facilitates renewable energy on an electricity grid.
The Netherlands is home to various major international offshore wind energy initiatives, including Orsted Borssele I en 2 and Vattenfall Hollandse Kust Zuid. In the north, a group of companies including Northland Power and Siemens, have partnered in the Gemini Offshore Wind Park, one of the largest offshore wind parks in the world.
Nearby Energyport Eemshaven produces a third of all the energy in the Netherlands while Eneco’s Sunport Delfzijl is the largest solar park in the Netherlands. The region is an important European connection for sustainable energy sources, ranging from offshore wind farms to hydroelectric power plants to solar energy parks.
Offshore wind park installation and maintenance is concentrated in various high quality ports such as Eemshaven, IJmuiden and Vlissingen. Meanwhile, the Port of Rotterdam has been an energy hub (coal, LNG, CNG) for decades. Nowadays, within the framework of the energy transition, they have established Europe’s first Offshore Center for wind energy at Maasvlakte 2. Here, an international group of businesses are working together in the offshore and maritime industry. Furthermore, the Port of Rotterdam is well positioned to become the hydrogen hub of Europe.
New energy technologies
In R&D, Dutch companies and research institutes are working together with foreign companies to develop new energy technologies such as food production based on plants versus animals, photonic IT solutions that reduce power consumption, and synthetic fuel and EV charging infrastructure for the transportation sector. They’re also creating technologies that drastically improve the energy efficiency of industrial processes, infrastructure and buildings.
In all of these energy-related fields, there are attractive opportunities for international innovation in the Netherlands.
India and The Netherlands partnership in energy
NITI Aayog, India’s premier policy think tank, and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) on 28th September 2020. In this SoI, the two countries declare to work together to support the decarbonisation and energy transition agenda to accommodate cleaner and more energy to deliver its economic and sustainability goals. Through this collaboration, NITI Aayog and the Netherlands Embassy seek a strategic partnership to create a platform that enables a comprehensive collaboration among the stakeholders and influencers which includes policy makers, industry bodies, OEMs, Private enterprises and sector experts. The focus of the partnership is on co-creating innovative technological solutions through leveraging the expertise lying within broad spectrum of entities. This will be achieved through the exchange of knowledge and expertise and collaborative activities.
Key elements among others include:
1. Lowering net carbon footprint in industrial and transport sector.
2. Realising the target potential of Natural Gas and promoting bio- energy technologies.
3. Adoption of clean air technologies from monitoring to reducing actual particulates.
4. Adoption of next generations technologies e.g. hydrogen, carbon capture, utilisation & storage for sectoral energy efficiency.
5. Financial frameworks for delivering and adoption of climate change finance.
The first phase focused on the four workstreams:
1. LNG as a Heavy-Duty Mobility Fuel
2. Advanced biofuel
3. Cost of Carbon
4. Integrated Climate modelling
The Netherlands economic trade network in india
The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs has an Embassy in New Delhi, Consulates in Mumbai and Bengaluru, trade support offices in Ahmedabad and Hyderabad. Our network maintains bilateral relations with the Indian Government, promotes and facilitates trade & investment & innovation partnerships between India and the Netherlands. It acts as the local eyes and ears for the Netherlands, and reports about key economic developments that are of interest to Dutch stakeholders, monitors and analyses domestic and foreign political developments in and around India. Together with Indian partners, we adapt Dutch technologies to the Indian Scenario and facilitate innovative and sustainable solutions in the sectors of water, life sciences and health, agriculture and climate/energy.
The author is Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Mumbai.
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