Washing during a lot of sun or wind: good for the environment and the wallet

Grid operator Stadin makes a striking appeal to companies, NOS reported Tuesday morning. It called on large power consumers to mainly produce at times when sufficient solar and wind energy is available. In this way, the shortage on the electricity grid remains limited. But according to Olof van der Gaag, chairman of the Dutch Sustainable Energy Association (NVDE), this also applies to private individuals.

Only benefit

According to Van der Gaag, as a private household it pays to move with the weather in terms of power consumption. Grid operators need to transport less electricity in this way and private users use green, ‘almost free’ electricity. “If there is no wind or sun, you fall back on gas plants. This is not only bad for the environment, but also much more expensive. You are a thief of your own wallet if you do not move with the weather.”

To illustrate this, he gives the following example: “Imagine: it is very cloudy above North Holland, but the power demand is high. Grid operators then have to transport the green power from Zeeland, where the sun is shining at that time, to North Holland. It would pay off to wait for the sun to shine again in North Holland, or for the wind to blow hard.”

Moving with the weather in the use of electricity therefore mainly has advantages, says Van der Gaag. “It’s good for the environment and it pays off financially.” In addition, it also helps to get rid of Russian gas faster: the more we use green electricity, the less Russian gas we need.

Green and cheap

Ron Laan lives in Hem and has been consciously working on his power and energy consumption for a number of years. As a data analyst, he is very fond of numbers, and that is no different in the household. Especially in the spring and summer months, he is very ‘power-aware’ and looks forward to so-called peak times of the sun. “When there is a lot of sun, I turn on devices that use a lot of power, such as my dishwasher or washing machine.” Something that can easily save tens of euros on an annual basis.

Laan also sees only advantages in using electricity at ‘peak times’. In his own words, it has given him the insight that a small adjustment in behavior can make a big difference. “Green and cheap electricity has become a game for me.”

Leader in Europe

According to Van der Gaag, it is relatively new that solar and wind energy is growing so fast and this green energy did not amount to much ten years ago. But that’s different now, he says. “The Netherlands has the most solar panels per capita in all of Europe.”

The only ‘obstacle’ that Van der Gaag predicts is ‘doing it’. “People have to get used to the idea and sometimes change their planning, but once they do it will really only benefit.”

Something that Ron Laan can only confirm: “Step one is awareness. Once people are aware, the behavioral change will follow automatically.”