Nuclear Energy in the Netherlands

Energy in the Netherlands

Fig. 1: Borssele Nuclear Power Plant in 2008. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

The Netherlands is a country in Western Europe. It has a population of 17 million and a GDP of $912 billion as of 2020. In 2019, the Netherlands generated 121.0 TWh of electric energy. Non-renewable sources lead the generation of energy in the Netherlands by producing 98.3 TWh, followed by wind which produced 11.5 TWh in the same year. [1] In recent years, the Netherlands started importing more natural gas. It turned into a net importer of natural gas for the first time in 2018. [2]

History of Nuclear Energy in Netherlands

The Netherlands started its nuclear program in 1955 with a research reactor in Petten. This reactor achieved its criticality in 1961. Eventually the Netherlands was able to put a prototype reactor into operation, th 60 MWe Dodewaard Nuclear Power Plant, which came on line in 1968. In 1973, the first commercial reactor in the Netherlands, the 485 MWe Borssele Nuclear Power Plant (See Fig. 1) started its production. The Dodewaard plant was shut down permanently in 1997 for financial reasons. [3]

Future of Nuclear Energy in Netherlands

The role that nuclear energy is playing in the Netherlands has been small but steady. In 2018, the one operational nuclear plant produced 4 TWh which accounts for about 4% of the total electricity production. In 2006, The Borssele plant was given permission to operate till 2033. This reactor has been ranked as being in the safest 25% of water-cooled and water-moderated power reactors. [4]

© Khalil Miri. The author warrants that the work is the author's own and that Stanford University provided no input other than typesetting and referencing guidelines. The author grants permission to copy, distribute and display this work in unaltered form, with attribution to the author, for noncommercial purposes only. All other rights, including commercial rights, are reserved to the author.

References

[1] "Energy Profile: Netherlands," International Renewable Energy Agency, 29 Sep 21.

[2] "Dutch Become Net Importer of Gas as Groningen Production Cuts Bite," Reuters, 19 Apr 18.

[3] "Costs of Decommissioning Nuclear Power Plants," Nuclear Energy Agency, NDA No. 7201, 2016.

[4] "Nuclear Legislation in OECD and NEA Countries - Regulatory and Institutional Framework for Nuclear Activities: Netherlands," Nuclear Energy Agency, 2009.