”We are politically trapped in ‘wanting nothing”’
The Netherlands is in an energy crisis. Reopening the Groningen gas fields is a ‘taboo subject’, but now that energy prices are going through the roof, the need is urgent. How did the Netherlands get out of this and is hydrogen a good alternative?
“I am about how the government is reacting now. I see no change of course”, energy expert Remco de Boer in WNL Haagse Lobby on NPO Radio 1. De Boer refers to last year when there were already a price ten with regard to energy prices. “I am really shocked. Everyone is talking about the war now, but prices already started rising last fall. We’ve had time, but we’re politically trapped in ‘wanting nothing’.” refers to de Boer to the fact that the Netherlands does not want a coal or nuclear power plant and also renounces the gas drilling in Groningen. “At the same time, we want to get rid of Russian gas, we can’t all do that together.”
The Netherlands has become more dependent
Member of parliament for the VVD, Silvio Erkens, finds boring in Groningen a ‘last topic’. “The safety of residents must come first. “We didn’t make the decision to stop drilling for nothing, but we didn’t pull the decision out.” According to Erkens, the Netherlands has too few mutual agreements and is only becoming more dependent on foreign countries.
Hydrogen
And that hydrogen is a good alternative to get out of the energy crisis quickly, Erkens doesn’t think so either. “It will take at least another ten years before it is up to speed. But the Netherlands does have the potential to become a frontrunner in Europe. We already have the infrastructure in place,” the MP concludes.
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Door: Floortje van Gameren