Fuel consumption and electricity generation by Dutch electricity generating stations, 1980-2002
Increases in efficiency at combined cycle gas and steam turbine plants mean that more electricity can be generated. The demand for electricity continues to increase. After a small drop in fuel consumption due to electricity imports, consumption is increasing again because of the technical limitations on imports.
| 1980 | 1990 | 1995 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | ||
| PJ | |||||||||
| Fuel consumption | 487 | 484 | 493 | 473 | 413 | 432 | 486 | 504 | |
| of which | |||||||||
| hard coal | 63 | 231 | 240 | 226 | 187 | 211 | 225 | 227 | |
| fuel oil | 212 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 0.32 | 0.50 | 0.17 | 0.99 | 0.54 | |
| gaseous | 212 | 251 | 251 | 247 | 226 | 221 | 260 | 277 | |
| TWh | |||||||||
| Electricity generation | 58 | 60 | 61 | 62 | 55 | 57 | 62 | 65 | |
| Source: CBS (2003). | CBS/EDC/Oct03/0019 | ||||||||
Developments in electricity generation
In the period 1980-1999, the use of fossil fuels for electricity generation in electricity plants fell, even though electricity generation rose through to 1998. This higher return was achieved by the use of gas turbines in combined cycle gas and steam turbine plants.
The fall in 1999 was due to the sharp rise in imported electricity. Electricity production in 2001 increased to the 1998 level. This increase continued in 2002 due to increased demand. Technical restrictions mean that increased consumption could not be compensated for by increasing imports.
Changes in consumption of heavy fuel oil
The use of heavy fuel oil for fuel purposes fell sharply, particularly in the first part of the period under consideration. Technological changes at the refineries mean that heavy fuel oil has evolved from a cheap residual product from the refining process into a raw material for transformation into gasoline and diesel oil.
References
- CBS (2003). Historie energie. Statistics Netherlands, Voorburg/Heerlen.
Relevant sections and indicators in the Environmental Data Compendium
- Consumption in the Netherlands of energy carriers by target sector, 1990-2002
- Emissions to air by target sector, 2002*
Relevant information outside of the Environmental Data Compendium
- More information about the consumption of energy carriers can be found on Statline (Statistics Netherlands).
