Energy
Netherlands

By 2018 all electric trains in the Netherlands will be powered using renewables following the signing of an agreement between the rail carriers and energy supplier Eneco.

Burgess COMMENTARY

Peter Burgess

NEW: Netherlands harnesses wind to power trains

By 2018 all electric trains in the Netherlands will be powered using renewables following the signing of an agreement between the rail carriers and energy supplier Eneco.

Around 1.2 million journeys are made by train in the Netherlands each day.

The deal will see half of trains running on green power from next year, increasing to 100% by 2018. To avoid procuring energy from existing projects, it will be sourced from new wind farms that are gradually coming on stream in the Netherlands, Scandinavia and Belgium with half being generated in the Netherlands and the other half coming from abroad.

Around 1.2 million journeys are made by train in the Netherlands each day and the annual demand of 1.4 TWh of electricity corresponds to the amount consumed by all households in Amsterdam.

Timo Huges, Chairman and CEO of NS, who represent rail carriers grouped within the VIVENS cooperative, said: “This contract is a perfect example of how organisations in the rail sector work closely together to improve passenger experience and sustainable mobility. According to a customer survey, eight out of 10 passengers consider it important for rail companies to switch over to green power. From 2018, trains will be running on green power, enabling our 1.2 million passengers to travel truly green with zero emission transport. We are very pleased to have Eneco as our partner because of their vast experience and reputation regarding green power.

Since 2005, electricity consumption per passenger per kilometer has been reduced by 30% at NS, which it says demonstrates it is feasible to source all power consumption from renewable energy.