The minister of economic affairs, agriculture and innovation recently announced the 'green deals' that have been concluded. Through green deals, the Dutch government helps citizens, companies, organisations and other authorities with sustainability initiatives that would otherwise be difficult to implement. Examples of green deals include projects for energy insulation or managing water more sustainably. Measures that have been agreed with respect to green deals include the following:

  • Coal-fired power stations will voluntarily co-fire 10% biomass in anticipation of the possible introduction of a requirement that a certain percentage of energy suppliers' energy output be sustainably produced in the Netherlands;
  • A maximum of 2% of suppliers' energy output can be reserved for green certificates that will count under the above-mentioned requirement, which will apply from 2015;
  • Owner-occupier associations will be able to make use of the netting arrangement with regard to solar energy (the Electricity Act will be amended accordingly); and
  • Agreements have been concluded on 'green' gas, electrical transportation, smart meters, onshore and offshore wind energy, carbon capture and storage and energy saving.

New green deals could be registered until February 29 2012.

Harm Kerstholt and Marinke Israëls

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