Although it was colder on average in 2021 than in 2020, total natural gas consumption was lower, according to figures from Statistics Netherlands. Last year 40 billion cubic meters of natural gas was consumed in the Netherlands. In 2020 that was still 42 billion cubic meters.
According to the CBS, this is partly due to the high gas price. As a result, gas consumption among industrial users in particular has fallen. For example, 29 percent less gas was used for electricity production. This decrease is mainly due to lower consumption in the second half of the year. From September the price rose steadily† To compensate, electricity was imported or additionally generated by means of coal-fired power stations or renewable energy sources.
Because less gas is being extracted in Groningen these days, the Netherlands has been a net importer of natural gas for a few years now. The Netherlands imported 13.4 billion cubic meters of gas more than it exported. In 2021, 20.6 billion cubic meters were extracted itself. A year earlier, that was almost 23 billion cubic meters.
Higher prices may further reduce gas consumption this year. Due to the war in Ukraine, the gas price has fallen in recent days shot up a lot† Yesterday, a megawatt hour for gas that will be delivered in a month’s time cost 194 euros. That was a 60 percent increase.
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