Editing Economy of the Netherlands (section)

== Energy sector ==
{{main|Energy in the Netherlands}}

=== Natural gas ===
{{See also|Dutch disease}}
[[File:Natural gas NL.png|thumb|Natural gas concessions in the Netherlands. Today the Netherlands accounts for more than 25% of all Natural Gas reserves in the EU.]]
[[File:Wildervank natural gas field.jpg|thumb|250px|Station Wildervank of the Groningen natural gas field, which transformed the Netherlands economy after its discovery in 1959, leading to the theory of [[Dutch disease]]]]
The discovery of the large [[Groningen gas field|Groningen natural gas field]] in 1959 and the massive windfalls accrued over subsequent decades, were believed to have led to a decline in the manufacturing sector in the Netherlands,<ref name="The Economist pp. 82-83"/> leading to the theory of [[Dutch disease]].<ref name="vorige.nrc.nl"/>

While its [[oil reserves]] in the [[North Sea]] are of little importance, the Netherlands have an estimated 25% of natural gas reserves in the EU.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ebn.nl/oil-and-gas-in-the-netherlands/?lang=en|title=The hunt for gas and oil reserves that are more difficult to extract|publisher=EBN|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907041804/https://www.ebn.nl/oil-and-gas-in-the-netherlands/?lang=en|archive-date=7 September 2015}}</ref> Natural gas reserves of the Netherlands are estimated (as of 2014) to be about 600 billion cubic feet,<ref>{{Cite report |date=2015 |url=https://www.ebn.nl/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/10171_EBNfocus_v5.pdf |title=Focus on Dutch Oil and Gas 2015 |publisher=EBN |page=10}}</ref> or about 0.3% of the world total. In 2014–2015 the government decided to reduce the production of gas in the province [[Groningen (province)|Groningen]] significantly due to problems of sinking ground, differential settlement levels and tremors (small earth quakes) causing damages to properties, end 2018 the government decided to completely abandon the gas production in the province of Groningen by reducing the production slightly each year, the production was expected to come to a halt entirely by 2028.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jan/23/gas-field-earthquakes-put-netherlands-biggest-firms-on-extraction-notice | title=Gas field earthquakes put Netherlands' biggest firms on extraction notice | website=[[TheGuardian.com]] | date=23 January 2018 }}</ref> On June 23, 2023, the government decided to close the remaining five production facilities as of October 1, 2023. The possibility of reopening one or more facilities is being kept open, citing the uncertain international situation and possibly very cold weather as possible reasons for this. All wells will be permanently closed and dismantled as of October 1, 2024. <ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/actueel/nieuws/2023/06/23/gaswinning-groningen-stopt-per-1-oktober-2023 | title=Gaswinning Groningen stopt per 1 oktober 2023 | website=rijksoverheid.nl | date=23 June 2023 | language=nl }}</ref>

To reduce its [[greenhouse gas emissions|greenhouse emissions]], the government of the Netherlands is subsidizing a transition away from natural gas for all homes in the country by 2050.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.at5.nl/artikelen/186860/maandag-1000-uur-van-der-pekbuurt-gaat-als-eerste-wijk-van-het-aardgas-af-2 |date=1 October 2018 |title=Van der Pekbuurt gaat als eerste Amsterdamse wijk van het aardgas af |language=nl}}</ref> In the Netherlands, 98% of enterprises are reducing greenhouse gas emissions, beating the EU average of 89%. However, only 48% of Dutch firms set and monitor their own emission targets.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bank |first=European Investment |url=https://www.eib.org/en/publications/20230340-econ-eibis-2023-netherlands |title=EIB Investment Survey 2023 - Netherlands overview |date=2024-01-31 |publisher=European Investment Bank |isbn=978-92-861-5684-7 |language=EN}}</ref> Dutch enterprises mostly cut emissions through waste reduction or recycling (86%), as well as energy efficiency programmes (76%).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bank |first=European Investment |url=https://www.eib.org/en/publications/20230340-econ-eibis-2023-netherlands |title=EIB Investment Survey 2023 - Netherlands overview |date=2024-01-31 |publisher=European Investment Bank |isbn=978-92-861-5684-7 |language=EN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=A Circular Economy in the Netherlands by 2050 |url=https://circulareconomy.europa.eu/platform/sites/default/files/17037circulaireeconomie_en.pdf}}</ref>

In the Netherlands, 78% of enterprises have invested in reducing [[Greenhouse gas emissions|carbon emissions]] and mitigating the impact of weather disasters as of 2023. Six out of ten (60%) plan to invest in these areas during the next three years. The numbers for 'already invested' and 'intend to invest' above the EU average (56% and 54%, respectively).<ref name=":193">{{Cite book |last=Bank |first=European Investment |url=https://www.eib.org/en/publications/20230340-econ-eibis-2023-netherlands |title=EIB Investment Survey 2023 - Netherlands overview |date=2024-01-31 |publisher=European Investment Bank |isbn=978-92-861-5684-7 |language=EN}}</ref> The largest invested is in trash reduction or recycling (86% of Dutch firms).<ref name=":1932">{{Cite book |last=Bank |first=European Investment |url=https://www.eib.org/en/publications/20230340-econ-eibis-2023-netherlands |title=EIB Investment Survey 2023 - Netherlands overview |date=2024-01-31 |publisher=European Investment Bank |isbn=978-92-861-5684-7 |language=EN}}</ref>

Dutch companies are more likely to see the transition to stronger climate laws as an opportunity (39% vs 23% from other European firms).<ref name=":1933">{{Cite book |last=Bank |first=European Investment |url=https://www.eib.org/en/publications/20230340-econ-eibis-2023-netherlands |title=EIB Investment Survey 2023 - Netherlands overview |date=2024-01-31 |publisher=European Investment Bank |isbn=978-92-861-5684-7 |language=EN}}</ref>

=== Nuclear energy ===
{{further|Nuclear energy in the Netherlands}}
Researchers in the Netherlands began studying [[nuclear power|nuclear energy]] in the 1930s and began construction of research reactor [[Dodewaard nuclear power plant|Dodewaard]] in 1955. Researchers’ goal was to introduce [[nuclear power]] technology by 1962 and replace [[fossil fuels]]. In 1968, a test nuclear reactor was attached to the [[power grid]]. This unit was shut down in 1997. In the 1970s, the Dutch chose a policy that required [[Nuclear reprocessing|reprocessing]] all [[spent nuclear fuel]]. In 1984, the government decided to create a long-term (100 years) storage facility for all intermediate and low-level radioactive waste and research strategies for ultimate disposal. In September 2003, the [[COVRA|Central Organization for Radioactive Waste]] created an interim storage facility for [[high-level waste]]. The Netherlands' only commercial [[nuclear reactor]] is [[Borssele nuclear power plant|Borssele]], which became operational in 1973 and {{as of|2011|lc=on}} produces about 4% of the country's electricity.<ref>{{cite web |title= Nuclear Power in the Netherlands |publisher= [[World Nuclear Association]] (WNA) |url= http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf107.html |date= January 2011 |access-date= 21 February 2011 |archive-date= 27 February 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130227105558/http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf107.html |url-status= dead }}</ref> The older [[Dodewaard nuclear power plant]] was a test reactor that later got attached to the national grid but was closed in 1997. A 2MW research reactor known as [[Reactor Institute Delft|Reactor Institute Delft (RID)]] is located in Delft, as part of the physics department of [[Delft University of Technology]]. This reactor is not meant for energy provision but used as a neutron and positron source for research.

In 1994, the [[States General of the Netherlands]] voted to phase out nuclear power after a discussion of nuclear waste management. In 1997, the power station at [[Dodewaard nuclear power plant|Dodewaard]] was shut down and the government decided it was planning to end [[Borssele nuclear power plant|Borssele]]'s operating license in 2003. This has since been postponed to 2034, if it complied with the highest safety standards.{{Citation needed|date=July 2007}} After the [[Dutch general election, 2010|2010 election]], the [[First Rutte cabinet|new government]] was open to expanding nuclear power. Both of the companies that share ownership of Borssele are proposing to build new reactors.<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/02/10/holland_energy_switch/ | title= Holland slashes carbon targets, shuns wind for nuclear | first= Andrew |last= Orlowski | date= 10 February 2011 | work= [[The Register]] | access-date= 21 February 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.ftd.de/unternehmen/industrie/:energiepolitik-holland-plant-strahlende-zukunft/60008920.html | title= Energiepolitik: Holland plant strahlende Zukunft | first= Michael | last= Gassmann | language= de | date= 8 February 2011 | work= [[Financial Times Deutschland]] | access-date= 21 February 2011 | url-status= dead | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110211022605/http://www.ftd.de/unternehmen/industrie/:energiepolitik-holland-plant-strahlende-zukunft/60008920.html | archive-date= 11 February 2011 | df= dmy-all }}</ref> In January 2012, Delta announced it postpones any decision to start building a second nuclear power plant.