The Netherlands generated 10 percent more electricity from renewable sources in 2017 than in the previous year, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) announced on Monday.
Both wind and solar electricity production increased, according to new provisional figures on renewable electricity. Electricity production from renewable sources amounted to 17 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) in 2017, versus 15 billion kWh in 2016.
With a share of 60 percent, wind turbines were the largest contributor, followed by biomass at nearly 30 percent. Solar panels accounted for almost 13 percent and the share of hydropower was limited to 0.5 percent, the CBS reported.
The share of sustainable generated electricity in total Dutch electricity consumption increased from 12.5 percent in 2016 to 13.8 percent in 2017.
Electricity generation from wind power rose by 16 percent, i.e. from 8.4 to 9.6 billion kWh, CBS noted, adding that this was mainly due to the major wind farm expansion in the second half of 2016.
"These new turbines were in use during the entire year of 2017 and therefore count fully towards total production as of that year," CBS explained.
The established wind turbine capacity remained more or less stable throughout 2017: onshore turbines accounted for over 3.2 thousand megawatts (MW) and offshore turbines for nearly one thousand MW by the end of the year.
Likewise, solar panel power production was up, from 1.6 to 2.1 billion kWh, the CBS reported. The total capacity of installed solar panels surged in 2017 and is estimated at more than 2.7 gigawatts (GW).
Electricity production from biomass sources decreased slightly last year, mainly due to some large biomass plants shifting from electricity to heat generation, the CBS explained.
(Anadolu Agency)
