31
2 Results of energy saving policy
Monitoring data released by the Ministry of Economic Affairs EZ in recent years show that energy savings in the Netherlands have been
systematically lower than the governments ambitions. The ambitions have been raised and lowered on several occasions since 1995 but the
targeted energy saving has not been achieved in any single year. Feasibility studies of the energy saving targets indicate that they can be
achieved but only at very high national cost and with the broad support of the public and enterprises. Ex ante studies indicate that the goal for 2020
is not feasible. This chapter outlines the development of the policy goals in the period 1999
–2007 and the actual energy saving achieved each year.
2.1 Energy saving targets
2.1.1 European targets
The European Commission adopted a new energy policy at the end of 2006 European Commission, 2007, p. 46. The European Commission is
seeking an economy that runs on sustainable, competitive and secure energy and low energy consumption.
Energy saving The EU member states have committed themselves to reducing energy
consumption of 20 by 2020, compared to the level reached in a situation of unaltered growth from 2005. At first sight, this target seems
straightforward but it is open to several interpretations because a fixed measurement method has not been agreed. Furthermore, the European
energy saving target is not binding. The two other European climate targets are binding. They relate to a reduction in CO
2
emissions and an increase in the share of renewable energy see below.
The European Parliament and the Council require the EU member states to prepare a National Energy Efficiency Action Plan NEEAP Directive
200632EC, 2006. In its NEEAP, each member state must set an energy saving target of 9 by 2016 relative to average consumption in
32
2001-2005. This target, too, is indicative in nature and entails no legally enforceable obligation on member states Directive 200632EC, p. 2.
The Netherlands has adopted the target proposed by the European Commission in its NEEAP. This means that the Netherlands must have
saved 189 PJ in 2016 relative to its average consumption in 2001-2005 EZ, 2007.
CO
2
emissions The Netherlands must reduce its greenhouse gas emissions that are not
subject to the European CO
2
emissions trading system by 16 by 2020 relative to 2005.
Share of renewable energy Renewable energy must account for 14 of the Netherlands total energy
consumption by 2020 Daniëls et al., 2010, p. 14.
2.1.2 National targets
There have been several national energy saving targets and definitions in the period between 1995 and 2010. Table 1 presents the targets set since
1995. The Clean and Efficient working programme set an energy saving target in 2007 of 2 per annum as from 2010. At the end of 2010, the
RutteVerhagen government decided not to set a national energy saving target but to continue and strengthen the national approach to energy
saving. To this end, the government will make a green deal with society Informateur, 2010.
Since the successive targets have been based on different definitions and measurement methods, for comparative purposes we have restated all
the targets in accordance with the PME definition
16
third column. Since the energy saving target in the Clean and Efficient working programme
was again based on a new definition, the targets have also been restated in accordance with that definition fourth column.
16
The method used to measure energy saving was set in the Energy Saving Monitoring Protocol PME in 2010. According to the PME an energy saving is the performance of the same activities or
the fulfilment of the same functions with less energy. In this definition, therefore, an energy saving is an increase in energy efficiency.
33 Table 1. National energy saving targets since 1995
Source Target as originally
formulated Target
according to PME
Target according to Clean and Efficient
working programme
Third Energy Memorandum EZ, 1995
33 in 1995-2020 1.6 per annum
1.3 per annum
1.5 per annum Energy Saving Memorandum
1998 EZ, 1998; Energy Saving Action Plan 1999-2002
EZ, 1999; Climate Policy Implementation Memorandum
VROM, 1999 2 per annum in 1998-
2010 1.8
per annum 2.0 per annum
Energy Report 2002 EZ, 2002a and EZ Budget 2003
EZ, 2002b 1.3 per annum or as
much as necessary to fulfil Kyoto agreements
1.3 per annum
1.5 per annum Clean and Efficient VROM,
2007 Increase to 2 per
annum in 2011-2020 1.6
per annum 2.0 per annum
Coalition Agreement 2010 No national target,
continuation and strengthening of policy
- -
Table 1 shows that the ambitions for energy saving policy have fluctuated over the years. In 1999, the target was raised to 2 per annum EZ,
1999. In 2002 it was lowered to 1.5 per annum, or as much as necessary to meet the Kyoto target
17
EZ, 2002a; 2002b. In 2005 the House of Representatives passed the Van der HamSpies motion House
of Representatives, 2005. The motion claimed that the ambition was too low and asked the government to raise it to 2 per annum, to be
achieved as from 2010. The motion was implemented in the Clean and Efficient working programme.
2.1.3 Targets by sector
The Clean and Efficient working programme set a national energy saving target of 2 per annum as from 2010. The ministries concerned did not
make formal agreements on targets for individual sectors. According to the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment VROM,
which was responsible for coordinating climate policy until the end of 2010, the Clean and Efficient working programme was based implicitly on
the allocation shown in table 2.
17
Pursuant to the Kyoto Agreement, the Netherlands must reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 6 per annum in the period 2008
–2012 relative to 1990.
