News item | 01-12-2023 | 15:44
Our energy system of the future must be affordable, reliable and sustainable. To provide clarity about how we get there, the government is now making guiding choices. In July, Minister Jetten for Climate and Energy presented the draft National Energy System Plan. Over the past period, the government has entered into extensive discussions with stakeholders and interested parties. The feedback that emerged from the conversations has been incorporated into the plan. Today the Council of Ministers approved the final National Energy System Plan (NPE).
Participation
The draft NPE formed the basis for the discussions that have been held in recent months with fellow authorities, sectors, companies, social parties and citizens. For example, there was a digital counter for responses, sessions were organized with sectors such as the energy and mobility sector, and discussions were held throughout the country with local authorities, energy cooperatives, grid operators and representatives of industrial estates. The plan was responded to with great enthusiasm. Many stakeholders find it important that there is now a long-term perspective. The feedback from all those conversations has been incorporated into the final plan.
Minister for Climate and Energy Rob Jetten: “We are now mapping out what a sustainable, reliable and affordable energy system will look like in 2050 and what is needed to get there. We do not do this project by project or energy source by energy source, but translate the desired end image back into steps that we can do today. This will provide more control and guidance in the field of energy supply and infrastructure, space, distribution and savings.”
Most important adjustments
The discussions revealed, among other things, a lack of clarity about the choice for a ‘maximum supply of energy and infrastructure’. The final NPE clarifies that it is not about the largest possible energy system. To build the sustainable energy system, we aim for maximum supply in the transition phase, because we know for sure that we need a lot of sustainable energy and do not have to wait until the demand is concrete.
Another elaboration in the final NPE is the role of blue hydrogen (hydrogen made from fossil fuels, in which the released CO2 is captured and stored). Because blue hydrogen is needed to develop the green hydrogen market, blue hydrogen will play an important role in the transition phase.
The energy transition is not only a technical change, but also a social change. Justice, affordability and participation are crucial to achieving a successful climate-neutral energy system. This was reflected in all discussions and has therefore been given a greater place in the NPE.
Continuation of the NPE
The NPE is revised every five years and updated at most once in the meantime to take major developments into account. Only in this way can the NPE provide clarity and be reliable for companies that have to make complex and expensive investments. In order to receive sufficient signals from society for this, the government enters into annual discussions with all partners in the energy transition. The next step is to translate the plan into additional government policy. That policy agenda is up to the next cabinet.