The Netherlands has undergone a rapid shift in its energy mix, with renewable sources (primarily wind and solar) providing over 52% of electricity generation for the first time in 2024 and 2025. Despite this progress in the power sector, the total national energy supply—including heating and transport—remains heavily dependent on fossil fuels.
For the period from July 2024 to June 2025, the electricity mix reached a near-equal split between low-carbon and fossil sources. The Netherlands has one of the highest solar panel densities globally.
The Netherlands is rapidly positioning itself as a central European hub for green hydrogen, driven by a national strategy to reach 4 GW of electrolysis capacity by 2030 and 8 GW by 2032. While currently small—representing only 0.02% of the national energy mix as of early 2025—the sector is accelerating through massive subsidy rounds and the rollout of a national hydrogen “backbone.” The government aims for 500 MW of installed capacity by 2025 and 4 GW by 2030.
Major Infrastructure & Projects
- National Hydrogen Network: Managed by Hynetwork (a Gasunie subsidiary), the first 32km segment in Rotterdam was completed in August 2025. A full national network connecting industrial clusters and neighboring countries (Germany and Belgium) is now expected to be fully ready by 2033.
- Holland Hydrogen 1 (Shell): Located in Rotterdam, this 200 MW project is set to be one of Europe’s largest. It secured a temporary grid connection in late 2024 to begin operations by 2025.
- Eemshydrogen (RWE): A 100 MW electrolyzer project in Eemshaven, powered by the OranjeWind offshore wind farm, recently secured key permits and €551 million in SDE++ funding.
- Underground Storage: The “National Agenda for Underground Hydrogen Storage” (July 2025) outlines plans for 3–4 large-scale storage facilities in salt caverns in the North and Northeast