Environmental Protection
In 1989 the 'Environmental Policy Act Plus' was passed by the Dutch
Government. Its most important items are:
- the reduction of acid emissions by 50%
- the reduction of CO2 emissions by 50%
Furthermore, a bill on 'Energy Savings' exists. This bill aims to promote an
efficient improvement of fuel consumption and the use of renewable energy
resources.
The generation of electricity and heat is bound by strict environmental
regulations in the Netherlands. In 1991 an experimental power station will be
built which includes a coal gasification plant. This will significantly reduce the
environmental load of coal processing on the environment. The cooperating
electricity generating companies have drawn up a heat plan. This means that
8 new total energy power plants of approximately 250 MWe each will be built in areas
of substantial heat consumption. Due to large-scale construction of total
energy, advanced environmental techniques will be possible, saving energy
and decreasing the emissions of residual substances and gases.
The energy distribution companies have drawn up a nationwide plan, MAP,in
order to realize the energy saving measures, which include:
- increasing the insulation values of new building
- subsidizing insulation measures in existing houses
- subsidizing high-efficiency central heating boilers with low NOx emissions
- stimulating the installation of energy saving domestic appliances
- increasing the delivery of heat distributed by district heating by 16 PJ in the
period between 1990 and 2000
The main issue is limitation of energy use. Of course district heating plays an
important role in this plan. C02 emission can be decreased by 7.5 mln tons (per
year) in the year 2000 through the use of combined heat and power plants. This
means some 40% of the total reduction of C02 (17 mln tons) as planned in the
MAP.
Prospects for the Future