Symposium: "Should the Netherlands get rid of gas?"

As a result of unrest in Groningen over earthquakes linked to natural gas extraction, Minister of Economic Affairs and Environment Wiebes decided in 2018 not to pump any more Groningen natural gas from 2030 onwards. This decision triggered a sweeping reorientation "Netherlands off the gas".

Environment councillors from medium and small municipalities need an overview of how to tackle this issue. They are the first to be confronted with the negative aspects (read higher costs) for homeowners (who are also the residents of their municipalities). In addition, aldermen would also like to be 'green' and be able to meet the ambitions formulated by the national government.

So who takes the lead? Many issues are interrelated. This symposium presented a broad picture of technical financial and social aspects.

If homes can no longer be heated with natural gas, the question arises: how? What means and techniques do we have at our disposal to make this transition successful? Alternatives abound, but not everything is as developed and available to be implemented extensively now. That is why the focus is currently very much on the heat pump. But is it realistic to deploy the heat pump now almost as the only solution, together with solar panels? Will the strengthening of the electricity grid and the expansion of power houses in neighbourhoods be the time-critical factor? What about heat grids, green gas, hydrogen?

Municipalities have to work to apply the national government's policies locally, but also do not always have sufficient knowledge of the (im)possibilities; there are too many variables to make informed decisions. Besides the technical aspects, financial and social aspects also come into play. Who is going to pay for it? How do you get the residents/homeowners on board in this process? Empowered citizens also see that at the other climate tables the costs are in danger of being passed on to citizens/consumers.

KIVI, as an association of and for engineers, wants to contribute to this by formulating the clear and correct story, based on facts, both technical and financial.

The programme of speakers provided the following topics:

  • highlighting the possible financing of retrofitting existing homes (by John Nederstigt, municipality of Haarlemmermeer, in a personal capacity)

  • the impact that gas-free has on the gas and electricity grids (by Albert van de Molen, Grid Strategist at Stedin)

  • the experiences at an already completed zero-in-meter and gas-free new housing estate (Luc Drost, project leader of the Oppe Brik gas-free neighbourhood project in Breesel)

  • Forum discussion with questions from the audience, led by the chairman of the day ir. Paul van Son (regional director energy company, Innogy)with the following forum members: the chairman of the day, the 3 speakers and Laetitia Quillet, director strategic Area Energy of Technical University Eindhoven.

To download here the presentation "Network company to plan for 40 years" by Albert van der Molen Stedin and the other presentations under the "Documents" tab.

Name and contact details for information

Ir. Evert-Jan Bouvy ej@bouvy.info

Documents