Green energy in the Netherlands, explained
Green power can be generated in the Netherlands or elsewhere in Europe. Here is what a Guarantee of Origin proves, where to check the origin, and what it costs.
Green power is electricity backed by Guarantees of Origin (GvO). According to ACM ConsuWijzer, the Dutch regulator's consumer site, a GvO shows that the power really was generated sustainably, and a supplier may only sell green power with GvOs. That generation can be in the Netherlands or in another European country. Where your power comes from is on the stroometiket (electricity label). According to ACM, green power is usually more expensive than grey, especially when it is generated in the Netherlands; green power from other EU countries is often cheaper, and sometimes no more expensive than grey.
What counts as green power
Green power is electricity generated from a renewable source, such as wind, sun, water or biomass. According to Milieu Centraal, the Dutch environmental information centre, the only difference between grey and green power is the source used to generate it. The electricity from your socket is always the same, whether you buy green or grey: there is only one grid.
What you buy as a customer is the assurance that, for your usage, the same amount of renewable power was generated somewhere. That assurance comes from a Guarantee of Origin.
What a Guarantee of Origin is
A Guarantee of Origin (GvO) is, according to ACM ConsuWijzer, a document that shows the power really is green. A supplier may only sell green power if it holds GvOs for it. According to Milieu Centraal, one GvO guarantees that 1,000 kWh was generated from a renewable source somewhere in Europe.
GvOs can be traded, just like electricity. A supplier can buy them in the Netherlands, or import them from countries with a surplus (Milieu Centraal). A foreign GvO also proves that green power was generated, just not in the Netherlands.
Dutch or European green power
Not all green power comes from the Netherlands. Because Dutch demand is larger than what is generated here, many suppliers buy GvOs abroad, according to ACM ConsuWijzer, and if you want your green power generated in the Netherlands, you should choose a supplier with green power from the Netherlands.
Why do some people deliberately choose Dutch generation? According to Milieu Centraal, part of the green power on the Dutch market carries a cheap foreign GvO, mainly from Scandinavian hydro plants that have existed for a long time, so choosing that power does not lead to new investment in renewable energy. Because wind and solar power from the Netherlands is still scarce, choosing it does lead to new wind turbines and solar parks being built, according to Milieu Centraal. Both are green power; the difference is the origin and what your choice sets in motion in the Netherlands.
To check where your power comes from, look at the stroometiket. According to ACM ConsuWijzer, the label on your annual statement shows where your electricity came from in the previous year, and it is also on your supplier's website. In our comparison, contracts show the power label as it appears in our feed: "Green power from NL" means the feed says the power was generated in the Netherlands; plain "Green power" means the feed gives no Dutch origin.
Is green energy more expensive?
Usually, yes. According to ACM ConsuWijzer, green power is usually more expensive than grey power, especially when it is generated in the Netherlands. Green power from other EU countries is often cheaper, and sometimes no more expensive than grey power. Milieu Centraal is milder: in its view green power is hardly more expensive than grey, although power from Dutch wind and biomass can cost more. Demand for Dutch green power is growing, which pushes up the price of Dutch Guarantees of Origin. It pays to compare on both price and origin, so you see what Dutch green power costs you at your own usage.
Frequently asked questions
What is green electricity?
Electricity generated from a renewable source such as wind, sun, water or biomass. A supplier may only call it green if it holds Guarantees of Origin (GvO), which according to ACM ConsuWijzer show that the power really was generated sustainably, in the Netherlands or in another European country.
What is the difference between Dutch and European green power?
Both are green power backed by a Guarantee of Origin; only the place of generation differs. According to ACM ConsuWijzer, many suppliers buy GvOs abroad, and green power from other EU countries is often cheaper. According to Milieu Centraal, choosing Dutch wind or solar power leads to new wind turbines and solar parks being built, because that power is still scarce here.
Where can I see where my power comes from?
On the stroometiket (electricity label). According to ACM ConsuWijzer, the label on your annual statement shows where your electricity came from in the previous year, and it is also on your supplier's website.
Is green energy more expensive than grey?
Usually, yes. According to ACM ConsuWijzer, the Dutch regulator's consumer site, green power is usually more expensive than grey power, especially when it is generated in the Netherlands. Green power from other EU countries is often cheaper, and sometimes no more expensive than grey. Compare on both price and origin.