Netherlands energy mix & electricity
In 2025, the Netherlands generated 135 TWh of electricity. It is a notably diversified system: no single source supplies more than 35%, with natural gas (34.9%), wind power (25%) and solar power (21.1%) all playing major roles.
Electricity generation by source in 2025
Share of electricity generation by source, with the change in percentage points over the last ten years.
| Source | TWh | Share | 10-yr Δ pp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas | 47.09 | 34.9% | −7.1 |
| Wind | 33.7 | 25% | +18 |
| Solar | 28.5 | 21.1% | +20.1 |
| Coal | 9.55 | 7.1% | −29.1 |
| Bioenergy | 6.85 | 5.1% | +0.5 |
| Oil | 5.23 | 3.9% | −1.7 |
| Nuclear | 3.99 | 3% | −0.8 |
| Hydro | 0.05 | 0% | −0.1 |
| Total | 135 | 100% |
Netherlands: electricity in context
In 2025, the Netherlands generated 135 TWh of electricity. That is similar to Kazakhstan. It is a notably diversified system: no single source supplies more than 35%, with natural gas (34.9%), wind power (25%) and solar power (21.1%) all playing major roles.
The renewable share stood at 51.2%, placing the Netherlands 59th of 158 ranked countries. This puts it 17 points above the world average of 33.8%. It is also above the average for Europe (41.6%). That beats the EU-27 average of 47.7%. The carbon intensity of electricity is 254 g CO₂e/kWh; the global average is 458 g/kWh. The grid is comfortably cleaner than the world average. On carbon intensity, the Netherlands ranks 54th of 158 from the cleanest.
Over the past decade solar power added more generation than any other source (+27.4 TWh since 2015, plus 20.1 percentage points of share). Meanwhile coal lost the most ground, down 29.8 TWh. Taken together, the renewable share rose by 38.6 percentage points over the decade. Total generation grew by 26 TWh over the same period. Carbon intensity dropped from 551 to 254 g/kWh, a 54% cut.
Coal is in clear retreat: its share fell from 36.1% in 2015 to 7.1% in 2025. In absolute terms, coal generation peaked in 2015 at 39.4 TWh and has since fallen 76%.
Wind and solar together provided 46.1% of electricity (solar 21.1%, wind 25%), compared with 17.3% worldwide. Per person, that is 1,553 kWh of solar electricity a year, 4.6× the global average. In solar electricity per person, the Netherlands ranks 2nd in the world. Wind adds 1,837 kWh per person, the 6th-highest figure of 156 countries. Solar first passed 1% of the mix in 2015.
The Netherlands generates 7,356 kWh of electricity per resident each year, 1.9 times the global average. The Netherlands is a net exporter, selling 13.9 TWh more electricity abroad than it imports (11% of domestic demand).
How the power mix has changed
Electricity generation by source since 1985. Switch to shares to see the structural shift independent of demand growth.
Renewables and carbon intensity
Netherlands against the world, Europe and EU-27 averages.
Total energy: beyond electricity
Primary energy covers transport, heating and industry too. Renewables supply 18.1% of primary energy and fossil fuels 80.9% (2024). Per person, that is 50,824 kWh a year (world: 21,654).
Substitution method: non-fossil electricity is converted to the primary energy a fossil plant would have needed.
Domestic extraction of coal, gas and oil, in energy terms.
Power plants in Netherlands
The WRI Global Power Plant Database lists 71 utility-scale plants in the Netherlands with a combined capacity of 17 GW. Gas plants account for the largest slice (55% of listed capacity). The biggest single plant is Eems (2,465 MW, Gas). The database was last updated in 2021, so newer wind and solar farms and rooftop PV are under-represented.
Largest power plants
| # | Plant | Fuel | Capacity MW | Commissioned | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eems | Gas | 2,465 | 1996 | Electrabel |
| 2 | Eemshaven | Coal | 1,600 | 2015 | Essent |
| 3 | Magnum | Gas | 1,311 | 2013 | Vattenfall |
| 4 | Maasvlakte 3 | Coal | 1,100 | 2016 | E.ON |
| 5 | Maasvlakte (MV1 and MV2) | Coal | 1,040 | 1988 | E.ON |
| 6 | FLEVO | Gas | 999 | 2010 | GDF Suez |
| 7 | Maxima | Gas | 880 | 2010 | Electrabel |
| 8 | Sloe | Gas | 870 | 2010 | EDF/DELTA |
| 9 | Hemweg power station | Coal | 685 | 1995 | NUON |
| 10 | Diemen 33 | Gas | 684 | 1995 | Vattenfall |
| 11 | Gemini | Wind | 600 | 2016 | — |
| 12 | GELDERLAND | Coal | 590 | — | GDF Suez |
| 13 | Delesto | Gas | 530 | — | TenneT |
| 14 | Borssele Nuclear Power Station | Nuclear | 485 | 1973 | EPZ |
| 15 | ELSTA | Gas | 456 | — | TenneT |
Source: WRI Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0). Explore all 71 plants on the interactive power plant map.
Solar & wind farms: Netherlands
965 utility-scale facilities tracked by Global Energy Monitor (2026): 6.9 GW of solar and 11.9 GW of wind operating, plus 20.2 GW under construction or planned.
See them on the mapLargest solar & wind farms: Netherlands →
How does Netherlands compare?
Netherlands next to 6 neighbouring countries, plus regional and world averages. Click a column to sort; use “Compare” for full side-by-side charts.
| Country | Renewable % | Low-carbon % | Fossil % | gCO₂/kWh | kWh / person | Generation TWh | Mix | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | 51.2% | 54.2% | 45.8% | 254 | 7,356 | 135 | — | |
| Germany | 59.1% | 59.1% | 40.9% | 330 | 5,953 | 500 | Compare | |
| Belgium | 38.9% | 72% | 28% | 150 | 6,199 | 72.9 | Compare | |
| Luxembourg | 91.6% | 91.6% | 8.4% | 123 | 2,263 | 1.5 | Compare | |
| Denmark | 91.2% | 91.2% | 8.8% | 114 | 5,548 | 33.3 | Compare | |
| United Kingdom | 52% | 64.4% | 35.6% | 217 | 4,203 | 292 | Compare | |
| Switzerland | 67.8% | 97.7% | 2.3% | 39 | 7,251 | 65 | Compare | |
| Europe average | 41.6% | 62% | 38% | 271 | 6,203 | 4,626 | Compare | |
| European Union (EU-27) average | 47.7% | 71.1% | 28.9% | 210 | 6,230 | 2,797 | Compare | |
| World average | 33.8% | 42.6% | 57.4% | 458 | 3,860 | 31,772 | Compare |
Calculators for Netherlands
Netherlands energy: frequently asked questions
What percentage of electricity in the Netherlands is renewable?
What is the main source of electricity in the Netherlands?
How clean is the electricity in the Netherlands?
Does the Netherlands use nuclear power?
How much electricity does the Netherlands use per person?
How much solar power does the Netherlands produce?
Does the Netherlands import electricity?
More countries in Europe
Sources & references
- Our World in Data: Energy dataset (CC BY 4.0) — compiled from the sources below
- Ember: Yearly Electricity Data — generation, shares, carbon intensity
- Energy Institute: Statistical Review of World Energy — primary energy, fossil production
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: International Energy Data — gap-filling for smaller countries
- World Resources Institute: Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0) — power plant locations and capacity
Electricity data: Ember and Energy Institute Statistical Review via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0); latest year 2025. Power plants: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). Rankings exclude systems under 1 TWh and values older than 2020. Figures may be revised by the original publishers.