The graph below shows that we were right on time in terms of reducing gas consumption. According to Martien Visser, professor of energy transition at the Hanze University of Applied Sciences in Groningen, we consumed 26% less gas last week than in other years. “It will go down a bit, but we will definitely reach that 15 percent.”
–
–
The question is whether we can sustain gas savings now that the temperature is dropping. Today, for example, it will not be hotter than 12 degrees, while it is normally 18 degrees at this time of year. “It’s really too cold for the time of year right now,” Sebastiaan Aarts van Buienradar said yesterday.
The heaters turn on
The colder days are immediately reflected in the gas figures, says Martien Visser. We use even less than in other years, but it’s now down to about 10 percent, he says. This concerns the consumption of regional suppliers such as Stedin and Liander: “They supply the gas to consumers”.
According to Milieu Centraal, it appears that this year people are waiting a little longer to turn the heat on and keeping it a little lower. “It is also possible that people have taken energy saving measures.”
–
–
Save gas for a safe winter
This is the title of the emergency plan that the European Commission presented at the end of July. The most important part of that plan is the intention to reduce gas consumption by 15 percent from August to April.
This is currently on a voluntary basis. The Commission wanted to be able to impose gas savings from the start, but this was toned down after the Brussels negotiations. If an acute problem occurs, the situation changes. Then follows a vote that can in any case lead to mandatory savings.
26 of the 27 EU countries agreed, only Hungary does not participate.
–
–
The gas consumption of large companies and power plants has not yet increased. Good news? “Perhaps from a gas market perspective,” says Visser. “But economically and socially it is dramatic”.
‘Businesses collapse’
Visser uses the word dramatically, because in many cases the savings are not voluntary. For many companies, the savings do not come from a more efficient way of working, but simply by producing less. “Companies are collapsing, people are cold. Take the Aldel company, for example, they fired most of their staff because of the huge price of gas.”
–
–
“The price for a megawatt-hour of electricity is now 300 euros,” CFO Eric Wildschut van Aldel previously told RTL Z. “Before the crown crisis, it was still 20 euros.” The Delfzijl metal factory has been largely closed since the beginning of September as it became impossible to continue producing profitably due to high energy prices.
Aldel
In concrete terms, this means that a ton of aluminum costs 4500 euros of electricity. “But the market price for one ton of aluminum is 2500 euros,” Wildschut previously said. “So it’s impossible.”
In Aldel’s case, then, it’s all about electricity, but the electricity is largely produced with gas, says Visser. “And the price of electricity follows the price of gas.”
–
–
These developments ultimately have consequences for consumers as well. Because less production means products will eventually become more expensive. So inflation.
How do we save?
So no more worries, but on the other hand Holland proves they can save well. At least when it comes to gas. Better than other European countries, Visser knows this. “In Belgium, for example, they just shut down a nuclear power plant that was good for ten percent of all electricity in the country. I’m curious to know how they will handle it.”
With regard to gas consumption, therefore, in the Netherlands things are going well. Turning down the heat in particular can save you a lot of money. According to Milieucentraal, on average 80% of the gas goes to heating and 20% to hot water. Of that 20 percent, the vast majority is the time you’re in the shower. A small portion of that 20 percent goes to the kitchen (if you cook on gas).
–
–
With current gas prices, it makes a big difference to your energy bill if you turn down your heating one degree. According to the calculations of the Consumers’ Association, 1 degree saves 180 euros per year. So put on a sweater and count your winnings.
shower
So there is also profit to be made in the shower. The average shower duration in the Netherlands is 9 minutes. If an average family takes a shower for 5 minutes from now on, you will save more than 15,000 liters of hot water on an annual basis. At a gas price of 3 euros per m3, that’s 180 euros again.
–
–
