The Netherlands Urges Cuts In energy Consumption To Reduce Russian Influence

Even as European Union countries focus on expanding the renewables in their energy mix to reduce their dependence from the Russian oil and gas products, the Netherlands government is seeking cuts or greater efficiency from its largest consumers from 2023 onwards to reduce dependence. That is a welcome approach, instead of the failure to look within for cuts as many countries have adamantly refused to do so far.

Last March also the government had requested its citizens to consume less gas. The restrictions on these consumers are a part of the Dutch Government’s objective to reduce its reliance on Russia considering the Russian-Ukraine conflict. The western European country was importing about 15 per cent of its natural gas from Russia.

Large energy consuming players will be asked to invest in energy saving methods under the upcoming scheme of things. For proper enforcement of the plan, the Dutch government will also fund the regulations.

The government informs that 19 petajoules of gas and 7 petajoules of electricity is expected to be saved from the measure annually for the first seven years. When converted to crude oil, this saved energy equals 4 million barrels, or less than a days counsumption in India. Also, the energy that will not be used will not have to be produced.

Some targeted regulations will be devised for those who consume 50,000 KWh of electricity or 25,000 cubic meters of gas every year.

After the Russian forces began the conflict with Ukraine, the European Commission is mulling if the Union can achieve a higher 45 per cent of its energy from renewable sources by 2030; up from 40 per cent. The Commission also wants the wind and solar capacity of the EU countries to rise three times by the end of this decade. To save about 170 bcm of gas demand – which is mostly supplied by Russia – EU will need an addition of 480 GW of wind power and 420 GW of solar power.

It is this publications fervent hope that at some stage talk also veers towards conserving energy more aggressively, rather than simply seeking more sources to find it.