The coronavirus pandemic has had effects on a number of industries and aspects of modern-day life - including energy consumption. Energy consumption across the Netherlands in the second quarter of 2020 was seven percent lower than in the same period last year. 

Drop in energy use in the Netherlands

In the second quarter of 2020 (April - June), the population of the Netherlands used 1,8 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy less than in the second quarter of 2019, according to new figures released by Statistics Netherlands (CBS). 

CBS attributed this decrease to the coronavirus lockdown - and a reduction in economic activity - because energy consumption in the Netherlands in the first quart of 2020 was on par with that of 2019. A notable dip was only recorded in April. 

Energy production also decreased, but only very slightly (1 percent). This is because more Dutch electricity was exported to Germany, and less was imported. 

Renewable energy becoming a more popular option

The production of electricity from coal decreased by 63 percent in Q2, while the production of renewable energy increased. This means that more electricity is now produced through renewable energy than coal. 

In the first half of 2020, the amount of electricity produced from renewable sources was 14,8 billion kWh, a 39 percent increase compared to the first six months of 2019. Solar energy experienced a significant increase in comparison to least year (1,5 billion kWH), as did wind energy (1,4 billion kWh), likely because of the favourable weather conditions.